Is it the right time for a baby?
 

Hi,

My husband and I have been married for 2 and a half years, and we have recently decided that we want to stop using birth control pills. I thought that I was pregnant last month (still on the pill) because I missed my period, but all tests have been negative. Because of that little "scare" we kind of grew fond of the idea of having a baby. I have always known that I wanted to be a mom and I am very excited about the idea of pregnancy and raising a child.

The only problem is that I have been on anti-depressants for about 5 months, and they have worked wonders for me. I haven't SI'd in over 4 months and I'm feeling good. I want to stop my medications before trying to conceive so that they won't affect my baby, but I am worried that I might become as depressed as I was before. Something tells me that the excitement of becoming a mother will ward off the depression, but at the same time I know that I will be worried about gaining weight and all the other stressful things that come along with having a child.

This is something that I really want, and I feel that I am ready for it. I just don't know how much of my emotional readiness is due to the medication, or rather, how much of it will still be left once I stop taking it. Before I do anything I will definitely talk to my Psychiatrist.

Can anyone give me some advice on how to deal with this and share their stories? I could really use some words of wisdom right now!

Thanks! :-)

i would def speak to your psychiatrist...maybe you could gradually reduce your dose over a couple of months and see how you go. or you could look at changing your meds to something which is safe to take during pregnancy.

i wasnt taking any medication when i fell pregnant, but i found that my depression did return during the pregnancy. it was just a hard time for me, but i am convinced that that was due to the stress my job was putting me under. once i was signed off work i felt a lot of relief.

having a baby is really stressful and tiring so there will be times when you arent sure if you can cope but i think thats true to most mothers, especially first time ones. pregnancy can also be a strain on the body, it isnt always plain sailing and some women will suffer throughout be it with morning sickness or something else like SPD or iron deficiency. so i would suggest that you go into it with an open mind...its not to say things will be like that, you may have a wonderful pregnancy! i really enjoyed mine, except for the terrible acne i suffered i loved it and miss my bump every day!

whatever happens, good luck :-) if its the right time for you as a couple, then it will happen one way or another! but i do think you should work closely with your doctor or psychiatrist to make sure that you go about it the right way :-)

coming off your pill may help the depression in itself. all my depression has been hormone based - whether it be from the pill or post-natal.