Sertraline - monitoring after birth

[Wearenotyourkind]

I'm 36 weeks and have been on 50mg Sertraline for a number of years, including throughout the duration of my pregnancy. Continuing to take it was a decision I considered carefully and made with my GP when TTC and have obviously discussed with the midwife since then whilst being pregnant.

Now I'm coming to the end of my pregnancy (FTM), it is really playing on my mind whether I made the right decision. I feel part of me has let my baby down already. I know pragmatically that my mental health being well managed is very important during pregnancy, but I'm now overthinking whether the benefits outweigh the risks. I'm anxious about whether the baby will suffer with SSRI withdrawals and what additional monitoring might be needed in hospital. I am also planning to try and breastfeed and am mindful about this too.

I'm hoping other people may be able to share share experiences of this. Many thanks in advance.

Hi, Sertraline is the safest antidepressant to take in pregnancy and has the least significant withdrawal symptoms - in fact, on 50mg there may well not even be any withdrawal symptoms for your baby as they'll have been getting such a small amount.

If you're breastfeeding, that's even better for your baby as they'll still get trace amounts of it from the breast milk - that will mean they can taper off it gently.
Don't feel guilty about taking medication that you need to keep you well. Not only does a baby need their mum to have good mental health if at all possible, there are also lots of studies showing that the physiological changes of severe stress (eg. in relapses of physical or mental illness) can be bad for a developing baby. By taking medication you need, you've kept yourself and your baby as safe and healthy as possible.

Thank you for taking the time to reply. I am so grateful for your kindness. I really do appreciate what you've said and will try to remember all of this. Thank you again - you have really helped.

During my pregnancy last year I suffered with significant mental health problems. I was seen by the consultant Psychiatrist who specialises in pregnancy. He advised me to refer to a website called Bumps for information about taking medication in pregnancy.

I also know that Sertraline is the ‘go to’ anti-depressant in pregnancy.

Although I didn’t take it during pregnancy there was not any mention of baby needing to be monitored after either.

I was on sertraline when I was pregnant, I think 100mg. I discussed at length with a consultant and decided to wean slowly off it over the last 3 months of pregnancy (so my last month I was drug free). My LO was totally fine. Obviously I can't comment on the withdrawals as I weaned off it but I would just say that if the medical advice you've been given is to continue then that it 100% what is right for you, and therefore will be the right thing for the baby too.
Best of luck x

I wanted to share my story with you OP to offer reassurance. I came off my antidepressants (citalopram) during early pregnancy and suffered severe antenatal depression and anxiety. My mental health was in bits and I had an absolutely awful pregnancy. I'm now back on ADs (Sertraline this time around) and am planning on TTC again soon, I've discussed it with my GP and will absolutely be staying on them throughout.

You made the right decision for the well-being of both you and your baby and have in no way let them down.

Hi Op. I was on sertraline in my last pregnancy an stopped taking it when DC was 8months old as I just felt I didn’t need it anymore. I think I was on 40mg during pregnancy and the 8 years before I switched between this and citalopram. I Had some extra monitoring during pregnancy but the consultants weren’t really interested. DD is now 4.5 and is totally normal typical child. She was a very happy baby, I used to joke it was all down to the antidepressants

Thank you all so much. You've no idea how much you've helped 💜

With my ds I was on 50mg throughout my pregnancy, I tried at the very beginning to be unmedicated but let's just say that was clearly going to be impossible. Was fine all the way through pregnancy and labour, we stayed in for 24 hour monitoring for him after birth just in case to which he showed no signs of side effects at all. Now a healthy happy nearly 3 year old.
Currently 37 weeks pregnant with dd and on 100mg of sertraline, again been a healthy pregnancy and plan for 24 hour monitoring after labour for her is the same.
Good luck x