Depression & medication while pregnant

[DanielleM22]

Has anyone taken doctor prescribed meds for severe depression from their OB while pregnant? I am at the point where I am going to seek help because I know the way I am feeling is bad for both the baby and I at this point. However, I read about birth defect risks associated with depression meds and don't want to risk hurting my baby with medication. But at the same time my everyday life has stopped. I can hardly function I've been so sad and so I fear that is hurting the baby anyway.

Anyone out there have experience with this? I'm not even sure what specialty therapist I should seek to speak with. I just know I need to seek help so I can feel better. Feeling unsure about where to start to fix myself.

[DanielleM22]

Thank you everyone for your advice! Getting the help I need and feeling much better already. Also trying not to be so tough on myself when I do get down. Anyway best of luck to all you ladies and your little ones.

[amokarl]

I had depression w my last pregnancy, I took therapy it helped a lot and in my situation I accepted wat was happening in my life at the time and helped my depression but I decided not to take meds I had a high chance of hving pospartum depression thankfully I didn't

[Tawny2blah]

I have been going on walks with friends to vent. Excercise and venting helps alot. Get out. Staying in makes it so much worse. I had the same problem my last pregnancy and had postpartum so bad that I became a recluse after my first baby. It took me 8 months to realize being home was making it worse. This time around I walk and hike for exercise. I still feel it sometimes but not  nearly as bad or as frequent.

[cadosanjos]

I am a mental health clinician. Depression is extremely common and there are many women with it who have children.

You need to seek mental health counseling for weekly help with the depression, and your therapist should be able to set you up with a psychiatrist to get a specialized opinion on the antidepressants you're taking. Please trust me that this will help you. The therapist with help you explore your depression on a weekly basis, allow you to vent, and help you come up with coping skills that work without meds. The psychiatrist specializes in mental health medications and has a much better opinion than your primary care doctor does because it is their nitch. Primary care doctors just prescribe you with a general antidepressant that he/she prescribes to everyone because it is not in their specialty to prescribe meds for mental health and they are liable if anything happens to you.  

I really hope that this info has helped you. Good luck.

[azndoraemon]

My friend has depression and she told me she's not going to have baby b/c the medication will harm the baby and also baby most likely will born with depression.  

[hazelblonde]

I decided to wait to take it until i was done with my pregnancy cause i didnt want to risk anything

[emi236]

I take zolof, almost for a month now. So far so good. They said the risks are far less to the baby then the risks of not seeking help.

[206babymama]

My dr prescribed me zoloft for prepartum depression.  As i get closer to my due date he said to slowly lower the dosage so the meds will get out of baby's system faster. Then after she's born I'll be on it for a few months just in case i get postpartum depression which has happened before.

[caseypatt]

I am currently pregnant and on cymbalta. I was on cymbalta with my prior pregnancy also. It is a risk but my dr said it's worth the risk bc my depression would be worse on me and the baby. Definitely seek help. Hang in there. Hugs