When to start meds for PPD??

[tilly2321]

HI,
I had wicked PPD with my first. It totally caught me off guard and I was led astray and weaned my DS since I was told I couldn't take meds and breastfeed. Sigh... Anyhow, I am pregnant with number two (only 10 weeks), but was curious to know opinions on when to start meds this time around. I don't want to take any chances? Maybe a week after delivery? Mine started right around two weeks pretty bad.

ALso, is there a safe Antidepressant for nursing that doesn't make you gain weight? I have tried lexapro in the past. Can you nurse on that one? I am told zoloft is the best one for nursing, but have had so many friends pack on the pounds with that one and paxil.
thanks,
Elle

[Jish]

I am on Lexapro right now and nursing. I've also lost five pounds while taking it. Zoloft is the most studied at this point for nursing and that's why it is the one most recommended for nursing moms. All the SSRI's are fine for nursing and the key is finding the one that works right for YOU.

As for when to start -- if you expect it soon after delivery, go ahead and talk to your obgyn and start as soon as the baby is born. I know several people who have started a week or two before their due date. I have late onset PPD and mine starts at about 9 or 10 months post partum so I wait until I feel I need them.

[milk_maker]

I took zoloft a few years ago and I literally melted away. I lost so much weight and sleep on that drug.

[LadyWulf]

I am taking Zoloft now (32 weeks) because of depression. I am eating better and drinking more (water, juice, milk) than before. But for me part of my depression was not eating or drinking enough at all. So definately no weight loss here. I am finally gaining a little weight. In the past i have tried Celexa, Paxil, Xanax, Remeron and Seroquil and none of those have ever worked for me. The Zoloft is like a miracle.

As for WHEN to start taking it i would suggest about 2 weeks before your due date. That way it is in your system and leveled out BEFORE you experience any PPD.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

with this pregnancy i ended up geting anti partum depression (that is the fancy term for during pg depresson) the midwife put me on paxil i was on that till 7months pg when i read some disturbing news about taking it in the last trimester. So I went totally off it. Then the week after i had ds I went on zoloft. I also took this with my dd from the time she was 3months old till she was 18months. I waited way to long to get on meds with her as I thought that I couldnt nurse and take meds at the same time but my great gp at the time told me that there were meds I could take. Even zoloft is not recommended in the last 2 weeks of pg cause it can cause pre term labor I learned a lot about anti depressants and pg this last time so do a lot of searches on the web and see what all u can find out. Sometimes the benifits outweight the risks and sometimes the opposite is true.