In the past I have taken SSRI's and they have worked well for me. When I was 17 I was on Paxil and then toward the end of my last pregnancy I was put back on it and nursed my son while on it. I was never informed of the risks to him in the last trimester nor that it transfers through breastmilk.
Fast forward to now...I am in my second trimester and struggling once again.
I'm looking for tried and true...input from people who have "been there, done that". I have done all the research and between that and my own experiences have a base knowledge, but would really like to hear some other personal experiences to support or not support the various treatments out there before I see my doctor on Tuesday.
Thanks.

are you in the UK or State-side? I would telephone my doctor's practice and ask to speak with a nurse. In the UK we have Mid-wives and Health visitors too which means topics can be discussed on a daily basis.

Is this pregnancy going OK otherwise? Are you pleased?

As I mentioned in the post I have an appointment Tuesday. I am in the states and what I seem to be running into so far is a real lack of knowledge on this subject where it comes to pregnancy. Nobody wants to be the one to cause unintentional harm to the baby and so it's as if I"m untouchable. Probably largely reflective of the fact that I live in such a small town. Still, it's very frustrating and I feel that if I'm going toget the best care I have to get all the information for them. (sigh)

It would be best if you consulted with a psychiatrist regarding taking meds while you are pregnant. The labels and information sheets that come with my meds say ask your doctor's advice about taking them if you are pregnant or nursing.

You could try therapy to get you through your pregnancy.
Sheepwoman

I am seeing the mental health lady on Tuesday. Thanks though.

I take a list to my doctor when I have several problems or worries so that we can cover my needs in one visit. Hormones can cause huge upsets and pregnancy is no exception ......... will you be seeing the same person at each of the visits?

Unfortunately, no. When I tried to address it with my OB he said he leaves this type of thing to the general or whomever dealt with it originally. So I tried to make an appointment with my general-turned out he was backed up the day of my appointment and I ended up seeing someone else who decided it was best to refer me to the mental health lady. Tomorrow is a week now since the appointment I was supposed to have seen my doctor. It's very frustrating to feel this way to begin with and then be shuffled around and be made to wait like my problem is unimportant or they don't really want to deal with it. :-(

It's the not being listened to that I found really hurtful when I was depressed. Have you spoken to a pharmacist who could talk you through the various medication options, then you will have info to hand to the doctor which will open up discussion. Relaxation therapy might be useful in the short term, listening to soothing music until the brain stops racing away: is my way of relaxing. Do you have care of your son whilst this is going on? When is the baby due? [Oh I'm soooo nosey ;-)]

(((dlinm)))

First of all, Congratulations on your pregnancy!!! And you are not alone, I am 28 weeks pregnant! Right now, finding someone who's pregnant as well and going through the same thing as me is like finding GOLD! Although I wish you were feeling better...
Anyways, I am currently taking lexapro 10 mg and I have been taking it since I was 22 weeks pregnant. I just couldn't eat, sleep or function anymore. I had the racing thoughts, depersonalization, and I was so anxious at night that a few times I asked hubby to take me to the hospital before something really bad would happen. Anyways, I talked to my OBGYN about it (I live in the States too), and I told him I had been on lexapro in the past but not while pregnant. He was concerned about me and he said that the first thing he wanted was for the MOM to feel good in order for the BABY to be healthy. He said a happy mommy makes a happy baby. He put me right back on the lexapro 10 mg a day and lorazepam 1 mg a day as needed. I cut the lorazepam in half and only use it to go to bed at night or when I feel very anxious. He knows that I take it very moderately and he trusts me with it. He'll refill my prescription anytime I need it. He has also sent me to a perinatal clinic for more ultra sounds, just to make sure that the baby is doing fine. Well turns out my baby is perfectly healthy, happy, growing, swimming, etc! He's measuring perfect and everything! They just keep monitoring me to make sure that both mommy and the baby are fine. So I'm having an ultra sound done every month just to make sure that things are still going perfect. I saw a perinatal specialist who told me about the side effects that could happen to the baby after the birth. (this only happens to 1/3 of the babies who's mother was taking an SSRI during the last trimester.) Which is jittery, poor sucking, agitation, difficulty in breathing. This only lasts 1 or 2 days after birth and the baby is fine. Also, for the lorazepam, I would have to take it in very high amounts for it to affect the baby. So we're not concerned about this one, as long as I am taking it moderately, as needed. Trust me I was so concerned about these meds that I would be stuck on the Internet for HOURS, reading about it! I feel much better now, knowing that my baby is doing great. You might want to let the doctor know about Lexapro, as it is relatively safe in pregnancy. I hope you feel better and you can find the right med for you and your precious baby! Hang in there honey, you're not alone! You can PM me anytime, I would love to talk with you and answer any of your questions. I am due July 3rd and we're having a little boy. How about yourself? Excited about the new addition? Oh and I was wondering if your first born had any long lasting side effects from the Paxil? I'm sure he/she's doing great! Good luck with everything!

Izzy

That's a good idea. I hadn't thought about talking to a pharmacist.
As far as care for my son, no. That kinda adds insult to injury sometimes. My family is my full time + job. We don't have any family near by nor do we have a baby sitter to call on. My only break is when my oldest (5) is in preschool and occasionally I will leave my 2 y.o. there for the morning as well for little reprieve. But pretty much Cody is always with me.
Yep, I have three kids with one on the way. Think that might add to my issues?... Honestly though, for every ounce of stress they add, they also give me plenty of reasons to hang on and keep going and when they are not with me I miss them terribly. ;-)

Hi Izzy! Congrats on your pregnancy too!
Actually Cody (the baby who I was preggo and on Paxil with,) was my third baby. This will be my fourth and last. ;-) He did and is doing (at 16 months,) FANTASTIC. A smart, happy, healthy and spirited baby boy! I went off of the Paxil because the side effects were outweighing the benefits. It wasn't working like it had in the past. So my Dr. out me on Prozac. My concern with Prozac is with the long half life which could result in too high of levels in the baby right after birth. Otherwise I would just bite the bullet and take care of myself (remedicate). After having done a lot of research I will be asking about zoloft, it might be worth a try. I take it Lexapro is an SSRI as well...that might be a good option for me as well. I will do some research on that as well.
You are SO incredibly fortunate to be in an area where there are a lot of medical professionals with knowledge to draw from. Where I'm at I'm in a city of a whopping 10,000 and we seem to have some somewhat closed minded dr.s around here. Hopefully the lady I'm going to see on Tuesday though is very well read in her field and has some good information and will be able to help me.
Oh, I almost forgot, my baby is due in September. Many, July is right around the corner!! Are you excited???

Yes, I am very excited! At the same time I'm still depressed and anxious so I'm a little scared to think about when the baby will be there and I'll be the one taking care of him and my 2 1/2 year old at the same time! (Hubby's working pretty much 7 days a week and we don't see much of eachother). But other than that I can't wait anymore, I feel huge and so uncomfortable. I also think that the pregnancy hormones are making me even more depressed and anxious. Cause I've never felt this bad before. There's always something going on on my mind and my thoughts are still racing. I just don't want to add any meds to the cocktail I'm taking already! I'll just have to put up with it until the baby is born, I know I can do it! But to know that my baby is doing so good is such a relief. Yes, lexapro is a SSRI and I have been doing so good on it before. It just seems different this time but yeah I'm pregnant and pregnancy makes me a different person. This is definitely our last baby! I think Zoloft is another pretty safe SSRI to take. But yes, I would go read about lexapro as well. Yes I'm very to have an understanding doctor. I don't know what I would do without him. Good, September baby! So are you are almost halfway there! Yay!

I was originally diagnosed with depression and put on Paxil when I was 17. After a short period of time, and meeting my future husband I went off of it. I wasn't medicated again until I was pregnant with Cody when I went back on Paxil. In retrospect though things might have gone a little smoother if I had been. I went completely unmedicated, through labor and everything with my first child, Katrina. I went mostly unmedicated with my second child Alissa. I distinctly remember many different points during those pregnancies though where I was just SO volitile, vicious and angry, not to mention hyperemotional! But we struggled through it. Kudos to my husband for sticking in there! (Katrina was 27 mos when Alissa was born.)
Husband+3y.o.+1y.o.+upcoming newborn=stress that I didn't handle well so I sought meds while preggo with Cody. And I'm glad I did. When Cody was about a year I tried to go off Paxil because of the side effects and lack of benefits at that point-I wasn't ready. So that was when I went to my dr. for something else which ended up being the Prozac.
Are you a SAHM?

I'm sorry, what it SAHM? Lol, this is making me feel very ignorant!

Sorry. Stay At Home Mom