I was diagnosed with GAD a little over a year ago. I've never been a drug person but at the time it was so bad, I needed it. I am currently on ecitalopram (Lexapro in the US/Cipralex in Canada) and it works wonders for me. I'm on a very, very low dose - only 5mg. If you read online it will say 10mg is the lowest dose to be effective but everyone is different. I considered for a long time, going off them while pregnant but I've heard time and time again that anxiety can get a lot worse post-partum. The hell I went through adjusting to these meds is not something I ever, ever want to experience again let alone when I have a newborn. I was a useless lump who laid in bed for 2 weeks wanting to die!
At this point, if I miss a pill 1 day I feel a bit anxious while before I was pregnant, I could miss 1 or 2 days and still be okay. I'm not anxious about baby. We were actively trying, ovulation testing and everything and once I got my BFP I was super excited and I still am. I can honestly say I have zero anxiety about having a child so I'm chocking it up to my hormones being out of whack.
My Dr said that I am on such a low dose that she's not concerned. She also said they would much rather you be on them if you need them, then off as the stress of the anxiety can be bad for baby. I guess I'm not really looking for advice. Just wondering who stayed on their meds?
Me: 29 ~ DH: 31 ~ SS: 12
Met: 08/2001 ~ Dating: 07/2004 ~ Engaged: 11/2009 ~ Married: 06/2011
TTC: Since 09/16 ~ BFP 10/28/16 ~ EDD 7/5/17
Team Pink * Canadian Bumpie
Re: Anxiety Meds & Pregnancy
My doctor told me that on the one hand you have a theoretical, unproven risk to the fetus from the medication, and on the other hand you have a very real risk to both the fetus and the mama from untreated anxiety and/or depression. To me the choice was clear.
Anyway, just wanted to reach out. It is always nice to hear from others who can relate.
DH : 36, has Chronic Kidney Disease, on dialysis & is waiting on the transplant list (average wait for B+ is 5 years)
Me: 36, Hypothyroidism, PCOS, BMI 32, need to be done with "child bearing" ASAP so that I can be a Kidney donor (was fun realizing we didn't as much time as we thought :-/ )
We're TTC#1
IUI #1 : 5mcg Letrozole (CD 3-7) + Ovidrel Trigger + Had the one follicle = BFN (March 2014)
IUI #2 : 5mcg Letrozole (CD 3-7) + 150 iu Bravelle on CD9 (after much begging!) + Had the one follicle = BFN (April 2014)
7th May 2014 - changed REs, this one seems to care (we think....)
IUI #3 : 7mcg Letrozole (CD 3- 7) + 75 iu Bravelle (CD 8-12) + CD12 Scan 5/16 + Had 3 follicles (2 under 15mm) = BFN(May 2014)
IUI #4 : 7mcg Letrozole (CD 3- 7) + 75 iu Bravelle (CD 8-12) + CD12 Scan 5/16 + Had 1 follicle + DH gave best sample so far = BFN(June 2014)
IVF#1 - ER Only Cycle Sept-Oct 2014, 17 eggs Retrieved, 14 mature, 10 fertilized, 6 made it to Blast & post PGS 5 were not viable due to chromosomal abnormalities
Not sure where we go from here...
We're parents to two very adorable, bratty, affectionate & goofy Bernese Mountain Dog pups who would very much like a 2 legged baby brother or sister of their own!
Did you BF your kids or no? My sister has a friend with anxiety as well and she went off the meds for her pregnancy and to BF which got me thinking whether I could or not.
Met: 08/2001 ~ Dating: 07/2004 ~ Engaged: 11/2009 ~ Married: 06/2011
TTC: Since 09/16 ~ BFP 10/28/16 ~ EDD 7/5/17
Team Pink * Canadian Bumpie
Postpartum can be a challenge for people with depression and anxiety, so I would be careful about stopping medication after giving birth. Your new baby needs a mentally ok mom, you know? My understanding, personally and via my doctor, is that the benefits of breastfeeding are well established, and the theoretical impact of a small percentage of medicine ending up in breast milk shouldn't prevent you from breastfeeding if you want to and are able. But that is me. I'm sure your doctor can advise you, too, if you have concerns.
Thanks for the support. This is a terrible illness and I know I don't suffer alone. There's too many of us out there!
Met: 08/2001 ~ Dating: 07/2004 ~ Engaged: 11/2009 ~ Married: 06/2011
TTC: Since 09/16 ~ BFP 10/28/16 ~ EDD 7/5/17
Team Pink * Canadian Bumpie
At the same time, I'm not dead set either way. I'm a pretty laid back person. I don't have birth plans. Mine is a simple, I would like to give birth vaginally, preferably with drugs (haha!) but baby is going to do what baby is going to do and I have to respect that. Same with breast feeding. I would love to. I think most Mom's hope for that but I also know my sister tried with both and it just didn't work out. Her first one ended up beginning to lose weight so for his health she gave up and the second wouldn't latch either. It's not the end of the world for me. If it works, then great and if it doesn't, well, I don't see any kids all messed up because they were formula fed haha! And I think it's an overall good approach to have because of my illness.
I have my first Dr's appt tomorrow so I am going to ask her about it regardless.
Met: 08/2001 ~ Dating: 07/2004 ~ Engaged: 11/2009 ~ Married: 06/2011
TTC: Since 09/16 ~ BFP 10/28/16 ~ EDD 7/5/17
Team Pink * Canadian Bumpie
With my first, she refused to nurse for more than a minute, so I ended up pumping for 4.5 months. Then my supply dropped and I switched to formula. Pumping around the clock for months was so hard for me, and I would probably not do it again. I was lucky that my second was a good nurser, but if she hadn't been I would just moved to formula. Like you say, your baby will be who he or she is, and you can go from there.
Met: 08/2001 ~ Dating: 07/2004 ~ Engaged: 11/2009 ~ Married: 06/2011
TTC: Since 09/16 ~ BFP 10/28/16 ~ EDD 7/5/17
Team Pink * Canadian Bumpie
I'm not someone who hates throwing up (I mean I don't like it or anything, but I'd rather do it and get it over with, if it's inevitable). My mom would rather be nauseated all day than barf once - I'm the opposite. Maybe it would be better if you did throw up so you can see that it's unpleasant but that's it. Like you said, takes away your fear of the unknown, you know?
Of course, the best would be if you just weren't nauseated anymore.
edit: words
I'm in that prime morning sickness stage but I'm doing okay. A bit nauseated in the morning but that's about it, so far, hoping it doesn't get worse. It happened while driving today. There's a lot of construction on my highway with little place to pull over so I was just begging, saying to myself, "Not here! Not here!" Haha! But it passed and all is good in the world LOL!
Met: 08/2001 ~ Dating: 07/2004 ~ Engaged: 11/2009 ~ Married: 06/2011
TTC: Since 09/16 ~ BFP 10/28/16 ~ EDD 7/5/17
Team Pink * Canadian Bumpie