Pregnancy and Depression

Hi A.,

My heart goes out to you. You need to talk to your doctor about this. Do you see a regular physician or an OB/GYN? My advice would be to find and OB/GYN if you aren't already seeing one and discuss your concern with her/him.

I, like you, experienced depression with both of my pregnancies. I have been on anti-depressants pretty much since my daughter was born 15 years ago. I took Prozac with her. I just took a lower dose theb I was orginally on, I was on Paxil with my son, who is now 7. In the beginning, I was on Paxil and my reg. doctor took me completely off of it. I ended up in a hospital for a few days due to uncontrollable crying (and even suicidal thoughts).

Your doctor can weigh out whether it is in the best interest of you and your baby. Depression isn't good for your baby. Oh, by the way, neither one of my children suffered these awful problems that we hear about.

From what I know about Effexor, that one has actually been proven that it can have more side effects then the other anti-depressants.

Hang in there! This does end. It does get better. I know when you are living in a cloud of darkness, it is hard to see any light.

Much love,

R.

Take it. Or prozac that is ok with babies. Your baby can sense your mood. You are better off taking something to help you than being miserable. Take your mental state seriously and get all the help you can. Try therapy too and a support group. Your mental state is important when your child is here and you are raising them but it's also important before they are born. Good luck, congratulations and good mental health!

I am currently taking Celexa for depression. I took it throughout my last two pregnancies, with no effect on my babies. Depression can have physical causes, it's not always something that can just go away by talking to people or excercising or with therapy. I have to take medication to control mine. If your OB has recommended Wellbutrin, I'm sure it won't hurt your baby. Taking meds may be the only way for you to get rid of your depression. Anxiety and stress is harmful to a developing baby, so taking meds in my opinion is better for the baby, if it helps me to be happy. Not to mention the way depression can affect those around you. My advice is to really consider taking the meds, just find the safest option during pregnancy. Good luck!

A.,
First of all, I am SO sorry that you are having to deal with depression on top of being pregnant. I had the same problem when I was expecting my son (who is now almost two). My feeling is that the anxiety and depression you feel cannot possibly be good for your baby, and your depression could keep you from taking proper care of yourself. I didn't want to take meds either and didn't for the first half of my pregnancy (which was absolutely miserable). I started taking half a dose-I was on Zoloft-at about 5 months along and it made all the difference. I felt better about taking only half a dose for the baby's sake and it still took the edge off my depression. My baby was born healthy and I was able to handle "the new baby adjustment" beautifully. You need to decide what's best for YOU, but I wanted to share my experience with you. Good luck, dear friend! I'll be thinking of you!

In a case like this you have to think about which is more harmful for baby! Take the medicine please! It is nothing to be ashamed about.

A.,
I wish that I could empathize with you or give you some advice about depression and pregnancy. Mostly I just wanted to write to let you know that you are not alone and that I will pray for you. My initial reaction was..."I don't know anything about those topics" but then I felt I just needed to write to let you know that I am thinking about you.
I know that the good of your children is directly effected by you and if you are not healthy then they won't get what they need... this goes for anything, not just depression. If your doctor thinks that your wellbeing and then that of your child will benifit from this drug...I don't know. I am just trying to be supportive. Sorry for the rambling and once again I will add you to my prayers.

YOu probably should trto get back on your meds. I weaned myself off at 7 weeks and then I to had a relapse. I was so much happier when i got back to the meds and I continued to take it until my son was almost 2 yrs old. It was the best decission that I could have made.I took zoloft. My on is now very energetic and super smart . I never new that I had it in me to make make such a beautiful little guy. It really is the best for the both of you a this time. Any undue stress is not good or either of yo. Good Luck
T.

A.,
I am sorry to hear that you are having a relapse. I do reserach on pregnancy and depression with a group of OB's and Family Medicine Doctors at the University of Utah. I myself am pregnant also.

If you are adimant about staying off meds (which I would strongly suggest talking with not only your OB but a mental health professional many are fine to take during pregnancy espcially now that you are out of the critical development zone) a few other things that you can try are:
1. exercise- just 20 minutes can boost your mood and help clear out the cob webs so that you can think and get good quality sleep
2. Eat a well balanced diet loaded with fruit and veggies
3. either make an appointment with a mental health professional or fnid a person/friend you feel safe talking with and talk about your fears, feelings, and where you are so someone knows.
4. Love that little one of yours, kids are amazing at boosting your seratonin levels.
5. Get out of the house, and if possible take time for just you.

S.

I have been on anti-depressants for about 10 years now and can't live without them. With my first pregnancy I was on Lexapro and just weaned off them about a month before I had my baby. With my current pregnancy, I'm on Prozac and plan on doing the same thing. There were no side effects to my first daughter and my sanity was very important, no only for myself, but for my husband. I feel like it was the right thing to do to stay on my meds. I don't think I could have gotten through it had I not been on them. By going off them a month before the baby is born, you eliminate the baby having withdrawal symptoms. Best of luck to you!

I took Prozac through two pregnancies. My doctor said that Prozac is very well studied in pregnancy and probably one of the safest. It's important that you take care of yourself. There's a support group for peri-natal depression that I attended, as well, called PSI, Postpartum Support International, but they also help people during pregnancy. The website is: http://www.postpartum.net/. PSI international was founded to "eliminate denial and ignorance of emotional health related to childbirth."
Email me if you want to talk: ____@____.com

I have been on wellbutrin, and I can tell you from experience it is one of the milder ones. I haven't heard of any effects with it and pregnancy... I would look into that, but the dose may be a lot less harmful to the baby, then the stress. You also have to remember you are in the early stages and the hormones could be an issue. I would not write it off yet. I you can try counseling, and let the doctors know your concern, if you are not happy with their response... get a second opinion. Effexor is a lot stronger than wellbutrin, so it may be a valid option. No one like the thought of meds while pregnant, trust me, but it is a lot safer than stressing out and feeling run down.

There are 2 good counselors I have seen in town. Dr. Miles Morgan and Phil Glessner.

Good Luck,
-T.

KEEP TAKING IT! I was on it with my daughter, and I too tried weaning off of it. I suffered from severe panic attacks and bouts of depression and it was more dangerous for my baby to be off of it than on. She is now a very healthy, bright almost four year old and there is nothing I regret about being able to take care of myself and ENJOYING my pregnancy and new baby. I was able to wean off slowly when I was weaning her from breastfeeding at 10 months, and we both had no side affects. Because of my hormone shifts, I didn't have to get back on the medication and have been fine since (I had previously suffered for more than 15 years!). So please, PLEASE, enjoy your life...if being on a low risk medication makes it happen, don't let anyone make you feel guilty.

PS I had an allergic reaction to Welbutrin, but the Effexor XR was just fine and is still considered a low risk drug.

Hi A.

What I am about to say may seem old school, but really think about. I have since I was 14 years old suffered from depression and panic attacks and fear all my life. I have research and researched all of these conditions. Tried mental health doctors, meds (only a few days) and found out by research that all of these conditions are linked by one common factor. FEAR!!

Fear, the unknown... But Fear is NOT real it is a perception....
When you think about our grandparents and great grandparents, how
hard things must have been for them in times of trouble. They never popped a pill, They dealt with it..

Your same brain, that causes you to being depressed is the same brain that can make you happy. You must find time for you...
Your space.. YOUR Time. We all have routines.. yes they are boring
and can get you down. But pull yourself up... Meds only fake the brain out. Enjoy life.. It is ok to cry let the tears flow and wash away all the hurt you are feeling. Pray.. Pray alone, even if you have to do it in the bathroom. Prayer is the biggest stress reliever that no man can duplicate. We can not be happy 100% of the time. Think of life as a roller coaster, all the ups and downs and twist and turns, most people love it. It makes it exciting.. You must take life like that, find a hobby, painting, writing, reading, singing, pottery, dance lessons, yoga and so many more. You can do this on your own. You are strong and will survive.. Remember that the feelings that you have are nothing more than an exaggeration or normal bodily reactions to stress.
You must find a stress reliever...Stop awfulizing. what's happenign and where it might lead. Stop... Wait and give time for it to pass without fighting it or running away from it, just accept it. We can all cope with things, think about it. You deal with things everyday, a window breaks, what do you do? Your car breaks down, what do you do? You deal with it.. You can deal with this. Instead on focusing on the bad, focus on the good. Train your brain, just like you did when you were a child.

Congrats on being pregnant.. How exciting for you.

Really research the internet, for ways to deal with depression without meds, natural cures...

Enjoy life and have fun with that 4 year old son, go the Peter piper pizza and play on the rides with him, act like a kid and laugh at yourself. Just being a fun and cool mom will make you feel better.

Good Luck and God Bless you and your family...

Hi A.,
While I don't suffer from depression, I am with you...I wouldn't take any meds while I was pregnant. I know in that first trimester, you feel pretty lousy, so hopefully your spirits will change for the better once you are into your second trimester.

Are you feeling up to a little walk? Excercise and fresh air always helps boost the mood and spirits. If not, try sitting outside at a park in the open air and with the kids having fun. Kids can bring out the best!

Best of luck with everything!
C.

I wanted to add something no one else has addressed. I have a BS in biology and one of my courses was an independent research course on the effects of estrogenic chemicals in the environment on the developing fetus. In my research, I read studies reporting that severe stress during pregnancy can really mess with your internal hormone balance which is essential to the proper development of your baby. In other words, severe stress is not a great alternative to medications. And depression can be really stressfull. I know from experience that you can pull yourself out of clinical depression with an enormous amount of mental and physical effort, but can you spare that right now? There are very few of us in situations where exerting that kind of effort would be feasible and I can't imagine doing it while pregnant. I just wouldn't have the physical resources. Be realistic about what you can and can't do in your time and place--don't worry about what you SHOULD be able to do according to people who aren't you--just focus on and take care of yourself. I would do what research you can, but don't be afraid to get the help you need even if it means taking medication. And if you don't trust your doctor, get another one that you feel really good about. Having a doctor you don't fully trust will only add to the stress of the decision. And remember that none of us are doctors. :) Well, that's all my advice. Pretty bossy, huh? I'm in bossy mode right now, sry.

Oh, one more thing... DON'T FEEL GUILTY! It interferes with the rational thought process and skews our perception of reality. That's no good, eh? And trust yourself and your decisions.

Hope this helps and doesn't stress you out further. :)
Best of luck and lots of love and prayers!

M.

I know the struggles you are facing. I too faced them. I suffered from similiar problems with both my pregnancies (as a result so did my husband and family). I don't know if I would have done it different. I was so concerned about the developing baby. I just don't think we know what these drugs can do. I know the docs say it is fine but they have said that before and then.... But I also know the mother's mental health is so important for a healthy baby so if the following don't help you many have to get back on the drugs. I really tried to workout regularly that can make a big difference. I also took Sammy and St. John's Wort (Natural supplements). I also tried to eat well. I never fetl as good as I did (do) on the docs drugs but it got me through. I hope this helps. Also keep in mind the first three months most women tend to be more emotional 'cuz of crazy hormones,often they calm down around the fourth month.
J.

My husband and both of my sisters suffer from depression and don't do very well without medicine, so this is a topic we have thought a lot about. My sister is pregnant right now and just decided to go back on Prozac after trying it without. She said she was just too irritable with her other 2 kids.

Anyway, I just wanted to say that Prozac may be all right, but it's still kind of scary, huh? You just never know the long term effects for sure. I wanted to at least mention a couple of really good books I read that have some other suggestions. One is "The Mood Cure" by Julia Ross. It has a lot of suggestions for increasing serotonin, like 5-HTP and others. It really works, but it may not work as dramatically as the medication. It may not be enough. Also "The Omega Rx Zone" by Barry Sears. I checked it out from the library here, and it was really interesting. It discusses how high dose, pharmaceutical grade fish oil (the only kind pure enough to take high doses) can naturally increase serotonin and dopamine. It's also really, really good for your baby's brain development. Another good book is "Healing Anxiety and Depression" by Daniel Amen. Anyway, it might be worth a try. Also, eat lots of protein so your body has the amino acids to make serotonin with.

Good luck. Believe me, I understand that depression can be very serious, and I don't mean to imply that you shouldn't treat it. I just thought I would give you some options. Take care!