depression and pregnance

Hi Richey
Welcome to the board,I am very glad that you found us.
I would talk to your doctor and get his opinion right away. I worry about the meds and being pregnant.

Shy

I have been through 2 pregnancies where I took antidepressants. With the first I only started in my second trimester and usually drugs are safer in the second trimester. With my second pregnancy I was on a low dose of Effexor throughout the entire pregnancy. My son and daughter are both fine. I wouldn't recommend a high dose of any anti-depressant during pregancy but sometimes you got weigh the pros and cons, and sometimes it's better to have something than nothing. My second pregnancy emotionally went much better, I was more laid back and I didn't suffer post partum depression like I did with my son. And my relationship with him and his life have very much been affected by my early struggles with depression that went unmedicated. I don't think I'd face another pregnancy without a mild dose. Pregnancies are hard on the body in many ways, emotionally not being the least of them and if you are susceptible to depression, the fluctuation in hormones can make everything worse. But definitely talk to your doctor. There are drugs out there that are safer, and often if you start taking them in the second trimester the chances of anything happening to the child decreases substantially. Of course if you can do it drug free, that's definitely the better option, but for those of us who suffer with depression that is not always possible.

slowlygoingcrazy