https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 09 May 2026 17:31:01 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feel-like-my-mental-health-in-pregnancy-is-slipping-through-the-healthcare-cracks#post-2616951 Tue, 06 Sep 2016 22:02:42 +0000 mtler 2616951@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There is an amazing resource <a href="http://www.motherisk.org/" rel="nofollow">http://www.motherisk.org/</a> with a hotline that basically will give any and all information about medication and risks in pregnancy and breastfeeding. They are Canadian and I am not sure where you are but they should be able to give you all the risks related to medication options. Worth a shot! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feel-like-my-mental-health-in-pregnancy-is-slipping-through-the-healthcare-cracks#post-2616924 Tue, 06 Sep 2016 20:53:27 +0000 IRunForFun 2616924@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wheres_c: Oh my goodness can't believe you went cold turkey! I thought withdrawal was bad weaning over 2 weeks. Thank you for sharing your OB's perspective though, especially the anecdote on his wife. That is very reassuring! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feel-like-my-mental-health-in-pregnancy-is-slipping-through-the-healthcare-cracks#post-2616917 Tue, 06 Sep 2016 20:43:35 +0000 wheres_c 2616917@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I chose to quit lexapro cold turkey when I found out I was pregnant (not recommended!), but my OB encouraged me to continue 10mg throughout pregnancy. I didn't, but he explained what the risks were, told me his wife took it with all 5 pregnancies and was perfectly supportive had I wished to remain on it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feel-like-my-mental-health-in-pregnancy-is-slipping-through-the-healthcare-cracks#post-2616911 Tue, 06 Sep 2016 20:34:12 +0000 IRunForFun 2616911@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@macintosh: Thank you for sharing! These positive anecdotes (aka the worst doesn't always or even very rarely happens) really are helping me solidify my decision. </p> <p>@Mrs. Bee: Oh no, sorry you had to deal with that! I did that once when on Paxil and restarting was so horrible. I thought I was dying. I was on 20 mg of Lexapro most recently and I think I'm going to try to stay at 10 mg for the rest of pregnancy. I was already planning to cut my pills into quarters and start out at 2.5 mg and slowly go up for exactly that reason! Hope you feel some relief soon! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feel-like-my-mental-health-in-pregnancy-is-slipping-through-the-healthcare-cracks#post-2616908 Tue, 06 Sep 2016 20:27:50 +0000 Mrs. Bee 2616908@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>wow i feel your pain and hope you are able to sort it out soon!</p> <p>i just went off lexapro a couple weeks ago after being on it for years, and then my anxiety came back full force (went off because it's hard to get here). so i restarted at my regular dose and the side effects were insane (nausea, insomnia, way worse anxiety)... i couldn't imagine going through a month of that to readjust. so i decided to take 1/3 of a 10mg pill and it has been much better. i guess my advice is to take a really small dose and increase it gradually so you don't have the insane side effects. good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feel-like-my-mental-health-in-pregnancy-is-slipping-through-the-healthcare-cracks#post-2616903 Tue, 06 Sep 2016 20:23:39 +0000 macintosh 2616903@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@IRunForFun: I was also on Lexapro during pregnancy (10 mg) and I had no issues. I didn't hear a thing about withdrawal for the baby, no idea that was even a possibility. I hope you find a doc to help soon :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feel-like-my-mental-health-in-pregnancy-is-slipping-through-the-healthcare-cracks#post-2616887 Tue, 06 Sep 2016 19:59:45 +0000 IRunForFun 2616887@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Magna Doodle: Thank you! That's super reassuring! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feel-like-my-mental-health-in-pregnancy-is-slipping-through-the-healthcare-cracks#post-2616884 Tue, 06 Sep 2016 19:46:37 +0000 Magna Doodle 2616884@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No advice, just support from another anxiety ridden mama! I have been on and off Lexapro for years. I never stopped taking it while pregnant and as far as I can tell, my daughter didn't suffer from withdrawal one bit. Good luck to you :goodluck: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feel-like-my-mental-health-in-pregnancy-is-slipping-through-the-healthcare-cracks#post-2616883 Tue, 06 Sep 2016 19:44:49 +0000 IRunForFun 2616883@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LovelyPlum: Thanks! I hope the Abilify works for you! I was so surprised when my primary suggested stopping/switching because he's seen me through several med changes and periods of not being on meds and I feel like he knows how much of a struggle it is for me. That's part of the reason I decided to try it, because I trust him. But I guess no doctor can know 100% how someone will react to a med. It's so hard to know what the "right" thing is. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feel-like-my-mental-health-in-pregnancy-is-slipping-through-the-healthcare-cracks#post-2616877 Tue, 06 Sep 2016 19:33:29 +0000 LovelyPlum 2616877@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also adding that I find the "just go off the meds" attitude so frustrating. I had to stop Concerta for ADHD because my psych didn't want me on it, but I routinely feel like I'm going to jump out of my skin without it. Gah! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feel-like-my-mental-health-in-pregnancy-is-slipping-through-the-healthcare-cracks#post-2616874 Tue, 06 Sep 2016 19:31:09 +0000 LovelyPlum 2616874@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It sounds like you've now got a bit of a plan, which I am so glad for. LaSt pregnancy, my mental health suffered so much. This time, I hope that my psych will help. For what it's worth, she has me on Abilify instead of SSRIs. I hope it's enough to ward off the anxiety demons this time around. You're doing the right thing by advocating for yourself as well as babe!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feel-like-my-mental-health-in-pregnancy-is-slipping-through-the-healthcare-cracks#post-2616873 Tue, 06 Sep 2016 19:25:52 +0000 PointeShoesTutus 2616873@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@IRunForFun: glad you've worked out a bit of a plan and that that link was helpful. I was really surprised about not stopping meds late in pregnancy because my old PCP had talked a lot about that. I hope everything works out for you &amp; you can get back to feeling like yourself again quickly! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feel-like-my-mental-health-in-pregnancy-is-slipping-through-the-healthcare-cracks#post-2616800 Tue, 06 Sep 2016 16:09:51 +0000 IRunForFun 2616800@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone for the feedback! Just writing this out I think has helped solidify what I ideally want to do, which is to reintroduce the Lexapro slowly, try to stay on a low dose, and stay on it through the entire pregnancy and beyond. This was the plan discussed before TTC and I was comfortable with it, and my gut told me that was still the best plan when my doctor suggested switching, but I was hopeful at the idea of something "safer" that would be effective. Of course something with no known risk sounded more appealing than something with a known risk, no matter how small. And all the information in that article @PointeShoesTutus: linked to states that there isn't much evidence that weaning off before delivery makes much difference in the outcome for baby, so there's that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feel-like-my-mental-health-in-pregnancy-is-slipping-through-the-healthcare-cracks#post-2616797 Tue, 06 Sep 2016 16:05:55 +0000 IRunForFun 2616797@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bibliolove: Thanks! So interesting on the Buspar. I mean there must be people it works for I guess, but...</p> <p>@Mrs. Blush: Thanks! Yes, exactly, I just want someone to stop and say "I understand, let's get you help right away, here's the plan." Rather than "Wellll you *could* try this, but check with so-and-so first" and then so-and-so can't help either. Ugh. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feel-like-my-mental-health-in-pregnancy-is-slipping-through-the-healthcare-cracks#post-2616794 Tue, 06 Sep 2016 16:01:25 +0000 Mrs. Blush 2616794@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irunforfun: tons of hugs. I also hate how awful it is to have the advocate for yourself basically full time to get anyone to help you with mental health issues. It's so frustrating - you just want someone to stop and understand what you actually need, and not just refer you around or generally be unhelpful. I'm sure something good will come of all of your work though - eventually you are bound to get in to see a psychiatrist or your MFM should be able to help - so hopefully there is an end in sight for you in dealing with this. You can do it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feel-like-my-mental-health-in-pregnancy-is-slipping-through-the-healthcare-cracks#post-2616792 Tue, 06 Sep 2016 15:58:12 +0000 Bibliolove 2616792@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm so sorry this is happening, how frustrating! :heart: Buspar was a crap med for me too...</p> <p>I'm sorry I don't have advice, but you are your best health advocate. Push for your mental health to be taken seriously! This is an emergency and you need a referal. Research the evidence. I hope the MFM doc works out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feel-like-my-mental-health-in-pregnancy-is-slipping-through-the-healthcare-cracks#post-2616790 Tue, 06 Sep 2016 15:53:33 +0000 IRunForFun 2616790@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PointeShoesTutus: Thanks, that was really helpful! Yes I did schedule an appointment and will ask about cancellations. A month just seems SO long. </p> <p>And not that I'm glad to hear Buspar didn't work for someone else, but it does reinforce the idea that maybe it's just not as effective as SSRIs. My primary keeps insisting it's a great first-line drug for anxiety and I honestly feel pretty much the same way I did when I was taking nothing. And I really don't want to just keep upping the dose to see what happens.</p> <p>ETA: Interestingly that article says Buspar isn't recommended for pregnancy because there have been NO studies done on its use during gestation. Ha! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feel-like-my-mental-health-in-pregnancy-is-slipping-through-the-healthcare-cracks#post-2616788 Tue, 06 Sep 2016 15:48:54 +0000 IRunForFun 2616788@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cole: Thanks! I've made one appointment with a psychiatrist so far, for the end of this month, and I did ask to be notified of cancellations. Tomorrow I do plan to call more psychiatrists and you are right, I should call the midwife back and ask for their help in expediting things. </p> <p>@youboots: @catlady: Thank you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feel-like-my-mental-health-in-pregnancy-is-slipping-through-the-healthcare-cracks#post-2616785 Tue, 06 Sep 2016 15:47:55 +0000 PointeShoesTutus 2616785@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I second the MFM option. I'm waiting to start my prep for a FET but I will be staying on my SSRI (Prozac). Before my psychiatrist left, she had recommended I stay on the Adderall I also take for severe depression. I wasn't wild about the idea but I trusted her judgement. My primary &amp; MFM said Prozac is ok but no Adderall unless absolutely necessary. (I should mention that my old paychiatrist left Mass General Hospital to head up a research study designed to examine outcomes in moms&amp; babies who took meds during pregnancy so this really is her area of expertise).<br /> Can you make an appointment with one of the psychiatrists you called even if it's a month out? Then call regularly and ask about any cancelations? I've had a little success with that a couple times. I'm so sorry you're struggling! FWIW, buspar did nothing for my anxiety when I tried to switch off lexapro too. I found this link had helpful information. Could you show it to your skeptical doctors and see if you can get anywhere? Hugs!<br /> <a href="https://womensmentalhealth.org/specialty-clinics/psychiatric-disorders-during-pregnancy/?doing_wp_cron=1473194798.9048089981079101562500" rel="nofollow">https://womensmentalhealth.org/specialty-clinics/psychiatric-disorders-during-pregnancy/?doing_wp_cron=1473194798.9048089981079101562500</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feel-like-my-mental-health-in-pregnancy-is-slipping-through-the-healthcare-cracks#post-2616784 Tue, 06 Sep 2016 15:46:20 +0000 catlady 2616784@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have no advice but I'm sorry you are going through this. Anxiety is no joke and I can only assume that this situation is making it worse for you. Hope you can get it resolved soon. Hugs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feel-like-my-mental-health-in-pregnancy-is-slipping-through-the-healthcare-cracks#post-2616783 Tue, 06 Sep 2016 15:41:56 +0000 youboots 2616783@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm really sorry you are dealing with this. No advice, just hugs ❤️ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feel-like-my-mental-health-in-pregnancy-is-slipping-through-the-healthcare-cracks#post-2616781 Tue, 06 Sep 2016 15:38:51 +0000 Cole 2616781@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm so sorry, I really wish mental health were handled better in our medical system. Can you call back your midwife practice as well as your family doctor and see if one of them can call and help expedite an appointment with a psychiatrist? You might have to push hard for them to help but someone should be able to do something. I'd also consider making appointments at several psychiatrist offices so you're "on record" and then call frequently to ask about cancellations. I swear sticking up for your health and best interests is a full time job, frankly both of my suggestions sound like no fun, especially with anxiety but they may be your best bet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feel-like-my-mental-health-in-pregnancy-is-slipping-through-the-healthcare-cracks#post-2616764 Tue, 06 Sep 2016 15:18:52 +0000 IRunForFun 2616764@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bernieboo: Oh, that's a good idea. I actually have an appointment scheduled with an MFM 2 weeks from tomorrow for a different reason - I have a blood clotting disorder - but I could definitely bring it up with him! I think I could deal for 2 more weeks as is until I get a better opinion...</p> <p>ETA: Mainly because I'm hoping the opinion will be that yes I can go back on Lexapro, but then I can stay on for the entire pregnancy and beyond. I think I could handle the adjustment period if I knew I wouldn't have to withdraw again so soon. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feel-like-my-mental-health-in-pregnancy-is-slipping-through-the-healthcare-cracks#post-2616760 Tue, 06 Sep 2016 15:13:51 +0000 Bernieboo 2616760@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Can you try getting in to see a Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist? I see a regular OB, but since I have asthma, I also see an MFM Dr. He's WAY more informed about risks of medications and we've had several conversations about that. Recently, I had a sinus infection that was seriously affecting my quality of life, but the OB was hesitant about antibiotics. The MFM Dr was way more down to earth, discussed the real risks, and encouraged me to prioritize my quality of life. I haven't had any major issues with my anxiety during this pregnancy, so I can't give any advice on that end. But I would try to look into seeing an MFM. I think most OBs should be able to give you a referral. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feel-like-my-mental-health-in-pregnancy-is-slipping-through-the-healthcare-cracks#post-2616756 Tue, 06 Sep 2016 15:05:23 +0000 IRunForFun 2616756@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm at a total loss here. I've been on and off SSRIs for severe anxiety for over a decade and before TTC switched from a category X medication to a category C medication (Lexapro) which my doctor said had small risks associated with it, but the benefits for me outweighed them.</p> <p>Well at 13 weeks I went for a med check and he had a different stance and said there are more known risks now with babies experiencing withdrawal and he wanted me to switch to Buspar which is a non-SSRI specifically meant to treat anxiety. I hemmed and hawed over what to do, spoke to one of the midwives at my practice, and she agreed it might be a good idea to try it, so I did.</p> <p>I went through SSRI withdrawal which sucked and have increased the dose of Buspar once because it didn't seem to be working for me. It's been 6.5 weeks now and I basically feel like I'm not medicated at all and my anxiety is as bad as ever. I'm having trouble eating, sleeping, and being productive. I haven't gained a single pound in that 7 weeks. I feel like I'm in a constant state of tension and I've had several panic attacks.</p> <p>I saw a different midwife in my practice last week and explained the situation and she said I could go back on a low dose of the Lexapro for now and then wean back off at 36 weeks to avoid baby going through withdrawal after birth. She recommended I talk to my primary about it though since he was my prescriber for the past decade. </p> <p>Thinking about adjusting to the Lexapro again with all the side effects that come with it only to have to wean and go through withdrawal again in less than 4 months sounds awful, but so does living with this anxiety. </p> <p>I wanted to talk to someone who had more experience prescribing SSRIs so I tried to make an appointment with a psychiatrist, but everyone's booking at least a month out; even when I explain the urgency, they tell me to find someone else.</p> <p>Called my primary as recommended by my midwife, too, and was told now that I've discussed with my midwife, I should be going through her only for this issue. </p> <p>I'm so so so frustrated and disgusted by how this is being handled. I feel stuck and don't know what to do and I feel like the people who are supposed to help me figure this out aren't. I'm not enjoying this pregnancy at all and barely enjoying anything else in life and I'm just so mad that I even let my doctor talk me into switching meds in the first place. </p> <p>This is mainly a vent but also, does anyone have any advice at all? Is there some like secret medical network I can go through to get help? Or something I can say to get an appointment sooner? </p>