Pregnancy and Depression - Cleveland,OH

One of the best perscriptions for depression is exercise...give StrollerFit a try. It is a pre and post-natal exercise program. You'll meet other moms who are probably in your shoes, and get a great workout with your little one. The NE Cincinnati classes offer it 6x/week - go every day if you need to. Besides it will help with labor and delivery and help you become a healthier mom all the way around.

Nevertheless, it will all be fine. Listen to the doctor --

L.,
I have bi-polar disorder and I took Zoloft with both of my children. There were no side effect to either of them as far as I know. My OB would tell me that the side effects were minimal if I were to have any, and that my mental health being good was the important thing. I would find an OB that could help you reach a happy middle because you being depressed for 9 months is going to effect the baby more than the medications will. Good luck!
M.

It is ok that the doctor said that have your ob put you on prozac it is better for the baby I had that some problem last year with my twins I found out about them and had to go off my meds just to start something else it wont hurt you i promise ok askk about prozac and let me know ok

I don't personally have any experience with Zoloft, but I do take Celexa. My original dose was 3 times the normal adult dose (I take it for my low blood pressure rather than antidepressent effects), but it is an antidepressant. My Dr and I talked for a while about what to do when I was trying to get pregnant. In my case we were able to decrease the dose of Celexa and add another medication (a heart med that helps increase blood pressure). I do remember her mentioning that some people have to stay on their meds no matter what to keep both mom and baby safe. Discuss with your Dr if there are any safer (during pregnancy) and/or combination of drugs that may reduce possible side effects and still give you the benefits. Good luck!

Hi L.! Check out MomsMark! (www.momsmark.com) It is a personalized service for moms, keeping them fit and healthy througout pregnancy and beyond. Studies have shown that diet and exercise can and should be a part of your fight against depression. When mom is happy, everyone's happy! I sounds like you are surrounded by lots of support. You just need to put the pieces together!

After having my first child, I suffered from PPD and was prescribed 100mg Zoloft. Wow, did it help! So much so, that my doctor recommended I stay on it for a few years. When I got pregnant with my second child I asked my doctor about possible side-affects of the Zoloft on my baby, she explained all the possibilities and although it can be frightening, the occurance is so rare that it was an easy decision for me. The benefits of Zoloft far outweighed the risk. It may sound selfish, but I knew I neeed to stay on the medication through my entire pregnancy for my own health and as a pre-emptive strike against a second round of PPD. My second child was born happy and healthy with absolutely no signs of any side affects from the Zoloft. Also, because I had been on the Zoloft before he was born, I was able to enjoy and appreciate him much more than I was my first son. As you know it takes time for Zoloft to build up in your system and all you can do during that time is feel miserable and wait for it to have an effect. There is nothing selfish about being an emotionally fit mom.

I was on 100 mg of Zoloft for all three of my pregnancies and my kids are fine. In fact, one of my midwives told me that of all the anti-depressants, Zoloft is the "safest". I have quotes because, while it'd be nice to be off of it altogether, a healthy emotional state is more important that the few small risks associated with anti-depressents and pregnancy.

(Actually, I was on the generic of Zoloft, which is Setraline, but since they're the same drug, I don't think it made any difference.)

-A.

L.,

I am a mother of three and have a similiar experience to the other responder SG. I was on Zoloft for my second pregnancy but stopped it when I found out I was pregnant and had four months of depression, lonliness and anxiety so severe I couldn't be alone. I started again at 4 months of pregnancy and my daughter was born without any problems. I took 100mg of Zoloft during my entire third pregnancy and my daughter was the happiest baby and is still the happiest child I have. She doesn't have any problems. Although I hadn't heard about the baby being irritable after birth. She did cry alot the first 6 weeks but that could have been for a lot of reasons. She stopped after that. I would consider taking to your physician befor going off of the Zoloft right before delivery. I don't know if you have any physical triggers for your anxiety but mine is triggered by pain typically pain like childbirth or chronic illness. I wish you the best of luck. Making decisions that impact the lives of our children before they are born is hard, but you need to be a heakthy mom emotionally and physically to be the best mom that you can. You are already an awesome mom because you care so much about the decision. Good Luck and Congratulations!

My experinece was that I came off of all the medications that I was on when I first found out that I was pregnant. I was on four different medications due to severe depression that landed me in the hospital a few months prior. The first four months of my pregnancy were hell for both me and my husband. I was depressed, scared, lonely, anxious. At 20 weeks, I agreed to start taking Zoloft and I am very glad that I did. My baby was born last summer and he is a healthy and happy baby. And I also believe that he benefited from his mother not crying and screaming all the time, both when he was inside of me and since he's been born.

This is an individual decision, of course, and you should make it with the help of your doctor, and your family. There is a lot of information on the web, but I found that if you look enough, you'd find information to sugget and support any view. I had to realize that throughout this child's life, I will make decisions that will effect him, and sometimes harm him. I just have to do what I believe is the least harmful. I don't regret the decision that I made.

Hi L.,
I have never been on any anti-depressants or anything like that so I cannot be of much help. I just wanted to say one thing and I do not mean to offend you in any way (as I have never gone through anything similiar and I cannot imagine what you are going through) so anyways I would just keep in mind that your child could come out addicted to the zoloft (as you are right now, needing the 100 mg) and this would explain why the baby was irritable and I dont think quiting 2-3 weeks would be smart because you do not want the baby to go through withdraw while he/she is still in the inside that could cause complications.
Like I said I hope not to offend you or anyone reading this, but maybe you could explore other options to help with depression for th remainder of your pregnancy. Good luck.

I wasnt on zoloft but i was on paxil buspar and seroquel. well about 2 years ago they said taking paxil when pregnant was a huge no no... now they are saying its fine. the way i looked at it was i needed the meds to stay sane and i couldnt really be a good mom to my 3 year old with out them. the risk of anything being wrong is so small and to me i needed the meds. its your call the doctor cant make you do one thing or another but i was on anti-depressants with both my kids and they are both healthy happy kids