Medication and breastfeeding

Posting anonymous because I feel ashamed. I have been on medication for a few years as my mental health has not been very good, but recently it’s taken a turn for the worse. It’s ruining my relationships with my partner and my family. I have been avoiding everyone and avoiding going out. Some days I can’t get out of bed and show up for my daughter. I do DBT therapy, but I feel so ashamed to talk about my feelings as I feel like a failure. I’ve had intense intrusive thoughts about me not being here or suddenly hurting myself. I’ve tried to talk to the crisis lines, but nothing helps. I’ve breastfed my baby for 7 months now and it’s draining me a lot. I am thinking about making the decision to stop breastfeeding, so that I can continue to take my medication consistently as I’ve been taking it off and on since giving birth as it is known to cause sleepiness and poor weight gain in babies. When I need to take it, I will make bottles for her for the rest of that day or night. I absolutely love breastfeeding and I really don’t want to stop, but I’m unsure of what to do in terms of helping myself. Has anyone been in a similar situation with breastfeeding and medication? I really don’t want to stop breastfeeding.

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Firstly, amazing work on 7 months of breastfeeding! Don’t feel guilty if you decide to quit now as I think it might be more important to keep yourself safe and well as otherwise you won’t be able to look after your baby if things get worse! What medication are you on? Most shouldn’t be taken inconsistently as they will not have an effect. There are definitely medications out there that won’t have too many side effects for the baby. But you would have to talk about change with your psychiatrist/ doctor. If this one suits you best though and you’ve tried other ones might be worth a think about stopping feeding but you are best to discuss with someone so that you will feel better about whatever you decide x

@Kinga thank you so much. It’s been 7 months of struggle with my little one. I absolutely love the bond I have with baby when I breastfeed her. Just seeing her little face smile up at me lights up my world, but sometimes I am feeling like I can’t be the best mum I can be because of my health. I take diazepam, and I have for many years. I took it throughout my pregnancy, but when the baby was born I was scared that if I took it then baby would have side effects. I went cold turkey for a while after taking it nearly everyday to not taking it at all and I had a serve mental breakdown. I was going through withdrawal when I had just given birth and I couldn’t even look at my baby. I then started taking it again, but only occasionally. Now I take it maybe twice a week, but I’m worried how it will affect her. The doctor wouldn’t prescribe me a different alternative because he said that they all have the same risk. I feel like I’m at a loss here 😔 x

Yes, with benzos they would all affect baby the same to be fair. Not sure if there are any antidepressants that would be safer for breastfeeding and would help you with your anxiety, but it might be a sensitive time to start experimenting now if your doctor was to start prescribing new things. Also, don’t be ashamed to feel like that. It could happen to absolutely anyone, and you have every right to discuss it in DBT. People often have thoughts of suicide as it gives them a form of escape (the thoughts of it) and it sounds like you have been feeling awful recently so maybe you just wanted to somehow know that you can escape that feeling? Speak to your therapist and if things are getting worse, ask your GP for a referral to Mental Health! I stopped breastfeeding a week ago and it is a little upsetting but honestly, you still bond with your baby and they are also very cute feeding on a bottle! They still look at you and give you smiles and eye contact. Do what’s right for you xxx

Hi, just thought I’d chime in here as I’ve been on medication for 13 years and took it during pregnancy and have continued during breastfeeding, was told by the doctor it’s completely fine. So perhaps speak to your gp or switching to another medication :)

Hi, I'm currently on sertraline (zoloft) which I was told is one of the lowest risk medications to take whilst pregnant and breastfeeding. I took mine throughout pregnancy and still take it whilst breastfeeding. I would suggest if you're concerned, not stopping and starting as this will completely affect your mental health, but going to a lower dose consistently (with doctors agreement) until you're able to switch medications.

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