Anxiety meds while pregnant

[Luv4aila]

I know there are more appropriate forums for this issue, but they were full. I am a woman...so this qualifies here,too, right?
I developed  "Generalized Anxiety Disorder" (GAD) and was put on Zoloft eight years ago. It works well for me. I have since married and want to have a baby. I conceived in January sometime, but miscarried by March (unrelated to med issue).
  My OB had told me that there is a high risk of pulmonary hypertension in women who use antidepressants before 20 weeks gestation, and also almost always babies will go through some sort of chemical withdrawl when they are born. During my last pregnancy (that I lost)I went off my medication, and was fine right up about a month ago...I have all of the symptoms of anxiety back; I have trying alternative methods of anxiety relief, and I seem to be able to deal with most of the symptoms on my own with diet, exericse, and a close family support system. The symptoms are still there, but they are tolerable. The only symptom that is severe is the insomnia, and have been using an old Ambien Rx for the past few weeks...worked well at first, but not so well now. I also know I will have to loose that if I want to have a child.
Should I loose the fantasy of ever having a baby, or is being on antidepressants while pregnant not really that bad?

[Aruba417]

Are you seeing a psychiatrist who prescribes your antidepressants? If so, I'd as their opinion. When I first started taking Effexor, my psychiatrist told me that it is okay to take during pregnacy, as long as during the last trimester I taper off so that the baby doesn't withdrawal. But this is something I would DEFINITELY get a psychiatrist's opinion on because they know more about the medications than an OB would...I would think, anyway. Good luck!

[AMS1]

You must decide if the benefits of taking the drug outweigh the risks.  Is there depression involved with the anxiety or just anxiety?  Also, does your OB know about the Ambien?  He/she should be made aware if not.  I've learned that the Psychiatrists don't know too awfuly much about which drugs women should take while pregnant.  Trust your OB.  BUT!  If the anxiety is debilitating to the point of not being able to have a functional life, get a second opinion from another OB if yours will not prescribe you one.  I took Prozac with my first child and Welbutrin with my second (the risk involved with my depression greatly outweighed the possible side effects of the drugs).  Both boys were carried to full term and had no apparent withdrawl symptoms (although it would stand to reason that if you go through withdrawal then so would your baby).  Also, my blood pressure was fine each and every visit.  Each drug is different.  There are some that are worse (Effexor was a big NO from my OB) and there are some that are better.  You must decide how necessary the drug is.  If it is absolutely necessary, then find one that you and your OB deem safe.  

Good Luck!