Zoloft & Nursing

I don't think it has anything to do with the medicine! I have 2 friends who took zoloft throughout pregnancy and beyond. Both children are 5 now and they are just fine! maybe just a phase. But, I was diagnosed with PPD too after my first. But, I am pregnant again and have become very anemic. I was anemic last time too after my son was born. They say iron deficiency could cause PPD. Just wondering if maybe iron supplement would help you! I am on one now, and I feel like a different person with a lot more energy than ever.

My obgyn said it's safe, but the pediatrician said NO. I think the obgyns are looking out more for the mom, and the peds the baby. It is possible that it's affecting your son's appetite, but I would talk with the pediatrician (not the obgyn) if you want to know the effects on the baby. I decided not to take it while nursing, and have held off taking the zoloft. And, it was hard. My two boys were 17mths apart, so I feel your pain. Zoloft also can take 4 weeks or so before you feel the effects. If you feel that the meds are very important, then I would consider switching to formula. If you think you can hold off on the meds, and he's nursing well, maybe take a break from the meds. But, consult your drs. On the positive side, he's 8weeks, so the 'peak' of colic should be past, and things will slowly get better. And they do!! The first 3 months were really tough, and then it slowly got better, and things improved again by 6months. The sleep deprivation is so hard. See if there's a way you can get more sleep (husband taking a few feedings by bottle at night), and that may decrease your need for the zoloft.

Our pediatrician recommended NOT to take any SSRI's (Selective Seratonin Reuptake Inhibitors) while nursing unless it was absolutely necessary.

I chose not to, especially having been in the pharmaceutical industry as long as I have, because the evidence is really not there to support its use. Zoloft has been around a long time and probably has thousands of patients who have taken it while nursing.

In the end, the clinical evidence to support the long-term effects on the child are just not available. As we see more and more medications that have been on the market for many years fall prey to long-term side effects, I'd personally not want to expose my children to that.

my kids are 21 months apart, so I can completely relate. For me, therapy was better than medication after being diagnosed with cancer after my second child's birth and adjusting to life as a survivor. I found it made me deal more with why I was feeling the way I was instead of removing the symptoms.

Good luck!

I did. I took it for six months and breastfed the whole time. My son will be two in June and is STILL breastfed! He had no problems at all. We used to joke around that my sons mellow disposition was because of the Zoloft, lol. But, honestly, he was just a good baby. Your baby is probably going through a growth spurt and is sleeping more. I would not attribute that to the meds at all. Stay positive and keep yourself healthy! That will make a happy baby. Wish you all the best!

Take the Zoloft! Both your ob and your pedi are just telling you what is best based on what they have read. Listen to the moms who have taken it. I took it while breastfeeding both of my babies and they are now adorable, well-adjusted and intelligent children. Your sons colic is more likely a side effect of your anxiety, rather than the sleeping a side effect of the meds. Colic is one of those things that doctors can't really figure out, causes or cures. Some believe that it is due to overstimulation. This is why it seems to get worse in the eve., when everyone is getting home from school and work. He is sleeping at the breast because it is close to what he experience in the womb. Try eliminating some of the things that might cause this for him - TV or other loud sounds, bright lights, but stay on the Zoloft. Your sanity is the most important thing in raising healthy children!

Congrats on your new little one!

Zoloft is the go-to drug for breast feeding Mom's with PPD and it will take anywhere from 4-6 weeks to take its full effect! There are times when people feel immediately better because they have 1. admitted that there is something wrong and 2. taken action to do something about it. So, good for you for talking to your Dr. I did take Zoloft while nursing for about 8 months and my daughter is fine - probably better off since I started doing better after taking it! However, any medication for PPD (or for any depression) is best used ALONG with talk therapy... it really helped me get a grip on things and it was nice to have an hour a week to focus on me.

The best parenting advice that we ever received was that the first 3 months are considered "the fourth trimester" - your baby is adjusting to the outside world just as much as you are adjusting to them! Adding a toddler in the mix just makes it harder on you to juggle.

Good luck to you!
blessings,
Stacy

I took Zoloft through my entire pregnancy and while nursing my first for 20 months and my second for 15 months. I take it for panic disorder. It does excrete through the breastmilk, but in very low trace amounts. It's always a risk, but you have to weigh the benefits vs the risks.

On the other hand, there is a lot of research that shows that antidepressants don't really work and that placebos are just as effective. (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mark-hyman/depression-me...) If you don't think it's working for you, maybe you should try some other options.

I suffered from PPD pretty badly after my first and found counseling very helpful. Sometimes just talking through issues works. Also, see if there is a MOMS Club (www.momsclub.org) or something similar in your area. Just getting out, talking to other adults, and focusing on yourself a little bit can do wonders.

I agree with the PP that recommended talk therapy in addition to or instead of medication. You need some support. Do you have a friend, sister, mother that you can call and talk to? Let your husband, friend, sister, mother watch the babies for a few hours once or twice a week while you sleep stress-free or get out of the house, whatever you need.

Depression is cyclic. You will cycle out of this depression with or without medication. This may be why some days you feel it's not helping as much (depression has it's ups and downs). Positive changes in your situation will also help the depression resolve itself more quickly. Look at ways you can get more exercise and sleep; these two things have been proven to lessen the effects of depression. Good luck!

I was on Zoloft I did ask the breastfeeding clinic on the effects with nursing baby there isn't any this medication is excreted through breast milk but it is very low trace amounts if your on a low dose like I was on 25-50mgs it's like taking nothing at all and it really just took the edge off if you are on the max.dosage I belive 180 or 200 then I would be concerned more so on it causing effects to baby.Your son is sleeping on the breast whcih is fine that is very common for nursing babies to do all 3 of mine did & I often put thme on breast to be nursed and for nap times because somedays just putting them in their crib doesn't work.Keep on breastfeeding him this will help with his colic.

I have not taken Zoloft while nursing. But I have some ideas that may help you.
1.Sleep deprivation can definitely cause depression. I am not sure how severe your depression is, but some of it can be controlled without meds. Do you have any family or friends that can pitch in while you take a nap once in a while? If not, can you hire a housekeeper/nanny even for a short time until you don't feel so overwhelmed? I hired one from Houston Nanny and I don't know what I would have done without her. I am the type of person that grows horns and a tail when I don't get my sleep!
2. Make sure you are eating healthy. Food from the earth as much as possible.
3. Since your son has colic, try eliminating dairy from your diet and see if that helps --that includes milk, cheese, yogurt, etc. Try it for a week. I had a friend that did that and she said, "New Baby".
4. I realize you are tired, but try to get out and take a morning walk everyday. Put on your baseball cap and sunglasses and start walking. I believe a little bit of exercise will help lift your spirits.
5. Take afternoon naps at the same time as your new baby and 21 month old. Even a short one helps. Forget the housework. Your rest is the most important thing right now. Don't try to stay up late to do chores. Go to bed when your children do, even if it is 8:00!
Hope some of these ideas help. This too shall pass. Good luck and God bless.

Give Zoloft time to kick in. It took about 6 weeks for it to fully work on me. I am also BF my 6 mth old daughter. I am a completely different person on it. I was not able to enjoy my daughter before Zoloft. It has made me so much more relaxed that I'm able to take the difficult moments with stride & enjoy life.

You poor thing- my heart aches for you because I know exactly how you feel. I had a two year old and a newborn several years ago and that was when I started taking meds. The difference for me... I started on Lexapro and it worked instantly. They say it takes 3 weeks for it to get into your system and work right but it didn't take that long for me to be able to feel the difference. I took it through 2 more pregnancies and it wasn't until my last one was born (she is two now) that I started on Cymbalta. My children are all doing well and I am a better mommy because of the meds. I want to encourage you to keep taking them unless you really don't notice a difference and then talk to you Dr. about trying something different. You want to be the best mommy to your loved ones and fighting your feelings makes it difficult. Allow your meds to help you through this time and you can ween yourself off of them with the drs. help later if it bothers you to take them. Feel free to contact me if you need help with anything!

I would suggest that you call your pharmacist and talk to him/her. They have much more knowledge about what medications are safe to take when nursing and what aren't than any of us on this website. I would also mention to the pharmacist about your baby sleeping at the breast and not eating as much and see if that could be a side effect of the Zoloft.
There are also some vitamins that you can take ( B Complex is one that I know of) that are supposed to help with mood stabilization and should be alright to take while nursing. (Again, ask your pharmacist.)
If there is a nursing clinic associated with the hospital where you had your child, the nurses there should also be well versed in what medications are safe to take when nursing.
I had a colicky child many years ago, and I can well remember sitting in the rocking chair, with BOTH of us crying our eyes out, so I can understand why you are feeling overwhelmed. There surely is something that pediatrician could give you to help with the colic and that would go a long ways towards making you feel more in control of things!!
Good luck to you

I had my babies 3 and 6 years ago and was on 2 anti depressants the entire pregnancy and nursing. My kids are fine. I was worried... and called many pedi's and Dr's and I was 50/50 with them all. Some were outright 'Don't take them' and others said it was safe. My prescribing Dr said it was fine. Zoloft has been around longer than the meds I am on and if the Dr says it's safe it should be. I needed to have the meds so I really had no choice. If you feel you can come off of the meds and be safe then you may want to try and see if it makes a difference. ... ONLY if you fee safe doing that. I did not and just had to take my 'chances' and it turned out perfectly fine.

My daughter had colic/ acid reflux terribly. I changed my diet, not meds, and she got better. Son had a slight case of acid reflux, but other than that he was fine too. Two babies as close together as yours are going to play a huge role in stressing you and causing you to be extra tired and 'edgy'. Mine were 3 years apart and I had to get on xanax for a few weeks to learn how to calm down when the baby would cry and the 3 year old needed attention.

Good luck.