antepartum depression

juicylucy · 06-23-2003, 01:51 PM

I experienced PPD when my DS was about 5 months old, and took Paxil for a year. I weaned myself off that when I became pregnant and was fine for a while, but now it seems to be coming back. I actually feel worse now than I did before, and I feel SO guilty about it because my baby will be experiencing all this negativity along with me.

I don't want to take medication again, as my son's chiropractor believes the reason Gabe was diagnosed with failure to thrive is because of the Paxil entering my breastmilk (I have found no evidence of this, but the accusation was enough to make me feel guilty and awful, as it is a possibilty). I am not sure where to look next. I am seeing a homeopath but she has not been able to find the right remedy for me. I am desperate to get out from under this black cloud. Has anyone else suffered depression whilst pregnant, and how did you deal with it?

Jish · 06-23-2003, 02:00 PM

I'm going to start weaning off my meds as of this Thursday to get pregnant, so this is a concern for me also.

First things first, the Paxil did NOT cause failure to thrive in your child. AM Mom participated in an antidepressant study in breastfeeding. She has posted the results here somewhere, but I'm not sure which thread it was in. Basically the results were that the levels of the med in her breastmilk were minimal but detectable, but the levels of the med in the baby's blood were basically undetectible. She was on Paxil at the time. This has been an ongoing study at the UofIowa in my town and I think the results are pretty typical of hers. I know literally dozens if not more women who have come through my bfing support group who have been on antidepressants, and their baby's are fine. Please, don't let that chiro stop you from taking meds while bfing.

Also, remember that stress hormones are also passed through breastmilk. If you are suffering from too much depression or anxiety, your babe will get those hormones through your milk. You have to weigh your options. For me, I would choose the meds since I will benefit from them also.

Good luck through these last months of pregnancy. Have you tried upping your B-vitamin intake? I have been told that can help and have upped mine in preparation. Fish oil is also supposed to help depression. You might try talk therapy if you aren't finding any relief. Let me know how you are doing as your pregnancy approaches.

Hugs, Beth

mama2girls · 06-23-2003, 07:22 PM

Oh, yikes. What a horrible thing to hear from a "doctor". I have been on ssri's for all but 4 months of the nearly two years (so far) I have spent nursing. I have big healthy babies who (imho) benefit from having a happy mom.

The doctors (and pharmacists) that I have talked to have told me that the benefits to the mother are far greater than any potential risks to the baby--especially while bfing. But, that said, i'm NOT a doc.

Good luck, sweetie!

Godspeed,

princess buttercup · 06-23-2003, 07:39 PM

I was absolutely a psycho during my last pregnancy. Like PPD before the baby even came. I was irate, crying, irrational-a mess. I was worried about the effects of depression on the pregnancy too. My OB was very unread in SSRI's, had I not been willing to do research about pregnancy and nursing and antidepressants, I don't know what the outcome may have been. I started on antidepressants and am a capable balanced Mom again. My baby was/is a totally healthy baby girl(and still BFing) and the sunshine I needed in my life! Don't give up and check your options.

gilnikche · 06-24-2003, 11:58 PM

My first pregnancy; I thought I was going crazy from 22 weeks on. I struggled through severe anxiety attacks whenever the sun went down & uninformed medical staff that just mentally patted me on the head. In retrospect; I realize that I suffered from PPD too. My babe was 7 lbs 1 oz & was/is petite.

In my second pregnancy; it started all over again right at 22 weeks. But this time I knew that I was losing it! I could not lay down in bed at night without waking up & feeling scared to death. I tried to sleep during the day. My condition got progressively worse until I could not sleep at all. I went without sleep for 4 days. My midwife had no idea what to do to help me. I went to a Naturopath out of desperation. He gave me a herbal remedy to take. It helped slightly. When I checked in with my midwife 4 days later; I found out that 2 of the ingredients could cause me to abort!

I barely got by taking Valerian to help me get a bit of sleep. It was hell. It made my experience in my first pregnancy seem like nothing. I kept telling myself that everything would get better when the baby was born. Well; I went 2 weeks overdue & after I finally gave birth I spiralled downward even further. I held out for 2 weeks before breaking down & calling Postpartum Support International. That morning I told my husband that I just wanted to die. I could not stop crying. I dug out an old issue of Mothering & read an article on PPD. I realized I was suffering from passive suicidal thoughts.

The woman that runs PPSI (Jane)talked to me for at least an hour until she convinced me to go see a doctor immeadiately. Two hours later I was waiting for the doctor to come into the exam room. I felt as if I could crawl out of my skin. I was so agitated that I could not hold still. I definitely freaked out the office staff. I started on Zoloft that day. It was a miracle. I do not use that term lightly. I still had to have someone had to stay with me at all times for the next two weeks but I felt human again after just two doses. ( I took one that day at 5 PM & again the next morning.) BTW; this babe was 8 lbs 15 oz. He has always been a big boy.

I wanted very much to have another child. But I did not want to go into another pregnancy uninformed. I had already been in an UCLA study on Breastfeeding & Antidepressants right after my second baby was born. The results comforted me greatly. But there just was not much info on pregnancy & SSRI's. I started doing library periodical searches & found some studies on it. These studies were done on women that "just happened to be taking SSRI's while pregnant." I was able to get info from UCLA & my pharmacy on the latest "findings". I read an excellent book entitled "When Words Are Not Enough" I can not tell you how much I learned about myself & my condition from this book!

I decided to continue taking my Zoloft through the next pregnancy at the lowest dose that I could get away with. It was amazing.. Even though I threw up throughout the entire pregnancy; it was the first time I experienced a wonderful pregnancy. All the stuff I had read & heard about how good women felt when pregnant now made sense! I had been convinced that it was all B.S. This babe was 9 lbs. & had no problems.

I am now pregnant with my fourth child.
I am still awed by how different it can be. I am now going to wrap up this tome I have written

:

juicylucy · 06-25-2003, 12:17 AM

thanks for the replies. I saw my homeopath today and she has prescribed a remedy that may work. I really want to avoid taking anti-depressants again, just because I hate taking medicine of any kind (conventional). The Paxil helped but I felt really bad the whole time about being on it. Of course if it comes to that I will take another SSRI (poss Zoloft as I won't take Paxil again due to horrendous withdrawal symptoms), but for now I'll see how it goes with this. I am going to try talk therapy as well. Thanks again.

Jish · 06-25-2003, 11:29 AM

Carla, thanks so much for sharing your story. I know it is interesting to me as well as anyone else here contemplating a pregnancy.

BTW, when are you due?

gilnikche · 06-25-2003, 09:49 PM

By date of conception: August 29

By LMP: Sept. 1

My son was born on Sept. 1, 1997. Perhaps they will share a birthday.

mama2girls · 06-25-2003, 09:58 PM

Dang, Carla, you must have textbook cycles!! My edds were off two weeks (from conception vs. lmp).

BTW, thanks for sharing your story. It's still nice to hear that I am not alone!

gilnikche · 06-25-2003, 11:01 PM

Actually, I got pregnant accidentally because my cycles kept changing...

They usually were like clockwork.

bunnybartlett · 03-20-2005, 11:58 PM

I found this old thread through a search and your post exactly describes what I have been going through since 20 wks.I am 28 weeks pregnant now.After therapy and no sleep for all this time my OB finally prescibed zoloft at my persuasion.I have had much awake time to spend at night researching this decision!!! My only fear is the withdrawal symptoms they have noticed in newborns whose mothers took ssris in the last trimester.

My question is what was your experience with this?? Did you notice anything in your children?? They say causes agitation and crying,jitters and sleeplessness in the first 48 hours.I plan on breastfeeding but they say the amount passed in breastmilk is minimal so would that be enough to prevent withdrawal?? And I am not even sure if the med is present in the colostrum.

Thanks for any advice or info

Linda

gilnikche · 03-22-2005, 02:28 AM

Linda,

Geez; I just now saw your post

I have been spending the last two days being a taxi service for my MIL (64 with Emphysema) and her mom (83).

I have now gone through two pregnancies and postpartum periods while taking Zoloft. Neither one of my babes has gone through even the slightest symptoms of withdrawal.

I have my theory as to why some babes go through withdrawal. This is based soley on how I saw nursing moms "educated" on breastfeeding by hospital nurses. They were always advising on just how long to feed on each side and (of course) how often. I think those babies were/are getting short changed. This was over ten years ago, but I do not think much has changed. It is late and I sure hope this makes sense. If not; feel free to ask me anything!

Please let us know how you are doing

bunnybartlett · 03-23-2005, 11:41 PM

my question!! The withdrawal was the only thing I have worried about going into this because I have read zoloft is the safest during pregnancy.You have eased my mind a great deal!!

I just started 50 mg Zoloft on friday and the first few days I felt better already.My husband said it's the placebo effect because the doc said it takes a couple weeks.Tonight I have been having some major anxiety though,so maybe he's right.no panic attacks though thank god.I still have tremendous trouble getting to sleep but have been sleeping better.Did you take your pill in the AM or at night?? I heard this can make a difference.

Thanks again for all the advice,this has been the worst thing I have ever gone through...and thats saying alot.My life has been no piece of cake.I always thought I was strong enough mentally to handle anything thrown my way till this pregnancy.

Linda

gilnikche · 03-24-2005, 12:24 AM

Zoloft should be taken in the morning with food for maximum benefit. I try to remember this, but sometimes forget

Excuse me for saying this but...Your hubby just does not know of what he speaks (then again neither does mine most of the time

). I too could feel a significant difference right away.

It makes me extremely happy to know that I may have played a part in helping you avoid going through what I did.