But some professionals say that this data is not strong enough to indicate that parents should
breastfeed on antidepressant medications.
Sadly unless she was on some heavy duty anti-psychotics she was misled about not
breastfeeding on antidepressants.
I knew I desperately needed my medication, but I was terrified about the long - term effects of
breastfeeding on antidepressants.
This concern might be putting new mothers at unnecessary risk, particularly considering the fact that research from Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology shows the risks associated with
breastfeeding on antidepressants are relatively low.
But a more recent study concludes that mothers should continue
breastfeeding on antidepressants regardless.
Not exact matches
If you want information
on specific
antidepressants and
breastfeeding, Lennon recommends checking out The Infant Risk Center or downloading two apps — Mommy Meds for Mothers or Infant Risk for Health Care Professionals.
If a mother is diagnosed with postpartum depression and is put
on antidepressants, chances are she will no longer be able to
breastfeed, due to the medication she is now
on.
I went
on to
breastfeed for three years, coming off the
antidepressants just before my daughter's first birthday.
On the balance of it, we believe that continuing to take
antidepressant medication and maintaining regular
breastfeeding will be the best outcome for both the baby and the mother.»
The finding, published in the November issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry, suggests that
breastfeeding mothers with clinical depression may not have to risk the possible side effects of
antidepressant drugs
on their infants.
University of Adelaide researchers have found that women
on antidepressant medication are more successful at
breastfeeding their babies if they keep taking the medication, compared with women who quit
antidepressants because of concerns about their babies» health.
There are
antidepressants that are safe for use in
breastfeeding mothers as indicated by the leading expert
on Medications and Mother's Milk, Dr. Hale: http://www.kellymom.com/health/meds/
antidepressants-hale10-02.html
The risks of the mother's depression seem to outweigh the low risks of
antidepressant medication
on the fetus or the
breastfed infant.
If it is decided to use
antidepressant therapy, the selection of the
antidepressant should be based
on the mother's prior response and experience of adverse effects with a particular agent, risk of interactions with concurrent medications and published adverse effects associated with a particular agent
on breastfeeding mothers and their infants.