Antidepressants And Breastfeeding

Are you taking antidepressants and breastfeeding ?

Breastfeeding is still encouraged when a mom is on antidepressants, even drugs like prozac and Zoloft are found to not have adverse effects on baby.

Stopping breastfeeding can leave mom feeling even more depressed. Women who do not breastfeed actually have a higher chance of getting post natal depression. There are mixed feelings on whether a breastfeeding mother should be on depression medication.

Effects of PPD on mom and baby if mom doesn’t get treatment

- A likely increased susceptibility to psychopathology in these children

- Boys whose depressed moms show ambivalence to them in early months have higher rates of behavioral troubles and learning difficulties by the age of five.

- A depressed mother is more likely to do self harm or commit suicide

- Slower speech and skill development in baby

- Insomnia and breastfeeding problems

Specific drugs that have been researched on taking antidepressants and breastfeeding

- Doxepin may be harmful to infants and should be avoided in breastfeeding.

- Mirtazapine levels are shown to be very low in breast milk

- Venlafaxine has been found to accumulate in a breastfed baby if taken over a long time.

- Valproate has been found to be safe during lactation

- Bipolar and breastfeeding ~ Taking Lithium and breastfeeding is not advised during lactation if baby is not healthy, but is the only medication that will effectively help a mom with bipolar disorder

- Paroxetine in high doses are not recommended

- Fluoxetine is recommended

- Prozac is not recommended if baby is younger than two months, also research shows that babies on Prozac might also have colic and be fussier than usual

- Zoloft is found to be very low in breast milk with no adverse effects on baby

- Paxil is almost always never detected in mothers breast milk

- Celexa levels are higher in breastmilk and babies might have side effects

- Effexor not recommended because of its side effects.

- St johns wort herb is a weak antidepressant and may cause problems if taken with other medication.

- Bupropion may reduce breast milk production

- Valium is not recommended as it may sedate baby and increase the risk of SIDS “sudden Infant Death Syndrome”

Why are SSRI drugs safer than other drugs during breastfeeding?

- It has a success rate in patients of up to 70%

- It is not addictive

- It has no associated buzz

- Very mild withdrawal symptoms

- Side effects usually fade away over time

Should you breastfeed while on these meds or should you wean baby?

- The benefits of continued nursing outweigh any negative effects of taking medication while breastfeeding

- Stopping breastfeeding can actually increase depression levels

- Taking antidepressants and breastfeeding will have mom feeling like she is accomplishing something good.

Other natural ways of treating depression while breastfeeding

- Massage therapy

Herbal medications

- Eating anti depression food

- Natural guide step for step on how to cure depression (e-book)

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