https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 17 Jun 2026 00:36:05 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ppd-treatment-qs#post-1182611 Tue, 29 Oct 2013 15:33:33 +0000 cmomma17 1182611@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So my Obgyn does not prescribe meds for depression. All I got was a referral (business card really) of a local counselor who specializes in PPD, infertility, etc.<br /> I'm kind of disappointed. Part of me doesn't want to call to set up another appointment, take more time off work, more time away from LO, etc.</p> <p>I do think I want to commit to more regular exercise and eating better to see if that helps. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ppd-treatment-qs#post-1182402 Tue, 29 Oct 2013 14:36:03 +0000 LovelyPlum 1182402@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@IRunForFun: this is another reason why I'm still on it...because I have a feeling that if I weren't, things would get bad QUICKLY after baby is here. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ppd-treatment-qs#post-1182385 Tue, 29 Oct 2013 14:32:15 +0000 IRunForFun 1182385@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaMoose: Awesome, thanks for sharing!! I've taken Paxil for years and never had to take more than the lowest therapeutic dose, so I'm hoping I won't have to take a high dose of Zoloft, either. Thinking about a poor baby going through "withdrawal" (having been through it myself) is awful and I'd feel terrible! </p> <p>@MCD919: Because of my history of severe anxiety, I'm considered high risk for developing PPD, too. That's part of the reason I'm going to choose to be medicated during pregnancy. I'm too afraid that, if I did make it through pregnancy with no meds, I'd spiral downward fast after giving birth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ppd-treatment-qs#post-1182383 Tue, 29 Oct 2013 14:32:12 +0000 googly-eyes 1182383@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cmomma17: I also had an anxiety med that was taken as needed (maybe 20 or less times total? only when I REALLY needed it, like wasn't walking or talking or anything) but the main thing I took was lexapro 10mg. I started that and therapy at six weeks pp and also had A LOT of baby help. I started feeling better by 4-5 months pp, like myself at 6 months pp, and really happy and optimistic about life again by 8-9 months. It was severe but since I got help so quickly and intensely I recovered relatively quickly (although it certainly didn't feel quick.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ppd-treatment-qs#post-1182353 Tue, 29 Oct 2013 14:24:56 +0000 MamaMoose 1182353@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@IRunForFun: My BFF was on Zoloft with her entire pregnancy. Her baby was full term and a nice healthy ten pounds! He's now a perfectly wonderful two year old. A friend of hers had REALLY bad anxiety was on a much higher dose of Zoloft than they normally give pregnant women. The only side effect was that the baby was extra fussy the first few days of life as the Zoloft left his system. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ppd-treatment-qs#post-1182267 Tue, 29 Oct 2013 13:56:33 +0000 MCD919 1182267@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm currently pregnant with my first, but I started taking lexapro about 2 years ago while taking care of my mom while she had cancer. It was an incredible stressful and difficult time. I took a low dose, but felt like it was helping. I became pg a few months later and weaned off of it. That pregnancy ended in MC, and coping with that in addition to my mom's passing, was very difficult for me. So I started the lex. again, along with weekly therapy. I was also TTC at the time. The combination, along with exercise and a pretty healthy diet, made a big difference. After 7 months ttc, I became pregnant again in May and weaned off the medication. About 16ish weeks into the pregnancy, I was struggling with some anxiety and mild depression, so after much research and consulting with my Dr, I decided to start taking the medication again. It's really helped with my mood and anxiety a lot. I feel like I made an educated decision, and my life stressors right now combined with a history of anxiety/ depression put me at risk for ppd. I'd rather continue taking a low dose of the meds now in preparation for that. Phew, sorry for the novel! And thanks to others for sharing their stories- it helps to know you're not alone dealing with these issues! Let us know what your Dr. recommends, OP! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ppd-treatment-qs#post-1181993 Tue, 29 Oct 2013 12:39:29 +0000 LovelyPlum 1181993@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cmomma17: good luck today. Thinking positive thoughts for you that you can come to a solution that works best for you. Let us know how it goes! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ppd-treatment-qs#post-1181975 Tue, 29 Oct 2013 12:36:09 +0000 cmomma17 1181975@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LovelyPlum: Going to the doctor today, so no recommendation yet. I just know it is one of the options. We actually talked about PPD when I was still pregnant, because I have dealt with depression and anxiety in the past (have been medicated for both, and have gone to counseling for both at various stages in my life). I just didn't think I was affected until about 5 months pp. </p> <p>I have really good intentions (I want to exercise, I want to eat healthy ....) but I can't keep my motivation up. I also still have good days where I feel very positive and even a little energetic! The good days are mostly when DH, LO and I are all home together (low stress). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ppd-treatment-qs#post-1181967 Tue, 29 Oct 2013 12:33:01 +0000 LovelyPlum 1181967@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@IRunForFun: of course! :) Sorry I didn't see it earlier. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ppd-treatment-qs#post-1181964 Tue, 29 Oct 2013 12:32:37 +0000 LovelyPlum 1181964@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cmomma17: well, at least you know your vitamins are up to snuff-that's great news! B6 might not hurt, you could always try it. </p> <p>And don't beat yourself up over the food-it is hard!! It's so hard, especially when you feel completely like crap, and you know you can get a momentary break by eating something yummy. </p> <p>Can I ask, did your doctor recommend medicine? Honestly, it's what got me to a place where I was then able to make the other choices I needed to take care of myself better. I knew that I needed to do both things in order to feel better, but I was physically unable to until I had some help. There's no shame in it, though I don't always believe that. But really, there's not. You can't take care of anyone else until YOU are taken care of. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ppd-treatment-qs#post-1181960 Tue, 29 Oct 2013 12:32:08 +0000 IRunForFun 1181960@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LovelyPlum: Thanks for answering!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ppd-treatment-qs#post-1181930 Tue, 29 Oct 2013 12:19:26 +0000 cmomma17 1181930@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LovelyPlum: I already take my vitamins every day :( Maybe I need extra B vitamins? I took B6 while TTC.<br /> I definitely need to cut back on coffee. I have two big cups in the morning and then take an entire thermos with me to work for the rest of the day. It started because of sleep deprivation of course, but I feel like I'm coping better with that.<br /> My diet is horrible right now. I am especially bad at work where there are treats and a candy bowl. Food is most definitely my coping mechanism when stressed but it makes me feel much much worse! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ppd-treatment-qs#post-1181916 Tue, 29 Oct 2013 12:15:37 +0000 LovelyPlum 1181916@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaMoose: I was a freaking basket case during the beginning of this pregnancy, and I am SO glad I got to stay on. I completely agree, I'm much healthier, and putting the baby at much less risk, by being on it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ppd-treatment-qs#post-1181912 Tue, 29 Oct 2013 12:14:04 +0000 LovelyPlum 1181912@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@IRunForFun: yes, I am. My doctor said that as long as I need it, it's the right choice right now. He didn't even hesitate, actually...it was pretty much a non issue. I was so scared that I would have to go off of it, but I didn't. I am thinking that I will wean off as third trimester comes around, but I'm scared!</p> <p>@cmomma17: I have this relationship with food too! Not eating healthy makes me feel awful about myself, which doesn't help. We ended up throwing out all of the sweets and adding in a lot of veggies wherever possible. I would still eat some carbs, but it would be on the order of something like a fake-out version of crustless chicken pot pie, made with a skim milk roux and loaded with veggies. I also like a lot of soup, but we would try to pair that with a salad, or with lettuce cup tacos instead of tortillas. That way, I still felt like I was eating my comfort foods, but it didn't affect me so terribly.</p> <p>One more thing: take your vitamins!!! When I'm having an episode, my mother always told me to take my vitamins, and she gave me a B complex vitamin as well. I have found that if I am vitamin-deficient, it's so much worse. Same goes with dehydration. I need to try to drink a lot more liquid when I'm sad, and I try to limit the caffeine. I'll get a half caff if I need coffee, or if I've got a headache, a small glass of coke at night. Otherwise, it's green tea or juice that I find helps. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ppd-treatment-qs#post-1181850 Tue, 29 Oct 2013 11:39:14 +0000 IRunForFun 1181850@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaMoose: That's why I asked @LovelyPlum: about the Zoloft. I'm on Paxil now and over the winter will be weaning off and switching to Zoloft before we TTC. I have severe anxiety and going the non-medicated route is not an option. (Not eating or sleeping would hardly be ideal during pregnancy.) My doc says Zoloft is the safest of all the SSRIs during pregnancy but I'm still nervous. I'm looking for positive experiences! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ppd-treatment-qs#post-1181725 Tue, 29 Oct 2013 10:59:27 +0000 Boheme 1181725@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cmomma17: I researched the heck out of Zoloft, and very, very little to none is found in expressed breast milk. It was important to me to keep nursing, so Zoloft is the med my OB and I agreed on :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ppd-treatment-qs#post-1181710 Tue, 29 Oct 2013 10:56:40 +0000 cmomma17 1181710@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaMoose: Thanks, that's helpful. I worry because we do want to start TTC #2 in the relatively near future. And I know it's better to stick with the meds for a while instead of going on and off. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ppd-treatment-qs#post-1181689 Tue, 29 Oct 2013 10:50:45 +0000 MamaMoose 1181689@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cmomma17: @sotofamilia: Zoloft is consider safe both in pregnancy and breastfeeding. Obviously there are slight risks in taking either (even if you're not pregnant or breastfeeding). But according to my doctor the risks are very minor when compared to those associated with a anxious/depressed mama. *My doc considered putting me on Zoloft during my pregnancy, I was extremely anxious due to a prior miscarriage* </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ppd-treatment-qs#post-1181670 Tue, 29 Oct 2013 10:45:02 +0000 sotofamilia 1181670@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cmomma17: yes, please do let me know, I'm curious! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ppd-treatment-qs#post-1181664 Tue, 29 Oct 2013 10:44:00 +0000 cmomma17 1181664@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sotofamilia: I want to breastfeed/pump for 1 year. So that's a major consideration/question for my doctor this afternoon. What is safe? I can let you know what I find out! My appointment is at 2:45 EST </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ppd-treatment-qs#post-1181661 Tue, 29 Oct 2013 10:42:47 +0000 sotofamilia 1181661@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cmomma17: I think you're still pumping? If you go on Zoloft, will you keep breast-feeding? Have others, like is it safe? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ppd-treatment-qs#post-1181650 Tue, 29 Oct 2013 10:39:48 +0000 cmomma17 1181650@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks to all who have answered so far. Zoloft seems pretty popular. I have taken paxil and lexapro in the past and didn't really like how they made me feel. </p> <p>@lovelyplum: I need to clean up my diet. I'm a stress-eater, and I've been binging on bad food. Way too much sugar, caffeine, and carbs, which I know is not helpful at all. It actually makes me feel worse because DH is on a health kick right now and doing so great and I feel like such a loser for doing the opposite!</p> <p>@grizz: my thoughts exactly! I know counseling to be super helpful, but as a full time WOHM, when the heck am I supposed to fit that in?? AND the gym? Ha! ;)</p> <p>@yoursilverlining: uh oh, I already clench and grind :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ppd-treatment-qs#post-1181634 Tue, 29 Oct 2013 10:34:17 +0000 yoursilverlining 1181634@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I took Zoloft from 1 week pp until almost 1 year pp. My OB said she always recommends that women stay on meds until 1 year pp to fully ensure you are truly better, and not just feeling better because of the meds, and because PPD is most common up to a year from delivery. I felt better before 1 year pp, but figured there was no harm in staying on meds as recommended.</p> <p>I switched to Efexor (sp?) around month 10 because I developed jaw grinding/clenching at night from the Zoloft (which is apparently a common side effect in doses over about 75mg).</p> <p>I also started with a counselor who specialized in PPD about 2 weeks pp, and saw her for several months anywhere from 2x a week to 1x a week. The counseling was so helpful – it was a totally safe, confidential place to say out loud my fears and concerns and also how I was feeling. I felt like such a crap mother for feeling resentful towards LO for changing my life so much and I felt like a crap mother for not feeling like I was correctly bonding with her and the counselor told me how common everything I was saying was. To hear someone tell me that my issues were totally normal and very common was extremely helpful to me/my recovery. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ppd-treatment-qs#post-1181632 Tue, 29 Oct 2013 10:34:08 +0000 IRunForFun 1181632@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LovelyPlum: Just curious...are you still on the Zoloft now during your pregnancy? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ppd-treatment-qs#post-1181626 Tue, 29 Oct 2013 10:31:53 +0000 Boheme 1181626@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started 50 mg of Zoloft at 3 months PP. I was diagnosed with PPD/birth PTSD, and was referred to a counselor but I just don't have any time to go. I am doing ok without it, but I'm sure I'd be better if I went. Eating healthier meals and exercising do me a world of good, but going to the gym isn't always possible. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ppd-treatment-qs#post-1181540 Tue, 29 Oct 2013 10:15:55 +0000 DillonLion 1181540@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went on Zoloft 3 weeks postpartum and felt better almost instantly. I stayed on it about 6 months and then went off it cold turkey with no issues. I still take one now and again if i feel bad. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ppd-treatment-qs#post-1181509 Tue, 29 Oct 2013 10:07:27 +0000 LovelyPlum 1181509@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not quite the same thing, but I have a history of depression, and after my miscarriages, I went on 50 mg Zoloft. It was absolutely the best decision I could have made...it helped a LOT. It took a few days or me to feel better, because I had to work my way up to a full dose. I also went to counseling, though I really wish I could have gone to someone who specialized in perinatal/postnatal issues. Still, it helped a lot. </p> <p>I try to eat a lot of fresh fruits and veggies, especially leafy greens, and go outside as much as possible, even when it is the last thing in the entire world that I want to do. Even a short walk around the block with the dog really helps. I try to avoid carb-heavy meals, because carbs are a big-time comfort food for me, and it just gets me more into a rut. </p> <p>Good for you for reaching out. I really hope that you start to feel better soon! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ppd-treatment-qs#post-1181426 Tue, 29 Oct 2013 09:45:52 +0000 T-Mom 1181426@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started at 5 months pp, took it till a little past my DD's 1 yr bday. I took zoloft, lowest dosage. I felt better after a few days. I didn't do counseling afterward, but I'm sure I could have benefitted from it! Best of luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ppd-treatment-qs#post-1181416 Tue, 29 Oct 2013 09:43:43 +0000 MamaMoose 1181416@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't have PPD but I did have some anxiety issues in my life previously. I was able to use Xanax as needed for a while, but then the anxiety becamse too overwhelming. I ended up going on Lexapro and it was a game changer for me. I was only on it for three months and then was able to wean off with no issues. In theory I still have a Xanax RX to use as needed, but between pregnancy and breastfeeding I've gone over 18 months without ever using it so I'm hoping to keep that up even after LO weans. </p> <p>Good luck to you! I think it's great you're asking for help and I'm sure your doctor will help you to determine the best treatment plan for your specific situation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ppd-treatment-qs#post-1181394 Tue, 29 Oct 2013 09:39:34 +0000 cmomma17 1181394@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you took meds for PPD - what did you take? for how long? when did you start? (how many weeks/months PP) and how long until you felt better?</p> <p>Did you do counseling for PPD? when? how long? how long until you felt better?</p> <p>Other changes that helped? (diet, exercise, etc.) </p>