25 weeks pregnant .. feel like I need to go back on sertraline .. nervous

[Theirmumxx]

I was on Sertraline 100mg before pregnancy for anxiety. In the past 3 weeks or so I can feel my anxiety becoming more and more overwhelming at times.

I feel like I did when I first went in Sertraline and feel like I need to go bsck on it but I’m so nervous. info online is conflicting and I’m getting even more anxious about this but at the moment my anxiety is ruining my pregnancy and I don’t want it to get worse or make me poorly after birth.

any advice or personal experiences ??

I can’t help because I’ve never actually ended up on an ssri but I’ve majorly struggled with anxiety for years. Mine is mainly caused by my job so just at the point when I would of needed to go on something lockdown struck and I managed to dodge it for a bit. I did take beta blockers to help manage it day to day if I was in work. Then I had a baby and the whole wearing masks thing actually helped too so I managed to struggle on again without taking anything. Then I was on mat leave and just relied on beta blockers to go to baby classes or situations where I’d feel anxious. Then I went back to work and just at the point when I was really struggling again I asked the doctor if I could go on an ssri but as I was hoping to have another baby/ be pregnant within 6 months they said they wouldn’t advise it. Some doctors seem to be encouraging of it and others are the opposite and like you I found so much conflicting info online. I’ve managed to struggle through my pregnancy without anything and will maybe go on something when baby is born. I’ve been taking the rescue remedy chewy sweets every time I feel really anxious and I don’t even know if they do anything but they make me feel like I’m doing something about it 🤦🏼‍♀️ Sorry you’re feeling like this. What are you triggers? Is it something you could swerve for the next 3 months? You don’t have long to go at all but if you need something then don’t let yourself get in a state over it. I’m sure it will have less effect (if any) on the baby by the end when they’re fully formed. The one thing I could see online said you’d be kept in for the baby to be monitored after birth for signs to withdrawal. That scared me a bit but it seems most are completely fine

100 percent contact your doctors to start again,they will try you on a low dose and go from there. At this point baby has done a lot of the fundamental developing and the risks vs benefits can be discussed wiyh doctor but I would say that you being anxious at this point is going to do more harm than the tablets. I am not a doctor so don't take that as gospel and speak the them.

I was on citalopram when I found out I was having DC2 and went cold turkey due to the risk of heart defects which was already a concern for other reasons. Managed to stay off for the while pregnant and still the same.
This is the one time in my life I've managed to stay off them.

Pregnancy is a roller coaster of emotions and you've done amazing to do 25 weeks without them but it sounds like you need a helping hand now.

My last two pregnancies I lowered my dose of sertraline to 50mg. I found that manageable and not too risky for babies. Ultimately your health is most important.

One hundred million percent do it.

my second child didn’t grow well and I had to be induced early, he was a very small weight. This is because I was so anxious in pregnancy I couldn’t eat or sleep and it was my only pregnancy out of four that I didn’t take my anti depressants for.

For some women & pregnancies it’s absolutely the best option & my midwives fully supported and encouraged it.

Hellooo!

I too was on 100mg Sertraline when I got pregnant, immediately came off it when I found out I was expecting, and the results were devastating. I started self harming, googling when a baby can survive if the mother doesn't, and completely isolating myself and staying in bed all day. When my mum and partner found out about the self harming I was basically marched to the doctor and put back on Sertraline at 50mg.

I was also referred to my antenatal mental health team, who were wonderful, but was discharged after a month because the Sertraline was having SUCH a positive impact on me.

I've been assured many many times that SSRI's are totally safe during pregnancy, but I do understand that the online advice is quite conflicting. My midwife, GP, and mental health doctor have advised that it is safe so I'm inclined to listen to them ☺️

Honestly the difference that it's made to me is night and day! I know everyone is different and reacts different to medication, but this is my experience.

I hope things get a bit easier for you mama x

I took it, my consultant really encouraged it as the benefits massively outweigh the risks. I believe at your gestation there's virtually no risk at all.

We did stay in hospital an extra night because my hospital likes to monitor babies more closely after they're born. My baby had no side effects and my midwife said she'd never known a baby to have side effects either.

Thank you all so much for your replies. They’ve really reassured me. After a long conversation with my midwife, GP and most importantly my mum 😂😂 I’m back on 50mg sertraline and already feeling better for it (I think psychologically I feel relieved that they might make me feel better.)

Its so reassuring to read your positive stories so thank you for replying xxxxx

I'm 22+4 and been on sertraline for the entire pregnancy so far. Midwife and doctor confirmed it's the safest ssri to be on during pregnancy and also said it sounds like I'd do much better postpartum on it than off it due to anxiety relating from our infertility and miscarriage journey. I'd say definitely discuss it with your doctor. I have been told me and baby will need to stay one night for monitoring after birth to make sure bub is ok after not getting it through placenta after birth.