Post # 1
Member
155 posts
Blushing bee
I need some support today. We’re been TTC for 6 months. I have a history of anxiety and depression, and I went off all meds about 10 months ago because I didn’t want to take anything while TTC. Well, the last few months have been really hectic. We bought a new house. We’ve moved in, but we still have boxes everywhere. I’m feeling overwhelmed, and now I’m really depressed. My psychiatrist wants me to go back on meds (Zoloft) and to take a few months off from TTC. I’m really upset. I want a baby so bad. My huband is being supportive, but he just wants me to feel better, so he’s happy to take a few months off while I get back on meds and try to feel better. I don’t think he understands this ticking clock in me that makes me think about babies day in and day out. I really don’t want to TTC while on meds, but I don’t know what else to do. I’ve put a call in to my ob/gyn and the soonest they can see me to discuss my options is January, which seems ridiculous, but that’s the way it is.
Have any of you bees taken anti-depressents while pregnant? Has anyone else struggled with this issue? I just need to feel like I’m not alone.
Post # 3
Member
3148 posts
Sugar bee
Im sorry I cant help you really in either situation, Im not TTC and not on anti-deperssants, but I do understand feeling overwhelmed etc. is there any family or friends you can call to help you get the place in order a bit?
Post # 4
Member
443 posts
Helper bee
I’ve never been in either situation, and imagine it must be very, very difficult. Have you ever read dooce.com? It seems like she’s been through some of the same things: http://dooce.com/2008/12/02/bump-watch-begins
Post # 5
Member
2820 posts
Sugar bee
That’s a long time to wait for an OB appointment. Would you be able to switch OBs? It seems like it would be good to speak wih both those doctors before making a decision on TTC but would also be helpful to get to talk to an OB sooner rather than later.
Post # 6
Member
1537 posts
Bumble bee
I’m so sorry to hear that you are going through a rough time. I’ve dealt with depression in the past and it’s one of those things that you need to address and resolve as quickly as you can. I think going back on your meds is probably a safe choice. When you let those feelings linger I always find that it sort of sneaks up on you and then all of a sudden you’re stuck in a bad place.
Consulting your ob/gyn is probably a good step to take anyway. She’ll help you discuss your options and also address your risk factors for post-pardum. Are you concerned about that at all? I’m not on meds and haven’t been for years, but that’s one topic that always gets me a little worried when talking about TTC. Obviously it is something you can work through, but being aware of it is super important. My main concern with you TTC while also trying to deal with getting balanced is that it might make things harder on yourself. Maybe focus on one thing at a time?
These things always work out. As long as you aware of it (which you are) and you have the proper resources (which you do, the therapist & meds) you’ll be able to make it through this. Try to get a good balance going on before you bring baby into the mix though because you don’t want to stretch yourself too thin. Once you’ve got a good balance going on than TTC will be a positive thing to look forward to 🙂
PM if you want to chat more. Don’t feel like you’re alone because you never are 🙂
Post # 7
Member
2090 posts
Buzzing bee
I can’t answer your first question because I don’t have any kids – but what about going at things from a different angle: you said there are still lots of boxes everywhere and you feel overwhelmed. Totally understandable!
What about if you and your husband sat down and made a list of the things that are making you feel overwhelmed – i.e., “unpack boxes”, “put x items away”, “do x” – other things related to the move, etc. and go about getting the list taken care of.
I have anxiety, sometimes its generalized, and sometimes it REALLY helps me to make lists, and then complete the lists – to see progress on what’s stressing me out and making me feel overwhelmed generally helps the anxiety a lot. Even just making the list (and taking control over what feels outside my control) can help.
Maybe this would help you too?
Post # 8
Member
1995 posts
Buzzing bee
I’m no expert but just wondering: CAN you TTC while on the meds? Is it not recommended or just a personal choice? I would look into the research and speak to medical professionals (ob, psych, pharmaist).
Post # 9
Member
29 posts
Newbee
I’m so sorry you feel badly.
I posted something similar yesterday. We are also TTC but it’s only been a little over a month for us. However, I feel my age is going to make things very difficult. I have also had depression in the past so I know how hard it is to deal with it and at the same time “living life”. I am like you and am not a pill person. How about a mini vacation? Even for just the weekend? Do you work out? Working out always helped with my mood. I wish you the best of luck, love, health and babies, and no, you are not alone 🙂
Post # 10
Member
241 posts
Helper bee
What you’re going through really does sound overwhelming and like it would provoke anxiety in just about any of us!
I do know a little bit about what you’re going through–I was on an antidepressant (Wellbutrin) for about a year during grad school. I wondered how long I should be off of it before TTC, so I read a lot and went off for about 5 or 6 months before TTC. I can’t say that it’s been easy, but I know I haven’t had the same lows as I did during grad school.
The med could really help in dealing with all the stressful areas of your life, except TTC. So could continued counseling (I’m glad you’re seeing someone). It’s important that your future baby has a healthy, non-stressed mom, and taking the steps to get there before TTC sounds like a really wise decision. Stress affects fetuses and infants. I don’t say that to scare you, I say that to motivate you. It will be very hard to wait, but in the end, it’s worth it.
Post # 11
Member
155 posts
Blushing bee
Thank you all.
@allinsonc: thank you for the link. I’ve never read her blog before, but it looks very helpful.
My ob/gyn is wonderful and if you every have an immediate problem she’ll get you in right away, but these types of planning meetings and annuals etc… with her need to be scheduled months in advance. I may call her assistant and see if I can talk to her by phone sometime soon. I have another appt. with my psychiatrist next week. I might have her call my ob and see if they can talk about options and risks.
I have been trying to exercise. I started yoga a few times a week, but I’ve been a little sporadic in my attendence. I know I need to go regularly. It’s been hard with my work schedule and the new house.
I know I can TTC while on meds, and the risks of birth defects are small, but they are real and the results can be very bad – organs growing outside of the body kind of bad. Also there has been some recent research linking developmental delays to use of antidepressants during pregnancy. But I know that being pregnant and depressed can result in a whole other set of complications – low birth weight, premature birth, other issues… It’s a trade-off. There is no hard and fast answer. What level of risk are you willing to accept? And I just don’t know…
Post # 12
Member
4137 posts
Honey bee
i second the dooce recommendation! she went off meds during her first pregnancy and it was a disaster, then stayed on them with her second. obviously this isn’t for everyone, but is there a med you can continue taking while ttc?
Post # 13
Member
536 posts
Busy bee
I went off my anxiety meds a couple months before TTC, and I think it would have been a better plan for me to instead try to find a safer medicine that I could have continued to take through pregnancy.
I was on a med that is considered category “C” for pregnancy, so it was worth it to me to get off that particular one. However, between taking a while to conceive, losing one pregnancy, and taking a few months to conceive again… I’ve now been off meds for about a year and a half, and it’s been really hard. It’s harder for me to concentrate at work, I have less energy which translates into lots of other things like less exercise, less motivation to eat well, less participation in activities that would probably be good for my mental health… Pregnancy is rough. At least for me, it’s been really draining and unpleasant both physically and mentally, and I think I’d be healthier (exercising more, eating better, getting out more), happier, and much more pleasant to be around (man, would my husband love having a less-crazy wife these days) if I were still on meds. For all these reasons, I think that when I want to TTC again, I’ll look into finding a medication that I could continue to take through pregnancy.
A good friend of mine who is due in December has continued to take Prozac (which is pregnancy category B) throughout her pregnancy with the full support of her doctor. She thinks it’s made a huge positive difference in her ability to cope with the pregnancy, maintain a marriage, and plan for raising a child.
There are also some meds that seem to have an increased risk of causing problems when taken later in pregnancy, so it seems like it might even be an option to continue on meds while TTC and into the early part of pregnancy.
I guess my point is just that, while I think it’s great to get off meds if you can do it, you shouldn’t feel ashamed or bad about yourself if it turns out that it’s worth it in your situation to find a medication that you can continue to take while TTC or into pregnancy, and if that’s the route you want to go, there are OBs who will be supportive of working with you on this, so you just need to find one of them! Good luck with everything 🙂
Post # 14
Member
332 posts
Helper bee
I’m so sorry that you are going through this. I am also TTC and I know how hard it is to wait. I do not suffer from depression, but I do have migraines. I’ve discussed my options with all of my doctors for medication. I did get off a lot of the meds, but I still get migraines. Since it’s not good for the baby if I’m stressed out and my body is under that much stress, they like me to take certain meds. Your baby will be healthier if you are happy and healthy, as long as the risks are low I would talk to your doctor about staying on some sort of med.
Post # 15
Member
128 posts
Blushing bee
I second what Lozza said…I previously worked for a psychiatrist and he would prescribe Prozac to women who were unable to come off medication while TTC. Maybe you could schedule an appointment with your doctor and discuss the option of going on something that would have less side effects.
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