Starting meds postpartum?

[Alstrameria]

I had ppd with dd, and I've been depressed for about a month with this bug. Since I am already depressed, dh and I were thinking I should start my medication immediately after birth. He says, "pop that baby and then take your first pill" He's being so supportive, he sees how hard this is on me.

Would the added chemicals be too much right away? Should I delay a couple of weeks?

I am so down right now, I've considered starting them now, I'll be 37 weeks Sunday. I'll be taking 50 mg of Zoloft, in order to breastfeed. I'm comfortable with that, I just don't know when to start. I know this feeling, and I'm pretty sure it's not going to clear up any time soon.

What did you do, for those who had the same kind of situation?

Jen

[beatgirl]

Hi Jen

I was on a low dosage of Paxil for anxiety before I got pg with my dd. My doc said I could stay on it while pg but I didnt want to risk it so I went off. The withdrawals were awful. It probably didnt help that I had horrible morning sickness as well...

Anyhooo...My dd is now 4 months old and I did suffer a bit of ppd but now I think my old anxiety issues are coming back.

I saw my regular physician the other day and she recommended a low dose of Zoloft as opposed to going back on the Paxil. Not only because of the bad withdrawals but also because I am BF.

I have been staring at the samples she gave me for the last few days wondering when or if I should jump in and try them....today was the day.

I just took my first dose....so we will see how they make me feel.

So I guess my advice to you would be to see how you feel after baby comes. Since you have experience with them already you know relief isnt far away

Good Luck!

[Alstrameria]

That's a big downside; weaning off. I went through withdrawal coming off Effexor and it was very unpleasant!

I think for me it's inevitable though. I don't want to go through what I did last time! I do notice this time that I'm feeling more anxious as well, so I'm encouraged to hear your dr. prescribe zoloft for anxiety as well.

I hope you are feeling better!

Jen

[Jish]

There are several members here in this forum who have gone through entire pregnancies on an SSRI, my co-mod, Gilnikche, being one of them. I have managed to stay off of them very successfully this pregnancy (I'm currently 34 weeks) but I'm open to restarting them at anytime if necessary, before or after pregnancy. The baby feels what you are feeling and if you feel like you need the meds at this point, I personally would take them if it were me.

As far as breastfeeding goes, I know literally dozens upon dozens of women who have breastfed on an SSRI (as well as a couple who have bfed on the old tricyclics). I'm pretty sure that I'll be doing it in a few weeks and I'm totally okay with that. In university tests, the med can be found in trace amounts in the mothers milk, but it is virtually undetectible in the baby's blood. The university med center in my town (the U of Iowa) has been doing a study for years. I personally know several women who have participated.

Do what you need to do to be healthy. Your baby needs a healthy mother.

[Alstrameria]

Today I'm a huge mess. Dh went to his mom's, about a five hour drive, to bring and set up a computer for them. The anxiety is pretty bad. I have mild OCD also, that is it's not debilitating without meds, but I feel today like I'm being hit from all sides! I'm crying a lot and having horrible thoughts.

I think I will fill that prescription, just in case. Dh will be home tomorrow, but I think considering everything I should be on the meds just the same.

Thanks for the info jish, I'm very comfortable with our decision. I need to be well for my toddler too.

Jen

[Jish]

I hope you feel better soon, Jen.

[Alstrameria]

Thanks so much! I took the medication today, it was my toddler that cinched it for me. She's so sensitive and she was totally picking up on me being squirrely.

I don't know if it's a placebo effect or what, but 4 hours later I feel better already, more like myself. Anyway, I'll take it!

Thanks for your kind words

Jen

[Foobar]

Jen-

I just wanted to say, I'm sorry I hadn't checkede earlier.

My ob wanted me on lexapro at 8 months pregnant with this one to help prevent the hormone crash. Instead, I ended up going on lexapro at 14 weeks because I was getting way too bad. Someone was going to get hurt if I didn't go on the meds.

I've done research and in general, SSRIs are safe during pregnancy. I hope these help and you can help become YOU again.

[Alstrameria]

Thanks Foobar. It's nice to hear I'm not alone. I feel much better able to cope. It's been about 4 days and although I'm still adjusting I feel so much more positive.

I am totally comfortable with the idea of medication in general, in fact with my OCD I'll probably be on meds at various points of my life. I wasn't surprised to find myself sinking, it seems stress is my biggest trigger and I've been so worried about how this will affect dd.

She's probably much more capable of adjusting than I am :LOL

Thanks for your support!

Jen