Tales of anxiety: can I have medication during pregnancy?

[Anonymous]

I’ve always been an anxious person but haven’t needed medication. Exercise usually manages it for me.

I’m pregnant now, though, with my third and I’m a MESS. Constantly worried about miscarriage, and now I’m worried about my other two children and having racing thoughts/invasive thoughts about accidents and death.
I think I need a Rx. My hormones must be making my anxiety skyrocket.

I’ll see my doctor for the first time on Monday and will tell her all of this. Is there a Rx for hormonal anxiety...?

[Anonymous]

Not sure about medicine. I’ve seen a psychiatrist referenced here before named Dr. Barbara Byers. For therapy, Dr. Jennifer Grosman helped me with managing my anxiety regarding some similar issues. She and her colleagues have a practice called the Maternal Wellness Center.

[Anonymous]

Yes, there are plenty of anxiety meds that are safe in pregnancy. Try Celexa (that's what I used) or Zoloft. I know how crippling it can be. You'll be ok!

[Anonymous]

I honestly don’t know, OP, as my severe anxiety hit postpartum but I wanted to respond in solidarity and empathy.

It was so awful. I’ve always had anxiety around germs and toxins but it exploded after my second child was born. Once when I was changing my daughter some poop got on the wipe-able changing pad. I picked her up and was frozen. My mind raced thinking about how if I cleaned the poop with a cleaning wipe I would expose her to poisonous chemicals but if I just used a diaper wipe I would expose her to residue fecal contamination. I just stood there holding her until a family friend who’d been out with my oldest came home. I told her what was happening and she, gratefully, didn’t tell me I was nuts but came up with a solution that fit my insanity (cleaning the pad with boiling water). But even after her amazing help, I told her she couldn’t hold the baby when she asked since I was so afraid of germs. That this woman is still in our lives and loves me is pretty unbelievable after the way I acted.

I went on medication and everything got better. I’m so glad you’re talking to your doctor tomorrow. Please know that what you are feeling isn’t real and your kids and baby are all fine. Breathe.

Sending hugs!

[Anonymous]

I'm on 100mg Zoloft this is my 2nd pregnancy. I wish you well!

[Anonymous]

Thanks, all!

Thanks for your sharing your story, PP. I am literally exhausted from the worry and I’m only 9 weeks. I also have terrible thoughts about my boys.

I’ll report back tomorrow so others know the answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I honestly don’t know, OP, as my severe anxiety hit postpartum but I wanted to respond in solidarity and empathy.

It was so awful. I’ve always had anxiety around germs and toxins but it exploded after my second child was born. Once when I was changing my daughter some poop got on the wipe-able changing pad. I picked her up and was frozen. My mind raced thinking about how if I cleaned the poop with a cleaning wipe I would expose her to poisonous chemicals but if I just used a diaper wipe I would expose her to residue fecal contamination. I just stood there holding her until a family friend who’d been out with my oldest came home. I told her what was happening and she, gratefully, didn’t tell me I was nuts but came up with a solution that fit my insanity (cleaning the pad with boiling water). But even after her amazing help, I told her she couldn’t hold the baby when she asked since I was so afraid of germs. That this woman is still in our lives and loves me is pretty unbelievable after the way I acted.

I went on medication and everything got better. I’m so glad you’re talking to your doctor tomorrow. Please know that what you are feeling isn’t real and your kids and baby are all fine. Breathe.

Sending hugs!

You have a true and wonderful friend there. She got it. My parents just told me I was being ridiculous which made things so much worse.

All the best, OP. Happy you are bringing this up with your doctor tomorrow and please be brutally honest about how you’re feeling. I used to qualify everything to my doc and sugar-coat what I was going through. I didn’t want to sound crazy. Luckily my baby’s pediatrician called my doctor and told her I was suffering from PPA. And I got help and medication.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP, I'm sorry that you're dealing with this! I had very similar anxiety during my recent pregnancy, and Lexapro helped tremendously. My OB prescribed it, and she also referred me to a counselor for a few telehealth sessions. I didn't experience any negative side effects from the Lexapro, and my anxiety symptoms were completely gone within about a week. It was such a relief to feel better. Good luck to you, OP!

[Anonymous]

Acupuncture kept me very calm during my last pregnancy. I had suffered from preeclampsia and recurrent miscarriages. This helped me.

Good luck

[Anonymous]

Yes. Please ask for what meds are safe for pregnancy. Good for you for seeking help since anxiety and high cortisol levels aren't good for baby either. I hope you get some help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP, I'm sorry that you're dealing with this! I had very similar anxiety during my recent pregnancy, and Lexapro helped tremendously. My OB prescribed it, and she also referred me to a counselor for a few telehealth sessions. I didn't experience any negative side effects from the Lexapro, and my anxiety symptoms were completely gone within about a week. It was such a relief to feel better. Good luck to you, OP!

Thank you! I hope for speedy results also.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I honestly don’t know, OP, as my severe anxiety hit postpartum but I wanted to respond in solidarity and empathy.

It was so awful. I’ve always had anxiety around germs and toxins but it exploded after my second child was born. Once when I was changing my daughter some poop got on the wipe-able changing pad. I picked her up and was frozen. My mind raced thinking about how if I cleaned the poop with a cleaning wipe I would expose her to poisonous chemicals but if I just used a diaper wipe I would expose her to residue fecal contamination. I just stood there holding her until a family friend who’d been out with my oldest came home. I told her what was happening and she, gratefully, didn’t tell me I was nuts but came up with a solution that fit my insanity (cleaning the pad with boiling water). But even after her amazing help, I told her she couldn’t hold the baby when she asked since I was so afraid of germs. That this woman is still in our lives and loves me is pretty unbelievable after the way I acted.

I went on medication and everything got better. I’m so glad you’re talking to your doctor tomorrow. Please know that what you are feeling isn’t real and your kids and baby are all fine. Breathe.

Sending hugs!

You have a true and wonderful friend there. She got it. My parents just told me I was being ridiculous which made things so much worse.

All the best, OP. Happy you are bringing this up with your doctor tomorrow and please be brutally honest about how you’re feeling. I used to qualify everything to my doc and sugar-coat what I was going through. I didn’t want to sound crazy. Luckily my baby’s pediatrician called my doctor and told her I was suffering from PPA. And I got help and medication.

I haven’t had the baby yet, though. I’m only 9 weeks. I had this with my first (undiagnosed and just dealt with it) but not my second. Now this, for my third. Is this...PRE Partum anxiety?

[Anonymous]

OP, I am pregnant with my third and had unexpected, intense anxiety. I am not sure if it was the hormonal surge, but it did get better as the weeks went on (I have two boys and am expecting a girl). I am still quicker to fret and start a spiral of irrational worry, but things have calmed down. I think my body was especially sensitive to the hormones this time around.

Writing out my fears helped. Once I could see on paper exactly what I was anxious about, it helped me compartmentalize and track these thoughts, and come up with some solutions.

Walking helped. Just enough to break a little sweat and have time to myself. I could burn off my nervous energy.

Accepting the anxiety, rather than trying to fight it. Instead of the typical distraction techniques, allowing myself to acknowledge my worries (and the physical side effects that came with them), I didn’t fight the thoughts. I accepted them as worrisome but not controlling.

[Anonymous]

Yes, you can. You can even be prescribed benzodiazepines safely during pregnancy. Find the right psychiatrist.

[Anonymous]

How are you, OP? What did your doctor say?