I have to make a choice...

[Zee]

A little back track... I have depression, have had it since I was at school. I have been medicated on & off (taking myself off).

With DD I didnt take my meds while PG and I was a nightmare to be around but soon after her birth I went back on them and when I felt fine I took myself off them which started a cycle of me going back on them, taking myself off etc...

This time we have decided for me to stay on them while PG (I want to stay on them and not go off them cause I need to be on them), it was a hard decision but with many talks with my GP, Hospital Dr, midwives & other health professionals etc we made our decision knowing there are some risks etc but the benifit of me being on the meds outway the risks...

I was told it was best I stayed on a low dosage so thats what I have been on but over the last 2 weeks have felt they havnt done anything and the last few days I have been a nightmare to be around again.

After going to a number of appoinments today(GP, Hospital Dr, midwives & other health professionals) I have been left with 2 choices..

1) Stay on the low dosage im on, feel its doing nothing, put stress on the baby, myself, my DH & DD for the nest 15ish weeks, have high blood pressure, have the chance I will have to have him early etc

or

2) Go on a much higher dosage & have bubs in special care for the 1st 3ish days after being born because of the withdrawls he will be having (this is what I have been told today)

DH & I have no idea what to do.. cause either way its bad. I cant put him under stress for the next 15 weeks but I dont want him to have withdrawls for a few days once he is born.

[Olive]

lindsay, its a hard decisiobn to make, can you up your dosage a little rather than go to the much higher doase straight away? if you dont mind me asking what are you on and how much

[shellbell3]

Isn't there something else they can put you on which would be better for bubs?

[visitor1]

Oh Linz....thats a tough call babe. Both are not easy.....i dont know what to say...but i think Jols suggestion of up the dose a little bit rather then a huge jump is a good idea.

[Zee]

Im on Zoloft, its the only anti depressant thats in catagory 2 that I can take & the other anti depressants are a catagory 3 and they wont put you on anything catagory 3 while PG as its far to risky.

Sorry I should have the next dosage up is what I will be having but thats double what im on now.

These are my only 2 choices... and we are leaning more towards option 2.

[Olive]

i was on zoloft too, why not split the tablet so have a 50% increas rather than 100% increase, try that, but give it time to work

[Beatrix]

I am on zoloft too and took it throughout my pg.

What mg you on?? I was fine not to have bubs in special care when she was born although they did prefer me to stay in hosp for 3 days after the birth but there was no need for special care. So that might be a option.


is it possible to up your dosage for the next 10 weeks then lower it again before birth, i was given that option as well??

[kirsty_lee]

Lindsay, im on 150mg of zoloft, my doctor has not told me bubs will need to be in special care or anything.. most she will have is a bit of the shakes which wear off quite quickly. Zoloft has been proven in a high number of cases to be the most safe during preg and bf because alot of research has been done on it. hope all goes well

[feeb]

ohh u poor thing sounds very hard.

Personally I would do the 2nd option as that way you can enjoy pregnancy and your DD and DH and not be stressed out and feel well.

Having baby in SCN for a short time is a small price to pay to know that you will be well and fit to care for baby.

If you dont increase dose you may increase your risk of PND which could end up with you needing differnet drugs or even time in a mother baby unit which is time away from DH and DD.

We are all here or you hun hope this helps a little bit

[Rumpleteaser]

After going to a number of appoinments today(GP, Hospital Dr, midwives & other health professionals) I have been left with 2 choices..

1) Stay on the low dosage im on, feel its doing nothing, put stress on the baby, myself, my DH & DD for the nest 15ish weeks, have high blood pressure, have the chance I will have to have him early etc

or

2) Go on a much higher dosage & have bubs in special care for the 1st 3ish days after being born because of the withdrawls he will be having (this is what I have been told today)

DH & I have no idea what to do.. cause either way its bad. I cant put him under stress for the next 15 weeks but I dont want him to have withdrawls for a few days once he is born.

There is a third choice. Go on a higher dose for the next 10-12 weeks, wean down the meds in the last few weeks of PG. Then increase them again after bub is born.

[*Efjay*]

somethign I just wanted to add in response to something MumaB mentioned. MummaB, you mention that DS shows the some signs of anxiety which you feel is related to the way you felt during his pregnancy. This could very well be the case. But don't beat yourself up about that because I don't have any anxiety or depression issues, never have. BUT Evan shows ALOT of signs that he will suffer from this. He has many little things now, even as a 5 yr old that he obsesses over. He gets it from his Dad. DH has suffered for many years with Anxiety (as you may remember for our posts ages ago when you where deciding on what meds to go on while BFing). So while you didn't use any meds while pregnant it may have made no difference to the way DS is. I believe anxiety & depression are passed down. DH & his family are proof of it. Now we see it in Evan also.
I just hope that now the "dirty little secret" of DH's family is out Evan will grow up with the best possible chance on dealing with it with out the need for medications. DH manages his anxiety with out meds. He use to be on a very low dosage (his choice to keep it low, not recomended by the Dr as the idea of taking a addictive medication was actually adding to the problem) he hasn't needed anything for a number of years.

I know everyone is different & I am by no means looking down on anyone who needs to take the meds just sharing our story. Actually just rambling really LOL.

[~Belinda~]

Not ever having experienced depression myself, I can't begin to imagine how hard it is. I have had anxiety though in the past and dealt with it through cognitive therapy. But it isn't always that easy is it?

Lindsay, this must be a tough decision for you.

Hugs to you hope everything works out for the best.

[Zee]

Bec- Thankyou hun you are always a great support!!!

Evening star- Thankyou, I have been doing cognitive therapy since DD was born... I find it fantastic but for some reason its not doing enough right now

Charlotte- The 3rd option isnt really an option for me, coming up to birth is the most stressfull time (Well in my case anyway) so thats when im going to need the increase the most.