hi everyone,a couple of weeks ago i finally admitted to my partner that i have postnatel depression,even though he already knew,and ive been to my healthvisitor because i know im not going to get better without any extra help,she has told me that i need to make an appointment with my doctor because i really do need to go on antideppressants just to chill me out a little and to hopefully make me feel a bit more normal,but it means i will have to stop breastfeeding my baby boy,bailey, who is 7months,i know i should be proud of myself for breastfeeding for this long but i cant help but feel that the closeness will be gone between me and bailey,i really am gutted.I dont know what to do,Do I carry on breastfeeding and hope that i will get better without the medication,even though having depression has turned me into a snappy,tearful wreck that is never happy,or do i stop breastfeeding and take the medication and be unhappy that ive stopped doing something that i love doing and feel that ive lost a closeness with my son???? or what else can i do with him to make me still have that closeness?? I cant think.sorry to go on abit. but what would you ladies do?? becky xx

Not sure what to suggest as I have never been in your position but I didn't want to r&r. Could you maybe try counselling before taking medication? If you feel that strongly about continuing to bf then it might be worth a try. If you do decide on the medication please don't feel bad about stopping bfing. You have done so well to carry on for as long as you have, the vast majority of mummys don't carry on past 4 months (I think it is 25% that carry on past this) so you really have nothing to feel bad about and you won't lose the closeness you have with your lo.
Big Hugs
xx

You can still be close even though you dont breastfeed.. I tried breastfeeding when i had ava and and the first few day i couldnt handle it! I think everyone who breastfeed their baby are amazing! I felt awfull and like a failure when i stopped and that was a few days! 7 months is a long time youve done so well...I think you should take the medication it'll best all round they say babies know when parents etc are not happy so it'll be good for you, partner and baby...Hope you start to feel better x x

Hi hun, sorry to hear you're feeling so bad, I would probably stop bf and take the medication if you feel like you need some help and wont get better without it. You could always consider councilling as well. But at the end of the day you've done so well bf for 7 months and you can have lots of cuddles when bottle-feeding too :) xx

oh babe im sorry you have been struggling but i want to add my experience. i had to stop feeding Abby cos she was biting me so much and i really should have stopped sooner but i was determined to continue but i eventually gave in and stopped (9mths) but at the bed time bottle i would feed her with my top undone and the bottle as close to my boobie as i could so she still got the contact and it has worked fine the bottle sits at a very weird angle but we still get the skin contact i also bathe with her occationally so you see you can still have the closeness and wouldnt it be nicer for you if you were feelin better to enjoy all the other things the day brings x take the meds the sooner you do the sooner your off it x good luck chick
fea x

hi there,sorry ur feeling so bad.I'm sure iv heard that there are anti depressents that u can take whilst bf isnt there??maybe you could ask xx

Hi,
Sorry to hear you are feeling bad, I'm in a similar position myself. There are anti-depressants you can take whilst breastfeeding, I was offered some so they are definately out there.
Good luck with everything xxx

i'm not sure who has told you that but my doctor said it to me then when confonted with a list of anti depressants that are ok to take admitted he had said it to try and stop me taking pills....

you can continue to bf ad take anti depressants at the same time.
I took sertraline, and had no problems bf up to 1 year,and some of my friends have also taken it, and others have had fluoxetine with NO problems at all.

Maybe you need to see your HV first to get her to give you a list of safe anti d's as docs dont like to prescribe them and will (I'm told) regularly make a mother who is bf feel bad about using them.

Ultimately you do not have to stop bf and your doc (or whoever it is telling you you have to stop) is not helping your PND at all, and only making you feel worse.

xxx

Hi hun, I sort of know how you're feeling as Kyra is 10 weeks and I'm already worried about when I'll have to stop, like you I don't want to lose that closeness we have it is very very special. There are other things you can do like have lots of skin to skin, bath together, lots of cuddles and kisses.

Like the other have said, get a second opinion from another Dr and get anti-depressants suitable for bf mothers. I'm almost sure that fluoxitine is ok to take while bf and it's one of the most effective anti d's out there. Let us know what you decide to do. xxx

i would have a chat with a pharmacist they know everything! my friend was able to take Citalopram all the way through her pregnancy so i'm sure you would be able to if you were breast feeding.

hi ladies,thanks for all your replys,it was my healthvisitor who said i would have to stop breastfeeding if i went on anti d`s,im going to make an appointment with the docs tommorrow and have decided im going to tell them that i dont want to stop breastfeeding,am going to research what differant anti d`s there are that are save for breastfeeding too,so i can suggest to doc.thanks so much ladies apreciate your replys so much,rite,im off to look at anti deppressants now!! will let you all no how i get on at docs tommorrow.
becky xx