Anyone on Anti-depressants/anti-anxiety Meds During Labor & Delivery???

I have been taking Effexor XR for about 5 years now, and was concerned when I became pregnant with my second son that I would need to stop taking it or switch to something else. I went through a lot of different medications trying to find one that worked the way Effexor does, and I didn't want to go through that again. I didn't want to put my baby at risk, though, and I wanted to be able to breastfeed after he was born. My doctor and I decided that I should continue to take my pills until the beginning of my 3rd trimester and then try to wean off. That went horribly! I was a complete mess, and knew that this just wasn't going to work. I couldn't take care of myself or my older son (he's 9), and I was terribly depressed. My doctor and I agreed that the benefits of my medication far outweighed the risks, and so I continued to take it. We agreed that we would just watch baby very carefully after he was born. I was able to wean myself down to half the dose I was taking, though, which felt good to me. Keller was born last June, and is a thriving 10-month old who is still breastfed. We haven't seen anything that concerns us. I also planned a wedding after I had Keller and got married in September. I don't like to think about what I would have been like without my Effexor. It makes me feel like me, and allows me to be the mom that my kids need. My point? Be cautious with whatever you decide to do, but take care of you. It's the only way you can be there for your kiddo! Hope this helps :)

Hi M.. I was taking prozac after my first baby, for a couple of years. When we planned my 2 pregnancy, I knew I would have to wean off of it before the delivery... only because I'm a nursing mother. If you aren't a nursing mother, all of my medical professionals said that it would be okay for me to stay on my meds. I was insistant that I would nurse after delivery, so that's way I weaned off. My MD's did suggest that if I was having problems after weanning, then Zoloft would be my alternative. ...With the greatest psychiatrist alive, I'm able to stay med free at this ever-so-short period of our lives & enjoy it! Hope this helps!

I went in to be checked for depression & learned that I was pregnant. Prior to the pregnancy test, my doctor was going to put me on Zoloft but then, changed to Prozac for the safety of the baby. She stated that, at the time (2001), Prozac was the only one with no side effects/complications found during and/or after pregnancy. I've taken it every since & never had any problems resulting from it. I had my first son in 2001 & my second son in 2005 (and also upped my dosage during the second pregnancy) & they also show no effects. I did not breast feed with the first but did with the 2nd. Although, this had nothing to do with the meds. Good luck

I wasn't on them and I regretted it...pick one of the two and go with it...your shrink may think it's best for you to be off of it, but ultimately it's your body and your weight to bear...From what I have gathered from my OB Zoloft was perfectly fine. From someone who has suffered SEVERE anxiety and depression, my recommendation is to NOT go off the drugs...whatever minimal effects it will have on the baby will be nothing if you can't pull yourself together...remember that little being is going to react to everything you do...if you are anxious so will he... Think of yourself first...you need to!

My OB put me on Prozac about 3 weeks before I gave birth to my daughter in 2001. (She was 4 weeks early, but nothing to do with the meds.) I was crying and yelling uncontrollaby , so she decided it was best to start right away to try and get the jump on any possible post partum.

When I found out I was pregnant with my son in 2004, she switched me to Welbutrin (I had been taking Lexapro). Now, I'm taking both Welbutrin & Lexapro. (I combat genetic, chronic depression and ADD).

I nursed both of my children, Lizzie for 16 months and Collin til 30 months.

I say your thinking is on the right track - If the benefits outweigh the risks (and I have to agree they do) - talk to your doc. Perhaps a slightly lower dose or different med might be better.

Do your own research. Check for medical studies online. Pretty much every medication has a warning for pregnant/nursing mothers. It's the manufacturers way to keep from getting sued. Nine times out of 10 - there has been no study done because no one wants to risk a mom or baby's health. IE - the only example I could find for Adderall (amphetimines/speed) in pregnant women was the study of 1 mother who was an addict - and her baby was perfectly healthy. My ob finally relented and wrote a letter to my psychiatrist saying that if I took them, it was my responsibility. I took a lower dose so that I could function at work.

Above all - Remember this: A happy mother makes for a happy baby.

GoodLuck with your little one!

F.

M., I started taking Zoloft six weeks after I had my son for depression. When he was 3 1/2 months old I found out I was pregnant again. I started to have some serious anxiety and panic attacks. They upped my dosage on the Zoloft which wasn't enough. They added Lexapro and then upped that dosage. Finally I was able to get my depression and anxiety down and was a much better person. I'm now breastfeeding my 3 month daughter and still taking Zoloft and Lexapro. Zoloft is the medicine that they know the most about during pregnancy and breastfeeding. It's the one that is most recommended. It really is a question of risks against benefits. From what you wrote, I bet the benefits of having a happy, healthy mom outweighs the slight chance of any kind of side effects. I would talk to both doctors about switching. And be sure that you start the switch early enough to get the Zoloft up to theraputic levels before delivery.

Good luck! You'll do great!

I've been on prozac during all three of my deliveries w/o any problems. It didn't seem to have any effect on the babies. They watched them for "with drawl" issues whatever they were supposed to be and all three sailed through with flying colors. You will have a better delivery if you are able to stay as relaxed as possible. Stress will only add to the stress of the baby. Good luck.