wanting a baby but taking anti-d's?

[littlelotty]

Hi All

we are wanting to try for another baby but as many of you know i had such an awful time with pnd with my first and only child. I am currently on Sertraline 50mg and worried about taking this during pregnancy but do not want to come off it. It has been the only drug that has made me feel like normal again!

Has anyone else been on this med all through their pregnancy?
I have seen info on the web about birth defects and babys born with withdrawal problems - is this true?

I know i will be back under the mental health team and i am fine with this but do not want to get PND again and will do anything i can to prevent it!

thanks
littlelotty
xx

[monica]

Hi

That's great news LL!

I dont' know anything about takign the drug you're on during pregnancy however, a couple of months ago I caught the tail end of a programme on Radio 4's women'shour about pregnancy and antids. Am eminent psychiatrist who specialises in PND and antenatal depression was on there and said often the benefits of taking antids during the pregnancy ususally far outweigh the risks, and underlined the fact that although the risk of birth defects was found to double, the initial figure was extremely low.

One of my friend's took prozac during her pregnancy and her son was absolutely fine - another of the ladies on here baby was monitored for an extra 48 hours post delivery and was fine too.

Why dont' you speak toyour dr about any worries you have?

All thebest and enjoy the trying!

Monica

[sazzythom]

Hi littlelotty

We've just found out that we're expecting our second this year and after sufferring very badly with depression and psychosis after my first i was really worried to.

My mental health team have been great though and explained the risks and the pros and cons and basically left it up to me. I feel really rather worried about takig them but have agreed to stay on my meds through my pregnancy. I feel the risks to my health are just far to great for me to come off them.

Its a huge step to think about having another child and for u to be thinking of it means u feel ready. try not to fret about what might happen and concentrate on having a happy healthy pregnancy. Your in a better position than u were with ur first and like many other women going through it at least u know what could be happening and seek help quicker

good luck with the trying and just try and relax and enjoy this time.

[Bookwormprincess]

Hi,
I too am taking anti-d's during pregnancy, 75mg of dotheipin. It's low risk for the baby (and everything was perfect at our 1st scan although I expected to see no arms or something horrible because I felt so guilty about taking meds) but it reduces the risk of me becoming ill with severe depression or worse psychosis during pregnancy, which is a possibility once you've had PP, so under my doctor's guidance I decided to stay on them. It is hard, but there are so many healthy babies born nowadays to Mum's on anti-ds - they wouldn't let us go near them at all if there was a big risk to the baby.

My midwife is not clued up on withdrawel after baby is born but she's going to get in touch with the paediatrician so that I know what to expect, because I recall my GP or another Dr telling me baby may have problems after birth while the drug gets out of their system, but nothing that will be long term or can't be helped in the first few days. I'm also seeing the obstetrician in 2 weeks so they may know more about what to expect about baby's withdrawel symptoms. It sounds awful doesn't it, poor wee thing, but we are ultimately taking the meds for their good because we need to look after oursleves whilst pregnant to look after them.

All the best with trying when you do decide to go ahead and don't forget your prenatal vitamins!

Take care

[littlelotty]

Thanks ladies, i think i might make an appointment with my doctor to discuss this and see what he thinks but like you have all said i think the risks for me coming off them will be more than staying on. Feel very bad if the baby is impacted!

I really hope i have a good pregnancy this time and preparing everything before i even get pregnant which is better than it was the first time around as it wasnt planned. Very excited about getting pregnant though!

xxxx