Dr Wants Me to Wean My Baby

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I quickly googled it and it says that wellbutrin does pass into breast milk. It is class C which means the effect on the baby has not been studied. I would think it would probably be better to be safe than sorry and wean your baby. Good luck!

Updated

I quickly googled it and it says that wellbutrin does pass into breast milk. It is class C which means the effect on the baby has not been studied. I would think it would probably be better to be safe than sorry and wean your baby. Good luck!

Is there any way you can try to manage the depression without the drug?

Magnesium deficiencies can manefest as bipolar, depression, and a host of other effects on the nervous system. http://george-eby-research.com/html/depression-anxiety.html

Thyroid disorders are a HUGE cause of depression and widely missed. The tests for thyroid are not sensitive enough to pick up all thyroid disorders. A better initial test is to take your body temp every morning as soon as you wake but before you rise from bed. http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/tempurature/

Things that will help your thyroid are :
*iodine with vit E
*getting rid of man made oils like canola,vegetable,safflower, shortening, etc, and using raw virgin coconut oil and butter instead. Take 2-3 T of coconut oil by spoon a day. Using coconut oil will help you make progesterone, a hormone that can balance out the hormones estrogen/testosterone and so combat those thyroid issues.
*Vit B complex and vit b5 will support your nervous system and assist in depression.
*Magnesium. Magnesium oil can be rubbed on skin. Magnesium malate is pill form. I would do both if it were me. Mag Chelates aluminum /metals.
* some people take natural progesterone (see a naturopath for guidance)
* getting the chlorine out of your tap water with some kind of filter (some filters remove magnesium so watch out, take your MG)

Too many heavy metals in the body can cause nervous system disruption, INCLUDING depression. NCD zeolite can Chelate the metals out of your body, and it is SAFE to do while breastfeeding, and it is safe for you.
http://zeoliteautismstudy.com/1-dr-p-clips-audio-420.htm
Depression can be caused by other toxic overload, from large bacterial , fungal or parasite colonies. These colonies actually produce toxin (their excrement) and it affects the nervous system. Pathogens actually hide behind metals, so getting out the heavy metals with Zeolite can assist with both issues. Metals abound in our food supply and water, in your fillings, in vaccines, in prescription drugs.

Anti depressants are a way for the pharma companies to make tons of money-and produce a dependant person who will forever be a dependant income stream. meanwhile they are NOT FIXING THE UNDERLYING CAUSE of why your nervous system is depressed. Depression is NOT normal, it has a physical cause. The key is to find out that cause.

I would see a nutritional doctor or naturopath for any of these routes, rather than a standard MD.

Have you asked your doc to give you a functional chemistry assessment ? you can have it done by Genova labs . You would get a nutri-eval. that would tell you what you are missing biochemically and. maybe let you off the wellbutin. You may have a sever B vitamin deficency. or an absorption problem. I had the test they gave me IV's of B vitamins 1/week for a few months and then I take lots of extra stress B vitamins I just don't absorp well and had to take lots of extra probiotics too. The IV's are called meyers cocktail or meyers plus IV push. You can ask your doc or call Genova diagnostics in north carolinia (I think) and ask for a doc in your area. If its a deficency (and I had a sever one for years ) it can be corrected and no more drugs for you or baby. Minimally I would increase your b vitamins and a good general vitamin. Ask at your local health food store for the best highest quality that is pharmaceutical grade processing. These test are done at the Cleveland clinic they are just when docs are looking deeper than average. Good Luck.

See a specialist instead of your family doctor for depression. With additional therapy and counseling you may be able to keep your medication dose lower.
Good luck!

STRONG second on seeing a specialist to manage your PPD & Meds. My GP is great, but he doesn't spend all of his time working in, continuing to train/ go to school for, reading up on all of the latest studies in neurochem, meds, treatment, & therapy. Psychiatrists and Psychologist DO. He instead has to scan through over 30 specialities. At BEST that means he's 1/30th as up to speed as my psychologist/psychiatrist team... but my amazing & wonderful GP is also is missing 3 years of eduction that each of them have on top of the same stuff that HE went to school for. If you had heart issues you'd see a cardiologist... ditto eyes, teeth, stomach, lungs... so for the most complex and delicate organ you have (your brain)... don't you owe it to yourself to see a specialist?

R

I had a very similar situation and breastfed while on an anti-depressant (remeron). My psychiatrist and pediatrician felt okay about it b/c my baby was already sleeping through the night at 4 months when I went on it and I was able to take the medicine at night so they felt like most was out of my system by morning. My post partum was marked mainly by chronic, relentless insomnia so I did start supplementing at that point anyway in case the remeron didn't work and I needed to go on something stronger. You may want to consider beginning to supplement and use a bottle some so that if you do notice any ill effects on your child from the increase in wellbutrin, you can wean sooner rather than later. While breastfeeding is great, a mentally stable mother is far more important to the well-being of the child!

Your OB/GYN should be deferring to your pediatrician regarding the safety of your child when lactating. I, too, wanted to go back on medication after having my son and nursing. But, my OB/GYN said that since it affected the baby more than me, I really needed to have the blessing of the pediatrician. I'm glad I did because he was not in favor of me using an SSRI (class of medication) during nursing.

Regarding JW's message about categories: it is pregnancy category C (meaning it hasn't been studied) but it does say that its metabolites pass into breast milk and has the potential for serious adverse events in nursing infants. Here is the "prescribing information" for which the FDA has approved the drug.
http://us.gsk.com/products/assets/us_wellbutrinXL.pdf

I decided nursing was more important and chose not to resume medication.

Also, if your PP depression is severe enough, have you considered seeing a therapist? I had to after the birth of my daughter, being diagnosed with cancer and going through many months of chemo. Learning how to live as a survivor and parent with young children was really hard. I opted for therapy instead of medications that time around - I'm wondering if they may be able to compliment the medications and help keep you from needing the higher dose.

If you need to be on the medication to be the best possible mother, please don't feel like you've let your daughter down by weaning her before you wanted to. I had nursed my son for the whole year and planned on doing the same thing for my daughter - cancer had other plans for me, and it was more important to start chemo and give my daughter the chance of having me around than it was for her to have my milk.

Only you can determine what is best for your family. One option, too, is to pump while using the higher dose (to keep your production up), dumping the pumped milk and resuming when you either lower the dose or discontinue the medication.

Good luck. I hope you have peace in your decision.

Beyond the differences b/w pediatric and psychiatric medicine... nursing will make you happier, make your hormones work with you to make you happier, and allow you to bond and love your child to make you happier.

Do your research, look at the statistics realistically, and do what you want your mama-heart tells you to do -- mama knows best:)

I can certainly sympathize. I faced this same very difficult decision and ended up nursing my baby for a year while on medication. I was treated by a doctor specializing in post-partum depression, and we mutually decided that the benefits of breastfeeding outweighed the small chance (if any) of effects on the baby. My son is now a thriving, very bright, normal 4-year-old. I encourage you to consult a doctor specializing in PPD. My doctor's name is Angela Arnold: ###-###-####. She is not in SC but may be able to recommend someone who is. Blessings to you and your baby!
A.

When I was breastfeeding, after the first 3 months, my pediatritian who was supposedly so "PRObreastfeeding" kept forgetting I was still breastfeeding. Doctors in general are still not all that into breastfeeding. I'm sorry you have a decision like this to make, getting conflicting information puts more stress on you. You have to follow your heart and your Motherly instincts, too. Make sure your decision feels right to you. Many times Mama knows!

Updated

When I was breastfeeding, after the first 3 months, my pediatritian who was supposedly so "PRObreastfeeding" kept forgetting I was still breastfeeding. Doctors in general are still not all that into breastfeeding. I'm sorry you have a decision like this to make, getting conflicting information puts more stress on you. You have to follow your heart and your Motherly instincts, too. Make sure your decision feels right to you. Many times Mama knows!

Hi S.,

The jury is still out on whether it is bad for the baby or not but the jury is sure that it is passed into breast milk. If it were me I would find another way to manage the depression. No chemical is safe for a little one. Stopping the breastfeeding will probably exacerbate the depression as it is an emotional decision plus breast milk is best. I breast fed both of my daughters just at a year (both weaned themselves at 14 months and 10 months respectively).

There are many natural depression aids that are safe for breastfed babies. My first question is are you still on your prenatal vitamin? If you aren't you need to be. If you are it may not be absorbing properly and you may need a different one. Properly absorbed nutrition will stave off depression during hormonal times. I use a vitamin that is guaranteed to absorb. It's the only one on the market with that guarantee. I don't go through those little hormonal dips anymore that I used to have.

Hope I helped!

M.

See a psychiatrist instead of an OB, for starters. The psych is trained to really HELP you, not just medicate it away, and PPD is a very real thing. You need different kinds of help; a pill might not do it in a way that you can be happy and enjoy your baby. It's a multi-pronged approach, if you will.

I believe that Hale's--the definitive guide to nursing and medication--clears Wellbutrin for nursing. It has been known to cause supply problems in some women, but I believe that that's why it's not the preferred med (I think Zoloft is still #1). Also, please check out Kellymom.com, which has a long list of the medications that are considered risky.

Believe it or not, nursing usually helps PPD, so good for you (and your baby!) doing it. Nursing releases oxytocin and feel-good emotions, and also often helps mothers mentally when they're dealing with a young infant. You're right to get help, and I hope that everything works out well for you.

As a healthcare professional, I would advise that you ask your OB/GYN to reccomend a pyschiatrist to manage your depression, post partum or not. It is not appropriate for a family doctor to be managing your depression/meds. If you want to nurse your baby, you should. You are both benefitting. Just make sure you are doing it safely and the safest way is to see a specialist whose training is specifically for this complaint. Not diagnosing chicken pox and earaches.

It is considered 'ok' to take while breastfeeding. What abouts witching to Zoloft or another medication that is known to be ok during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Here is a list from kellymom.com http://www.kellymom.com/health/meds/antidepressants-hale1...

I would speak to an IBCLC and perhaps consider switching meds, but I wouldn't stop breastfeeding.

I don't have direct experience with Wellbutrin, but I was on a pretty hefty dose of Zoloft for PP Depression and my baby was fine, no side effects. I would believe the OB/GYN and Pediatrician, as they are trained to know the effects of anti-depressants on moms, breastmilk, and infants. Maybe just confirm with them what dose you're on to double check that it's ok.

Do what will make YOU feel best! Your baby is going to be just fine regardless, and you will bond (and already have). Nothing is worse for a baby than having unhappy parents, so weigh your options and do what will honestly make you feel the absolute best here. I know a lot of people who breastfed on anti-depressants, but I have no idea what dosages they were on. Hormones can make a big difference, but don't get off the anti-depressants and think your hormones and breastfeeding will make everything ok. People who think that haven't had real post-partum depression. It's very serious and not something to fool around with!

I took 150mg Wellbutrin during my first pregnancy and breastfed my first daughter for 22 months all while on the medication. I was still taking it while pregnant with my second, who is almost four months old and I am breastfeeding her. Both girls are completely healthy and doing great. Breastfeeding is so important for baby, I hope that you can continue to do it! :)

When I was breastfeeding, after the first 3 months, my pediatritian who was supposedly so "PRObreastfeeding" kept forgetting I was still breastfeeding. Doctors in general are still not all that into breastfeeding. I'm sorry you have a decision like this to make, getting conflicting information puts more stress on you. You have to follow your heart and your Motherly instincts, too. Make sure your decision feels right to you. Many times Mama knows!

I was on 150 mg of Wellbutrin and nursed my son for 12 1/2 months. My ob and my therapist both said it was one of the safer ones. For me, weaning would have been more detrimental to my mental health because I desired to do it so badly. Plus, nursing releases all sorts of feel good hormones. Oh, and my son is perfectly healthy!

PP is usually not a long lasting thing. There are plenty of natural ways you could go. I am always amazed at how Dr's push drugs rather than help you find better solutions. I would rather be sad and nurse my baby than feed her formula and take drugs. I've had PP everytime I've been pregnant.

In fact if you stop nursing it may make the depression worse. Nursing helps with it. Try to get outside more. Take walks and go places. DONT stay inside all day. This will make you depressed. Open the blinds, put on some pretty music, dance with your baby, go outside. You need some sunlight.

That baby needs your milk.

Assuming you have a good relationship with him/her, I would want to know WHY your family doctor has said this, specifically what risk to the baby is he/she aware of. I would also explain that this information conflicts with that provided by both your ob-gyn and the pediatrician. Consider taking this information back to the pediatrician, explaining your concerns and desire to breasfeed until age 1.
In my opinion, and having asked doctors directly about pharmaceutical information, several have readily admitted that there is so much new information being received in their offices that it is difficult, if not impossible, to stay abreast of the latest studies. Perhaps this accounts for the apparent discrepancy?

If you cannot receive consistent advice across the board, then, in matters pertaining to the baby, I would opt for the opinion of the pediatrician, who has additional education specifically in treating infants and children.
I wish you well, and best wishes to you and your baby!

Bless you both!

You DON'T have to wean! Many antidepressants *are* compatible with breastfeeding. I found lots of information (though nothing specific to Wellbutrin) - it sounds like any side effects are pretty negligible after 60-90 days anyway. If you find that Wellbutrin isn't the safest with breastfeeding, could you try another anti-depressant that is?

http://www.kellymom.com/health/meds/index.html

www.kellymom.com has information on what medications are known to be safe while breastfeeding (and pregnant), and advice on how to find the most up-to-date information on a particular medication.

Moreover, they have a page dedicated exclusively to anti-depressants, where they quote from Dr. Thomas Hale (who *literally* wrote the book on "Medications and Mother's Milk") in which he states that:
"In all studies thus far, any negative effects of medication usually occur in the first 30-60 days postpartum, so breastfeeding beyond that and taking medication is usually fine. "

Wellbutrin wasn't mentioned specifically, (maybe it's newer?) but he says that the class of "SSRIs" are the safest.

"When choosing a medication SSRIs are generally the preferred choice for a breastfeeding mother. Side effects from SSRIs are most common in the first 3 months postpartum; so with an older baby, there is little concern. Hale's "choice hierarchy" is as follows:

* Zoloft
* Paxil
* Celexa
* Effexor
* Prozac

"Concluding remarks - Finally, Dr. Hale concluded his talk by saying that breastfeeding should be supported fully and not interrupted by mom's needs for medication; and that treatment of postpartum depression can be accomplished relatively safely in breastfeeding mothers. So, in his consideration, moms should continue breastfeeding and should get drug treatment as needed for depression. "

Take the kellymom article to your doctor and ask her to look up the safety of Wellbutrin in Dr. Hale's book or prescribe you something that *is*compatible.

I am an OB nurse who shares an office with a lactation consultant (IBCLC) and I just asked her your question. We looked it up and it says there is not a lof literature but evidence points towards it being safe. It does recommend considering another drug- Nortriptoline, Paxil, Sertaline are the ones that are recommended by the site (LACTMED, a database from the federal government. To be clear, if the options are quit breastfeeding or breastfeed and take the med, she recommends the second. I would take the opinion of any MD with a grain of salt- they are often not very informed about what is safe during breastfeeding. If anything, I would go with the ped and OB since they deal with this regularly. Great work to breastfeed this long and please continue if that is what you desire- it will make you feel that much better!

I personally would not want to pass any unnecessary pharmaceuticals to my baby.

You say: "my family dr has managed my depression **for years**". So, this physician has had a much longer relationship with you as a patient...? Perhaps your family doctor has read more information specifically about that drug and/or, because of your long-standing relationship... as in, he has a built up level of concern that formed from the years of having you as a patient, is recommending that you stop. Is it possible that he is recommending the same thing that he would recommend to his own family members? If so, I think that is really valuable in a patient/doctor relationship and you should not blow it off.