Question

paramedicmommy

I am currently pregnant, and was wondering if anybody dealt with depression or anxiety during the pregnancy. If so did it turn into PPD? I was on Paxil before conceiving and weined off of it and did great until my second trimester and then had to go on wellbutrin, due to anxiety. I feel like I'm on a constant roller coaster ride with my emotions. This pregnancy has sure not been easy on me, and definitely not my husband either, since he has had to put up with me. I can't really find much research done on depression during pregnancy, and was curious about previous experiences.

kml2007

Saw your post, I am currently weaning off Paxil to start TTC this summer. I went from 40 mg to 30 mg and now I'm on 20. I have been for like 3 weeks... I'm starting to get tired of the roller coaster ride that this has become but I am also trying to keep my eye on the prize. Can you tell me how your experience was coming off the Paxil? I'd love to hear from someone who has done it already. Also, I have worried so much about not being on meds while pregnant and feeling so trapped in my world of anxiety. My OB and Psych RN have both said I could do Zoloft but I'm so worried about side effects to the baby in utero as well as at birth.... good luck to you!

paramedicmommy

kml2007:

Saw your post, I am currently weaning off Paxil to start TTC this summer. I went from 40 mg to 30 mg and now I'm on 20. I have been for like 3 weeks... I'm starting to get tired of the roller coaster ride that this has become but I am also trying to keep my eye on the prize. Can you tell me how your experience was coming off the Paxil? I'd love to hear from someone who has done it already. Also, I have worried so much about not being on meds while pregnant and feeling so trapped in my world of anxiety. My OB and Psych RN have both said I could do Zoloft but I'm so worried about side effects to the baby in utero as well as at birth.... good luck to you!

To come off of Paxil I would initially for one week alternate 40 and 30 then go one week with 30 then alternate 30 and 20 for one week and so on and so forth. I understand being scared about coming off of paxil but honestly if you take it VERY slow and steady you will do okay. Whenever it was time for me to come off I kept waiting for the slap in the face but never got it. And then when I got pregnant my anxiety came back. Don't get me wrong I wanted my baby more than anything in the world. But I guess hormones on top of pre-existing anxiety on top of normal pregnancy fears got the best of me. Now I'm on wellbutrin and wondering if I will be able to stay on it after the pregnancy or if I will have to switch back to my paxil after he is born. Meaning I might not be able to breastfeed but I want what's best for him in the long run, and that means having a happy healthy mom. If you need anything or just need to talk please don't hesitate. And please remember exactly what I said above - the best thing for baby is a happy, healthy mom. A lot of times the benefits of taking medication during pregnancy outweigh the risks.

kml2007

Thanks. I appreciate your advice. Yesterday I was so miserable I didn't even want to have kids. I said its not worth it to feel like this. I am seeing my doc on Monday, think I'm going to try to switch to Zoloft which they said is safer. I need to be healthy.