I'm putting myself out there by posting this...

Ok, I'm suffering terribly from PPD. I'm not going to lie. It's been really rought these last few weeks. I did a lot of research on it, and from what I've read, you can take antidepressants while breastfeeding. So I had spoken to my OB and a dr. who works with my practice about going on antidepressants for my PPD, and they just got back to me yesterday saying that none of the antidepressants are compatible with BF-ing, and I would have to put Ava on formula if I took the meds. So now I am forced to make the decision between doing what is best for my daughter and doing what's best for me. I am so not ok with putting my daughter on formula. There is nothing wrong with formula, but for ME, I think it would send me spiraling downward even more. I started counseling for my PPD, and I will continue to do that, but I am afraid it's not enough. I'm just so upset.
Has anyone BF-ed while taking antidepressants? Everythign I've read says to continue BF-ing while on the meds, but supposedly my OB spoke to my pediatrician and the pharmacist about it. So who am I supposed to believe? Obviously my doctors.

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you can take zoloft. i have some info for you. the LC i was working with said it is fine. i will get it asap. hang in there! i am also suffering from ppd, stemming from not being able to BF and other things like having a c section and her being early. i had to make the decision to stop trying, and i did and it was hard. but i knew i needed to get better emotionally and mentally in order to take care of my daughter. i am on zoloft and it has helped. i am not ashamed to say that i am on meds for it. i am also seeing a counselor about it. i read brooke shields book and it helped alot. please fm me any time you want. we should start a support group on here. i am sure so many others are going thru what we are going thru.

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I also suffered from PPD after both of my pregnancies. After I had my first child, my son. I never went on meds....I was embarrassed, and didn't realize how bad it was. I never fully recovered before having my daughter (3 years, 8 months later) and it got really, really bad after I had her. My DH convinced me to talk to my dr. I was not BFing at the time, but I went on Zoloft and got counseling and it made a world of difference. I knew it was bad, but I didn't realize how bad until I started to get better. You should do more research. I suggest calling a bunch of different pharmacies and asking them if you can BF on any of the recommended anti-depressents. They are much more familiar with drug interactions, side effects, etc. than the doctors. Either way, I think you will feel much better if you get treatment. Isn't that better for you AND your baby? A happy mommy encourages a happier baby. One of my friends gave me that advice, and I truly believe it.........because I've lived it. Good luck....I'm thinking about you.

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Whatever you decide remember what's important is that Ava has a happy mom. By doing what's best for you you ARE ultimately doing what's best for her.

It gets better I promise. Good for you for talking with someone. Ava's a very lucky little girl. Hang in there

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I can't tell you what to do. I really wanted to BF as well BUT I was miserable with PPD. I am telling you that 2 days after I stopped(7 weeks of BF) I felt like a new women. The new formulas have DHA & ARA in them and are very close to breastmilk. Personally I don't care what a label said I would not take antidepressant meds while breastfeeding. I can relate to your situation totally. It was a horrible couple of weeks. I wanted to punch my DH who was nothing but kind and helpful. Anyway....happy mommy=happy baby. No matter what decision you make you are still a good Mommy XO

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You are such a strong person to even be talking about it!! Ava is very lucky

I will give my honest opinion here.

I feel like you should put Ava on formula and get yourself better. Formula is so much like BM now and has so many good things in it. You should go on the meds and put BF behind you. You need to enjoy these times and not put so much pressure on yourself. Plus, PPD could get worse if you don't get help. Is BF worth your health and Ava's? Baby's can sense when mommy's not happy, I believe, so go get yourself better:)

I think women put way too much pressure on themlseves to BF (myself included). Not everyone can and that is OK!!!!!!!! Many children BF get ear infections and have allergies. It is not perfect either.

I am not an expert on this because I don't have PPD but I am just giving you an honest opinion.

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It's a very hard and personal decision. I did not BF, but I did take antidepressants while PG and they had switched me to Zoloft and said that was safe. I'd maybe mention Zoloft to your Dr and see what they say.

If they still say no, I agree with the above poster who said that by taking care of yourself, you'll actually be better for Ava. You BF her for a few weeks, I know you have milk frozen...maybe pump as much as you can the next couple of days so you have a little supply, and then switch over and take care of YOU. Formula really IS so close to BM now.

I hope you feel better soon. I love ya

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The only advice I can offer is to say that you need to take care of yourself in order to be able to take care of your daughter as best you can. Whether that means continuing to BF with or without meds or switching to formula, is a completely personal decision. I wish you lots of luck and feel better soon.

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Many hugs and much admiration to you for reaching out to people for help...many people don't.

Do what helps you, in the end a happy, healthy mother is a happy, healthy baby...

And I know you know this already, but you are a GREAT mom who is filled with love for Ava and she is very lucky to have you as a mother!

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Up until about a year ago they were saying antidepressants were safe in pregnancy and BF. Recently the DEA increased the warning with Paxil and now people in the field are shying away.

I will tell you htough that you HAVE to remember, making a decision to help yourself IS making a decision to help DD. What good will the BM be if she doesnt have you emotionally. That is sooo much more important, especially now that they make formulas so well.

Plus you have been BF so far, and she has already gotten so many of the good things from this.

Take care of yourself, and by doing that you will be a great Mom!!

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Am I thinking of someone else or did you say that you've been EBF? Do you have enough saved to keep her going for a while? I think you've done a wonderful thing by trying to BF her, but like the other poster said you've got to take care of you in order to take care of her. I'm so sorry you're going through this. Hopefully it will get better. It's good that you're seeking help.

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I don't have advice on the PPD, but for you not only for admitting it and seeking help,but for posting. I'm sure there are many more women out there in your same situation. They may recognize themselves in your post.

I'm an advocate for BF'ing, but I'm more of an advocate for a healthy mom. If your doctors choose to put you on an antidepressant and say you can't bf - then stop. It may not be the medication entering the breastmilk. They may just think that bf'ing adds to the stress. I don't know. I do know that the expression "if Mom isn't happy, no one is happy" has some validity. You need to take care of yourself so you can take care of Ava.

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First off,

I am pro-BF and when my daughter was 3 weeks old, I ended up in the hospital with a kideney infection and on powerful antibiotics. I had no choice. I was told I could not BF while taking the antibiotics and that I had to wait 2 weeks AFTER I finished them before I could start BF again. That was a total of 5 weeks. Since I was so sick, I wasn't producing milk and ultimately my daughter was put on formula. She is doing wonderfully, and while it was hard on me at first, and it does take time, you will find that getting yourself better is the most important thing. So if they are advising you not to BF while on antidepressants, know that you are getting yourself the help you need and that your daughter WILL thrive on formula.

What ever decision you make, I wish you well.

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Posted by mommy2bellabean


Do what helps you, in the end a happy, healthy mother is a happy, healthy baby...

QUOTE]


I fully agree....I wish you the best

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That is NOT true. There are meds that you can take while BFing. My midwife had even suggested it to me. I have had friends that took both Paxil and Zoloft while BFing. There is no reason you have to stop BFing if you do in fact need meds.
I was on the verge of starting meds at about 3 months after birth but I was able to get myself out of it but I planned to continue giving BM to Miranda even if I did go on meds.
Please get a second opinion on this.

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Here is a clip from Dr. Sear's website on BFing and antidepressants.

The most commonly used antidepressants belong to a group of medicines collectively known as SRIs (serotonin reuptake inhibitors), such as Prozac (fluoxetine), Paxil (paroxetine), and Zoloft (sertraline). All these medications act similarly by boosting brain levels of the natural mood-elevating neurochemical, serotonin; they differ mainly in the strength of their action and in possible side effects. Some people do better on one of these drugs than on another. Zoloft seems to be the safest to take while breastfeeding. In studies of many breastfeeding infants whose mothers were taking Zoloft, the drug has either been undetectable in the infant's blood or is present in insignificant amounts. Paxil would be the next choice, and Prozac the last choice, even though it too is considered compatible with breastfeeding. One case of severe colic has been reported in a breastfeeding infant whose mother took Prozac.

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Rach- it sounds like you really want to continue BFing... and it also sounds like there might be meds you cant take

In any event if its important to keep on BFing- try the conseling 1st and continue to BF....

If you read my recent thread... I have some PPD with BFing... we have spoke before- so you know my story- but the sadness I feel for giving up 8 months ago-still haunts me today


I want to add-


Im a stong believer in WHATS RIGHT FOR YOU-IS WHATS RIGHT FOR YOUR CHILD... Like Kelly said... a happy mom- makes for a happy baby- if BFing is whats gonna make you happy- stick with it... if stopping will make you happy -stop. In order to do right by your baby- you have to do right for yourself

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