November Lurker Turns October Preemie Mom (Intro)

nanalovesjason

Hello All,

 I'm a First Time Mom and was blessed with a baby boy on Wednesday October 12th. I was 34 weeks 1 day. My due date was November 22. My little man weighed in at 5 lbs even and thankfully he has been breathing on his own. 

I was discharged this evening but my son is in the nursery. I was told he will definitely be held for 5 days (from his birthday) and at that point they will have a better idea of how long he will need to stay.

 I am very overwhelmed, mainly with a feeling of guilt. I have anxiety for which I have been taking Celexa 20 mg daily with the blessing of my OB and psychiatrist. I know how it feels to wean off this medicine and I am terrified my son is experiencing this discomfort on top of fighting to grow. I had a NST on Tuesday and was told I was having contractions, which I could not feel. I went to the hospital and they were going to give me Terbutaline (I think) and the nurse told me it was going to make me jittery. I declined the injection because I knew the effect it would have on my anxiety and figured that may make the situation worse. Now I can't help but wonder if the shot would have prevented labor.

When I got home and laid down my water broke. We rushed back to the hospital and 13 hours later my son was born.  I am very afraid that he is experiencing withdrawal symptoms from the Celexa. I am afraid he will be overwhelmed physically.

Has anyone here taken an antidepressant throughout pregnancy with your preemie? Please let me know your experience.

 Thanks in Advance

kck329

First, congrats on your son's birth!

I don't have any experience with medication during pregnancy but I imagine someone else will be able to help you with that. I just wanted to say welcome! This isn't a board anyone wants to join but it is a very supportive group so ask all your questions and we will be around to answer. Check out the links in my siggy for some of the resources collected by the board's regulars. 

I hope you have a short and uneventful stay!

katie4253

Welcome.  I don't have experience with that medicine, but I googled it because I didn't know what it was.  The FDA actually warns against that medication unless it is absolutely necessary.  There are some pretty major risks with it.  So, who knows, if you had taken it things might have been worse.  

My point really, is you can't change things.  Talk to your neo about making sure the baby isn't feeling the withdraw effects.  They will be able to ease your concerns.

The life of a preemie mom is always coulda shoulda woulda. It is really hard.  You're not alone.  

kitkat145

Congratulations on the birth of your baby boy! 

I don't have personal experience with taking antidepressants during pregnancy but my guess is your OB wouldn't have put you on it if it would cause harm. There are lots of safe meds to take during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Check with the neonatologist.

I also had preterm labor and contractions I didn't feel. I think guilt it a huge part of being a preemie mom and I struggle with it daily.  

I hope your LO is discharged and home with you very soon. Keep us updated! 

nanalovesjason

Thanks for the kind words

Its been a rough few days, but I am feeling better. I have definitely been playing the "Woulda Shoulda Coulda" game with myself. Glad to hear such optimism from people who have been through premature labor, NICU thing. Thanks for the input.

urbanflowerpot

Congratulations

If a doctor was prescribing for you during your pg I'm sure it was on the safe list. I was on meds my entire pg and now while I bf with no problems. It was not the cause of my preemie birth and rarely ever is so please, please don't beat yourself up! Stay away from Google! You can find freak shows on everything down to Tums I'm sure. My dr specialized in pg women. Anyway, if you were prescribed something it was because you needed it.

cottonlily84

I don't have any experience with the meds either.  I only wanted to say congrats on your LO being born.  I feel more guilty with my preemie situation than I ever have in my life.  It's easy said than done but try to focus more on getting him better now than what you could have done differently.  I too feel like I did something wrong that made my water break but I'm having to do the same thing myself. 

sucrets4

Congrats on your son's birth!

My DD was born at 33w5d and spent 9 days in the NICU.  I hope that your DS has a short stay!

I agree with PP about "coulda woulda shoulda"...I question everything I did and ate before my water unexpectedly broke.  I'll never know and there's a very good chance that it's NOT something that you did, so it's really not even worth it to stress about.  Right now just focus on being the best mama you can for your beautiful baby.