Zoloft and pregnancy

Copernicus08

This is a discussion I'll be having with my midwife, but I was curious as to how many of us are taking an SSRI and are planning to continue throughout pregnancy?

saladflambe

I was on Brintellix, another SSRI, before I got pregnant. My psychiatrist made me stop before I began TTC. Same with my Vistral and Klonopin (although I actually wasn't totally off of Klonopin until I was nearly 4 weeks...benzo withdrawal is helllll).

That said, I know others who have been on SSRIs during pregnancy. My midwife group might require me to see an OB rather than using the midwife group if that was the case for me...OR might require that the medication be overseen by a doctor during the pregnancy. My experience (limited as it is) with my midwife group, even though they are certified nurse midwives, is that they are very anti-medicine and unwilling to give any advice related to psychiatric medications except "you have to get off of that - talk to your doctor." Which is frustrating to hear in the throws of benzo withdrawal -.-

allurah2014

I continued with my SSRI and benzo until the third trimester, which is how long it takes to wean yourself off truly without causing harm to yourself which in turn would harm the baby.
That being said I had to treat with a prominent high risk specialists. He kept an eye on everything forming correctly and had two fetal echos done to ensure everything was developing. The only reason he really wanted me weaned by third trimester was so that she wouldn't go through withdrawals.

Every case is different. The main concern with taking SSRI or Benzos during pregnancy are cleft lip and congenital disorders. It's why having a doctor who has experience in this area and trusting them is key. DD was born without any issues and she had an echo then and all the doctor said was "strong heart".

We all obviously want what's best for our children, but sometimes we have to do what's best for us first. I tried stopping taking my meds as soon as I found out and was assaulted by nightmares and when to my appointment convicted there would be no heartbeat. The doctor made sure I was back on my meds immediately.
Good luck! So many stigmatize mental health issues but don't release its a disease. Diabetes is a disease and when its treated with meds no one bats an eye, anxiety is a disease but when you treat it with meds you're looked at as one step above a junkie.

boxtonmom1014

Me. I took prozac through my first pregnancy (thank goodness. I was having panic attacks every day without it.) and then lexapro with my second. I didn't love lexapro (for non pregnancy reasons) so now I'm on prozac. I'm definitely healthier when I take it, which in turn I believe makes for a much healthier pregnancy. I saw a perinatal psychiatrist through my first pregnancy so she could monitor the meds in relation to my pregnancy, and that made me feel much more comfortable about it.

.Kelly.

I was on Paxil and stopped the day I got a BFP. I picked up a script for Zoloft that next day. My body is transitioning and isn't happy about it, but it is for the best. I'll ask my OB for a heart echocardiogram at the big US so ensure that there isn't a heart defect due to the Paxil. Being off all SSRIs isn't a good option for me during pregnancy. 

megnwingate

I was on Brintellix and my PCP recommended that I quit and since I was on the lowest dose I had no problems with withdrawls, which I was afraid of as I had a side effect to all of the SSRIs that I have taken before. The last med I was on, Effexor, I had withdrawals every time I forgot to take them. 

daizee32

I am on Zoloft and have been through a years worth of fertility treatments.  We just got our first BFP and I am continuing to stay on the medicine. I know that for myself, my mental health is most important, especially throughout this first time journey of pregnancy.  My fertility doc and OBGYN agree and support my decision.

Jessabelly

I was on 100mg of zoloft when I could out I was expecting my daughter. I tried to wean off of it and ended up feeling terrible. I was crying and moody and unhealthy. My doctor lowered my dose to 50mg and j took it my entire pregnancy and it kept me level and healthy and my daughter was born perfect. I will do the same il with this pregnancy. The benefits outweigh the risks for me.

pamsie

Hi...wondering about the Brintellix. Did your doc give you reasons why it was worse than other SSRIs for pregnancy?

saladflambe

pamsie said:

Hi...wondering about the Brintellix. Did your doc give you reasons why it was worse than other SSRIs for pregnancy?

Some SSRIs are just considered safer than others; they all work a little differently than one another. Brintellix is very very new, so there's basically no data as to effects on pregnancy. And they don't know if it passes into breast milk.

lalala2004

NPR did a piece on this awhile back, and I believe the general consensus was that it's better for mom to be healthy, and the possible negative effects for baby are not long lasting or permanent. For other increased risks, it is a small increase.

Here's the article: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/07/09/421203272/some-antidepressants-may-pose-increased-risk-of-birth-defects

Copernicus08

Thanks, everyone, for sharing your feedback. This is a conversation I'll continue to have with my doctors. My PCP prescribed the 50mg Zoloft for me so that would likely need to transition over to my OB if I continue to stay on it—which I would like to. Like other mamas, I am a much healthier person when I'm taking the medicine. I wasn't taking anything with my first pregnancy and afterwards I did suffer from PPD/PPA and I think that spiraled into general D/A until I talked to my doctor and therapist about Zoloft. I want to keep it under control so I can be the best mama I can be!