Waiting to TTC while being treated for depression...

[Sandra Dee]

(sigh) Well - that's it - I'm officially "depressed". :LOL Okay, I can laugh about it now, but this is two weeks into meds and I'm feeling much better.

However, I mentioned to my Grandma (whose opinion I respect more than anyone else in the world and is very much a mother to me) that my oldest keeps bothering me to have another babe. (Which we were intending to do anyway). She casually replied that maybe I should wait until I was "healthy" (since I confided in her about the depression). She suffered from depression for years and had 8 children and one miscarriage. But, she also said "I wouldn't prevent anything, but I also wouldn't try to make something happen" (being a good Catholic and all)

So, that got me thinking - I agree, I probably should wait until I'm a little less overwhelmed with the three I've got...but can you really stifle the yearning for another babe around? I mean, really, in just three months my oldest will be in full-day kindergarten...and the three year old will be in preschool two mornings a week. Right there will be a tremendous change from what it is now - all three home with me all day.

So, what do you think? Should someone wait until depression has been "treated" - I mean, my Dr. said this would probably be a 6 month stint of meds, so should I wait until I'm past that?
Or, should we go ahead as planned (Dr. also knows we're not using contraceptives and was supportive).

[dharmama]

I have experience with depression and treatment and experience with TTC-ing but not both together....but I still thought I'd stop in and say hello.

I was treated for depression for six months three years ago (actually I chose to remain on anti-depresants for a full year after I started feeling good, just to be safe - I wanted to experience all the seasons, get past the anniversary of my trigger event etc.) and I continued to see my psychiatrist every 3 months...then twice a year...then once a year. Now he's a phone call away if I need him, but I'm doing great!

Depression treatment can be intense. It was for me anyway. I'm not sure I could handle it while riding the TTC roller coaster. I needed a lot of space for counseling, journaling, exercising etc. while I was in treatment and these are things I continue to make time for.

But I also have a friend who have TTC'd and was pregnant during treatment and it was a positive experience for her so I'd say follow your heart.

Sending lots of good thoughts your way!!

~Erin