Your Thoughts on Breastfeeding & Antidepressants

[GuavaGirl]

I'm breastfeeding, have a 6 month old baby, and I'm at the point where I think I need to be taking an antidepressant. I have needed them in the past and was very happy with the outcome. My doctor wrote me a prescription for Zoloft today and I'm just trying to decide whether or not I want to fill it, because I don't want it to harm my baby. From the little I've read online, it seems pretty safe, but I'm still paranoid.

What are your thoughts and/or experiences?



Thanks

[lilbsmama]

I could have written this post myself! I , too, have a 6 mo, and just got a script today for Zoloft, at my request. If there has to be a "safe" antidepressant, this would be it. Most of the time it is undetectable in bm. I would just keep an eye on your baby, and maybe have someone else keep an eye on you for a few weeks, just to be on the lookout for adverse reactions to the drug. I hope it can help the both if us. hugs

[maddymama]

Hi Mama,
First, if you think you need it, your SO thinks you need it, and your doctor thinks you need it, then please don't hesitate to fill the prescription and take it. A happier more stable mom with a tiny bit of prescription meds in BM is much better than a non-functioning mom without a trace of anything in BM.
That said, please consider also going to therapy while on the meds and while slowly weaning yourself off the meds months down the road. The talking part of the experience is just as important, if not more important, than the prescription part of it.
Good luck,
~maddymama

[Ruthla]

Babies need a healthy mom. Not treating your depression will hurt the baby, especially as he grows and gets more independent and starts pushing your buttons at times.

Weaning him to take meds is a lose/lose situation; there are demonstrated negative physical effects to not getting breastmilk, and it could make your depression worse (you lose out on those great breastfeeding hormones, you may "feel like a failure" etc.)

There are only theoretical risks to the baby from getting trace amounts of zoloft in breastmilk.

Ideally, you'd be able to treat depression naturally through the right foods, exercise, and vitamin/mineral supplements- but we don't live in an ideal world. It takes time and energy to figure out the natural things that can treat depression, and it's really hard to do that while depressed.

I suggest taking the meds to break the depression cycle and keep yourself healthy to properly take care of your baby. Once you're feeling better and your moods have stablized, you can start researching alternative treatments. The long term goal is to get off the meds while remaining stable- but if you need the meds to get to that point, go ahead and take them!

[myk]

very little of the SSRIs including zoloft goes through the milk. i'd definitely go for it - a happy, functional mom means a happier, healthier baby.