Antidepressant meds while pg

[BetsyB]

Has anyone been on antidepressant medication while pregnant? I have struggled with depression since I was a teenager and am concerned that I will have difficulty with depression while pregnant and after giving birth. If you have been on meds, are your babies OK? I know that if I don't get on meds right when the depression starts to get unmanageable I spiral down rather quickly. A few years ago I was suffering from depression so bad that I was unable to even chew a bagel. I really don't want to get into that situation again. Any comments or advice?

[dorkette]

Hi Betsy,
I also suffered from depression for several years before I got pregnant. I'm sure you probably know that those of us with prior depression are at a higher risk for depression while pregnant as well as post-partum depression. When we decided to start trying to have a baby I got off of the medicine I was taking at the time (Lexapro). Although my doctor said it would probably be ok, I wanted to try to make it through at least my first trimester without any medicine. I made it to 5 months. My ob prescribed me Welbutrin which I was told was the safest antidepressant to take while pregnant and/or nursing.
My girls are perfectly healthy. It takes a lot to keep up with a twin pregnancy - the diet, all the doctor appointments, the extra hormones...I'm sure your doctor would probably agree that in your case the benefits outweigh the risks. You need to be 100% to take care of yourself and your babies.
Hope that helps. Good luck and congratulations on your pregnancy!!

[farmer5]

i was on zoloft with my third pregnancy and she is very healthy and i was also on wellburtrin xl with the twins and had no problems and i would think if you have depresion all the time to really think about taking it duing pregnancy so it dosnt get out of control good luck