Bf and antidepressants

[Sprk]

I'm hoping t get some advice or reassurance. I'm planning to bf for as long as I can once lo arrives, but I might be taking an anti depressants. I saw my consultant yesterday, absolutely in tears because of all the stress at home I've been having. I've been feeling very low for weeks despite Dh's best efforts (although he's been depressed lately too because of his health). She is going to have my gp see me ASAP and discuss the possibility of using an anti depressant. I'm worried about whether or not there is one safe enough to use while bf.

Has anyone had any experience with this?

 

[mum2b410]

Hi hun- firstly so sorry u r feeling this way but its great u have told someone and r getting help!..... I had PND after my son and looked into antidepressants and what crosses over into breastmilk. There r def ones they consider to be safe but I don't think there r any that don't cross over at all. I ended up on anti depressants after I finished breastfeeding. I took citalopram for about 10months. A friend started on it too whilst she was breastfeeding and breastfed her son til gone 2 years and he is absolutely fine!...... Def get GP to talk about any pros and cons. I think I googled 'drugs in breastmilk' and found some good info last time. ...... I have been seeing consultant this time round due to my history with PND and they have said I can have medication during pregnancy if I need it- they would need the paediatrician there straight after birth to check any effect on baby but there was no mention of anti-d's not being ok to take in pregnancy!...... I've so far managed to stay off them but I'm having CBT- could that b an alternative for u if u end up deciding against medication?? ......Whatever happens I hope u r feeling better soon xxx

 

[mum2b410]

http://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/drugs-in-breastmilk-information-and-factsheets.html

 

[mum2b410]

Think this was a good site I uses last time xxx

 

[Sprk]

Thank you so much for the info. I will be looking into it. Can you tell me what CBT is?

 

[Saxelby88]

Hi Sprk.

Hope things get better for you.

Just so you know you are not alone in this situation, I have decided not to BF due to the need for nortriptyline which is an anti-depressant. I take it for nerve pain rather than depression. I had to wean myself off of it before TTC and it wasn't nice I will admit. But worth it.

I am struggling along at the moment but after a long chat with my GP and DH, we decided it would be better for all parties if I get back to meds asap after LO is born and formula feed. I am sure some people would disagree but we all felt a happy, less painful mummy with some sleep is better than a BFing mummy who is constantly feeding and has interrupted sleep. Once a flare of my condition takes a hold of me, it can take months to go.

If it becomes too much and FF seems the better option with some anti-depressants, then don't feel bad. I went through weeks of beating myself up about it and needed some sense talking in to me by my GP. It also means I can get back to strong painkillers and potentially a new medication which I was due to try the week we decided to TTC.

Thinking of you x

 

[mum2b410]

Thank you so much for the info. I will be looking into it. Can you tell me what CBT is?

Sorry hun- its Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Its a talking therapy that looks at your thought processes and gives u ways to try and retrain how u think! (I'm sure Google would give a better explanation!). I've had it before as a treatment for depression in combination with meds and I found it really helpful. Not for everyone but it might be something to ask about xx

 

[buzz]

I've done lots of research on this one! Sertraline appears to be considered the antidepressant with the least crossover effect on the baby. Of course, different drugs work differently for different people so you may need something different but worth exploring that one as an option.