Antidepressants

[anita665]

I'm going to the doctors tomorrow because I'm very depressed at the moment and think I need help to get through it. I was wondering, if I have antidepressants, are there any I can take and still breastfeed?

 

[mickey]

not sure, hun, sorry!

hope you feel better soon

 

[sam's mum]

I'm not sure, but your doctor will be able to advise you. There's some information here about different ones and the possible effects they might have:

https://drugs.about.com/od/reproductionincontinence/l/blpostparttable.htm

Hope everything goes well at the doctors and you start to feel better soon x

 

[Ragirl]

First off- - sorry you are dealing with this. I am in the mental health field, so here are my thoughts. Most antidepressants are class C: not for use in nursing. Several have *unknown* safety in nursing. There are a couple, Zoloft (Sertraline) being one of the most popular, that are "Class C: caution in nursing." You will have to discuss this with your provider. What it will come down to is the severity of your depression. On one hand, if you have tried non-medicinal forms of treatment and they have not worked, AND your depression is severe (suicidal ideation, don't have the energy to care for baby and self), then you should probably take medication. In this case, you will have to decide if the risk of taking the medication is worth it to you or if you would prefer to stop bfing. On the other hand, although it may feel overwhelming right now, if your depression is not severe, I would recommend trying some non-medicinal treatments first. Most hospitals offer postpartum depression groups and/or your doc might have a resource for support groups. You can also try individual treatment with a therapist. Other things you can do: 1) Sunlight is a natural antidepressant (early morning sun is the best), so get out and get some sun. 2) Exercise is a natural antidepressant. 3) Some people become depressed when they are not getting enough Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids, so try to eat more of those in your diet. 4) GET SUPPORT- a new baby is hard. So whether you go to a formal support group or therapist or just have a close friend/family member you can go to- make sure you are getting the emotional support you need during this time. And not just from your partner (If you have one)- they are going through their own adjustments as well and are not always the best source of support. If your depression is fairly bad, I know it may be difficult to even think about going outside or exercising, but try and set small goals for each day. For example, just go for a 20 minute walk with baby in the early morning sun for a few days. And once that feels manageable- increase it. Some women also find it helpful to remind themselves this is a hormonal issue. For example, when they start feeling depressed and like life really is bad right now, they find it helpful to remind themselves that really, everything is okay and it is just hormones making them feel overwhelmed (not sure if this would be a helpful thought to you or not). Good luck hun and hang in there- I know you probably feel miserable right now but it will end.