Medication and baby- What to expect

[mumtobe01]

As some of you may know I am having an awful time with my mental health illnesses at the moment and am hoping to be able to go back on to my pre-pregnancy medication to keep me 'sain'.
My worry is for baby, I have been assured that becasue baby is fully formed it should not cause a problem for him in that sense but he may well suffer from withdrawl symptoms shortly after birth, I understand this can be anything from irritability to tremors and seizures.
I was just wondering if any of you have had any experience with this?
How will it work at the hospital, will baby be taken straight to intensive care or will I be able to have him in the room with me?
How long can the withdrawl symptoms last for him?
Will they have to ween him off the meds? If so how?

 

[Tatertot]

I think it probably depends on the medication and the severity of his withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal from a benzodiazapine is much harder/worse than from some other medications. I would think that if he is just irritable, but is stable in all other ways that he could probably stay with you. Of course, you should probably ask your doctor.

Big hugs!

 

[Tanikit]

which meds are you planning on going back onto - will definitely vary depending on this as some are very mild with almost no effects on the baby.

 

[mumtobe01]

The meds that I should be going back on to are Cipralex at 20mg and Qutiapine 100mg-200mg and am on Amitriptyline 40mg (This may be decreased to 20mg if on the other two).

 

[kiasuten]

I stopped taking my Citalopram (Celexa) when I found out I was pregnant because dr. said the baby would suffer from withdrawal when he is born.

Recently, my psychiatrist put me on Bupropion (Wellbutrin) because studies (since 1997) have shown that it is an effective antidepressant and there is no withdrawal should I stop the medication (and the baby won't suffer withdrawal when he is born).

From personal experience, I would suggest you make the choice based not only on how your baby will be affected by the medicine, but how you will be dealing with your problems WITHOUT the medicine. If you're unable to take care of yourself, then you can't take care of baby I really wanted to continue my pregnancy without any kind of medication (even painkillers) but it was practically impossible. I was unable to deal without my medicine.

Good luck!

 

[mumtobe01]

Two months before I fell pregnant I came off all my medication because we wanted to try for a baby and I did not want my baby being harmed by the medication. My husband and I agreed that we would try and cope without medication for at least the first trimester but I was being completly unrealustic when I thought I would be able to cope the whole pregnancy without medication.
Now I realise how foolish I have been, I am not coping at all and if I continue on this path I will not be able to care for my little boy, I know in my heart that going back on to the medication will be the best choice for us both.

 

[LadyGecko]

The meds that I should be going back on to are Cipralex at 20mg and Qutiapine 100mg-200mg and am on Amitriptyline 40mg (This may be decreased to 20mg if on the other two).

I was on the cipralex 20mg and my gp took me off as soon as i had my bfp, it is not classed as safe while pregnant, your gp may offer you an alternitave as they did for me I have had to go bcak on my medication this week so I can realate xx