What do you thiink about anti depressants during pregnancy?

Katie - posted on 02/06/2012

Your doctor will way the risks vs. how badly you really need to be taking it. If you can manage not to in the first trimester do, but if you cannot do not stress yourself out over it. If the benefits out weigh the risk for your situation you are doing what is best for you and your baby. Seek out therapy, a support group, keep a journal through out the pregnancy, plenty of exercise, and a good support network!!

Barb - posted on 02/01/2012

If your doctor really thinks you need them they will put you on a lose dose anti depressant I was on one for my first pregnancy, because when I found out I was pregnant I recovery from anoerexica so that time I needed it. This time around not on anti depressants, but am on anti aniexty med my doctor approved of. I have a very health smart 2 year and a very healthy little fetus so far. Doctors think it better for you not be extremly depressed pregnant would much rather have you on the meds then not. The doctors don't give you the meds they are going to hurt baby it doesn't happen that often.

Rachel - posted on 01/31/2012

Take vitamin d3 and look at your diet. Depression can be treated through diet and supplements that don't put your baby at risk. Don't take the "easy" road of medicine... do what is best for you and your baby!

Sara - posted on 01/30/2012

Joy -



Check the literature and consult with your doctor. Remember though that most docs are not up to date on research on the meds.



If you go to PubMed, you should be able to find recent papers on various medications and pregnancy. From there you can go to the public library, where the reference librarian should be able to help you access those papers (often there's a fee per paper otherwise). Research published by the British Medical Journal (bmj.com) is free, so you may want to start there.



In the end, the rules of thumb are:



1. Don't if you don't have to, meaning you can't function otherwise.

2. If you must, choose a drug that's old enough to have been well-studied. I wouldn't go with anything newer than 20 years old.

3. Use the smallest possible dose, and hold off until as late in the pregnancy as possible.

4. Do check the animal studies. If you're seeing significant numbers of birth defects then don't use that drug.

5. Remember that the baby is effectively on the drug in utero and may need to be weaned from it after birth.



I was on a tiny, subclinical dose of an old antidepressant for pain management while I was pregnant, and while my daughter is healthy, her first several weeks were hard. In retrospect I wonder if she was suffering withdrawal from the drug. It may just have been garden-variety colic, whatever that is, but if I were to do it over, I'd try to do without the drug.



Good luck --

Tricia - posted on 12/03/2011

i have severe anxiety and have been on anti depressents with 2 pregnancys. if its going to help you then i would do it because yes the med may effect the baby but so would you medical problem.

Kelly - posted on 11/28/2011

1. Tell your hubby to get over it. He needs to be there for you.
2. I'm 26 weeks pregnant and on Valdoxan. According to my Doctor it's the only anti-d proven safe during pregnancy.
Had I NOT started on the anti-d's, I worry that I could've seriously hurt myself or my son by now. I was REALLY struggling. My partner is great, he tries so hard ot help me. But I just wasn't coping. I've been in and out of psychologists office my whole life nearly. I was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder at the age of 5. If you need help, or feel like you're not coping, make sure you talk to your doctor.

Heather - posted on 11/26/2011

I know there are alot if moms on here that are saying not to take anti depressants, or that they won't, or just to think or read about the side effects antidepressants can have on you and your baby while pregnant. I have three children and while I was pregnant with all of them I suffered from severe antenatal depression (depression while pregnant) I was on antidepressants with my last baby and she is healthier and happier than either of my sons. I only bring this up because there alot of antidepressions out there that have little no or sometimes an unknown effect on a fetus, but stress has a big harmful effect on a growing baby and that is proven. I am not saying go for the drugs but if they are going to keep you sane and unstressed then consider them.

Jaime - posted on 11/25/2011

It is normal for your hormones to be messed up and think that you are depressed.....PLEASE do NOT go on anti-depressants. They could cause numerous issues with your unborn baby, including miscarriage. There are natural remedies to help with the mood swings.



Sara - you are lucky, I lost my 1st baby when on Zoloft because I didn't know I was even pregnant and still taking it.



Please everyone remember that anti-depressants can be addictive and whatever you take your baby is taking as well. Try other avenues before going straight for the pills.

Ashley - posted on 11/24/2011

Well first off from what I have seen on anti-depressants there tends to be alot of issues with taking them while pregnant. I recommend trying counseling first....safer for you and your baby...maybe a support group. If that don't work then talk to your doctor....but always try the safer routes first. And your husband's job is to help you during this time so you should tell him....you will need that extra support. Right now I am really depress and have confided it in my husband and feel much better.

Tiffany - posted on 11/21/2011

I've been suffering from depression pretty much all my life, but didn't start taking medications until 10 years ago and im 27 now. It depends on the doctors, with my 1st pregnancy he was against me being on any anti depressants and ended up going cold turkey (NEVER DO THAT BTW). With this 2nd pregnancy I ended up going to another OB and he was all for it. I told him what I take which is Prozac (the generic form). I always worry about it b/c you hear the commercials about the defects it can cause, but he ensures me everything is fine and i'm right on track. If you feel like you need to talk to you doctor. It can be a very dark place and not a good place to be. It's scary, my husband has seen me at my worst before we were even married and even after i've had our 1st son. I had horrible postpartum depression with him and hope I don't have to go through that again. I wish you the best and hope that this has helped. Good luck!!!! :)

Jodie - posted on 11/18/2011

there are plenty of medications that are safe during pregnancy and actually make it a lot better for mommy and baby if mommy is healthy in every way. Dooce.com is a blog by Heather Armstrong, and she speaks very openly about continuing her medications while she was pregnant with her doctor's support.

Raisa - posted on 11/14/2011

First off, do NOT take St. Johns Wort while pregnant! Though it may help with depression, it has been linked (like everything else) to causing birth defects. It may not happen, but you can't be too careful during pregnancy.

It's completely normal to feel like you're losing sight of yourself while pregnant. Sometimes I have to remind myself that I am still ME and not just an incubator. LOL I'm so worried and caught up in everything else, I just forget about me.

Husbands don't like it when you complain, but you're a wife and it's expected. LOL It's practically in the vows. He needs to know how you're feeling. He should be the most supportive of anyone, and needs to know what's going on. How can he help otherwise? If he doesn't want to help, then say something to your doctor! They can, and will help as much as they can. If not, ask the local mental health center. They usually have low cost (free if you're on medical assistance) for anyone who needs help. Even if you can't pay, they'll still see you.

More than anything, it sounds like you need some much needed relaxation time. Take a nap, pluck your eyebrows, do something for YOU!

Sarah - posted on 11/13/2011

I think anti-depressants are fabulous lol. I am 10 weeks pregnant & I am on Zoloft with the guidance of my doctor. :) I chose NOT to take anti-depressants during my 1st pregnancy & I was a MESS. My OCD flared up, I had anxiety & severe depression...you name it, I experienced it. It was to the point where I barely had the motivation or energy to even take care of myself. I decided I did NOT want to go through that again with my 2nd pregnancy, so here I am. I'm taking my meds & feeling so much better. ;)

Kassie - posted on 11/12/2011

My previous doc and the midwives I am using this time all are happy letting me continue to take Welbutrin and Zoloft (anti-depression & anti-anxiety). I started taking them after I had my first baby. Safe during nursing too.

Kara - posted on 11/11/2011

I was on anti depressants prior to pregnancy. My doctor told me it was ok to continue, but i chose not to just because i have heard of the effects. However, at times, i wish i had stayed on them because i notice a huge difference in myself without them. It can be very tough at times. I would discuss certain ones with your doctor becuase some anti depressants are safer than others to try..at least a low dosage for now. Best of luck!

Karen - posted on 09/21/2011

Ironically last night I was reading a paper online and came across an article that was discussing this very thing. These two are not the only two out there but they trusted their Dr. to know what is best and what wouldn't put them at risk...it might be worth a read...I personally have a really difficult time in pregnancy - my husband has PDD-NOS a super high functioning form of Autism which took him most of his life to finally get diagnosed right, he has Diabetes to and so does my oldest he is 10...life for me is not fun and I get really down and out at times - wishing for a more "normal" life...but I worry about Antidepresants - I have seen what happens when ones body does not take to that one kind you have or trying to come off them for any reason - but anyway it's just an insight this article...something to think about anyway...
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-co...

Emily - posted on 09/20/2011

Hey Joy, I just started on anti-depressants on monday, I'm 16w 6d, and they're perfectly safe.

There are some antidepressants that are really bad during pregnancy, but just ask your doctor, and they will know what you can and cant have, I'm taking one called Lexapro. Don't be afraid or ashamed to ask - it's good to ask for help when you need it. The best thing you can do for your baby is try to be as happy and as healthy as possible and if you feel like you need that bit of a boost to get back to feeling balanced again then go for it, you don't need the added stress while you're pregnant doll ♥

Megan - posted on 09/18/2011

Honestly the best thing you can do is talk to both your family doctor and your OB to see what the best method of treatment would be. It could be one of the many medications that there are out there or maybe therapy, even a safe and natural homeopathic or herbal remedy. You never know until you ask. Good luck I hope that you find something that works and is helpful for you.

Diana - posted on 09/16/2011

Hello Joy.
I am 37 weeks pregnant, with my third baby, and I am on anti-depressants. I have always had depression, and my obs. has been there for me all this time. I think if you feel the need for them to get your mental health to a better level, you ask your doctor. They wont harm your baby and a happy healthy mummy means healthy bub, and family. So I would say speak to your doctor and go for it.

Best of Luck
Diana Green

Lexi - posted on 09/11/2011

Zoloft isn't the only medication out there for depression. Talk with your doctor, seek multiple medical opinions and make whatever decision feels best for you. For me it's best to be on something and my doctor this pregnancy believes from the most current research that prozac is the safest option. Not guaranteed safe mind you, just the safest of whats available. It's been shown to cause the least problems. My first son was born healthy and happy and has had no side effects and my second son is looking just as healthy too. I'm due in three weeks and could not be getting through my current situation without medication. I'm barely hanging on as it is. Part of taking care of my babies means being alive and mentally stable and available for them. Also keep in mind there are multiple kinds of depression and varying degrees of severity. Some people have it temporarily and it's mild enough to get by with just a short term med or no meds at all. Others (like me) have whats called chronic chemical depression. It means my brain doesn't always make the chemicals it needs to keep me emotionally stable. The meds put those chemicals back in. It's life long and there is no cure, just treatment. There are other varieties too. The treatment necessary and which med will work best all depends on your own individual situation. Good luck all of you. Take care =)

Amelia - posted on 09/11/2011

I lost my Mom when I was pregnant with my second son, Colin and they told me it was okay to take Zoloft. This was just this past year, and there are already infomercials on possible lawsuits for women that had taken Zoloft during pregnancy! You never know what is safe to take or not-- they'll always come out with something. I'm expecting my third now, due in January & the pain from losing my Mom still feels so fresh. I'm not taking anything though, because my OB seems skeptical now and just said, "Stay away from that stuff!" That's just my opinion! You know your body and your mind better than any of us. If you feel yourself slipping into a 'black hole' so to speak, then I would definitely sit down with your OB and have a talk with them. Best of luck Joy!

Carly - posted on 09/08/2011

My sister was on ani depressents when she got pregnant with her now 10 month old son. When he was born he had a heart mermer. He had 2 holes in his heart. When he was a month old he had to have open heart surgery and he also has hypospadious it is a problem with his pee pee and once again he has to undergo surgery in 2 months to fix the problem! All of these problem are due to the pills that were taken! My sister has a claim against zoloft right now it was supposed to be the only "drug" to take for that while being pregnant and it is obviously not! Good luck with your decision and i hope you dont have to EVER go through anything like this

Lexi - posted on 09/08/2011

Your doctor will most definitely approve sweety! And you are at risk of something deeper. Post partum can hit you so much harder if you are already struggling to begin with. All your babies need you right now. I have battled depression my entire life, including periods when I was suicidal. Most of the time tho the depression just makes it so I can't hardly function. I tried with both my sons to "make it through" off my meds. With my first son I was really stable starting off and made it until month 7. When I found myself sitting on my couch, angry with my unborn child because I couldn't cut myself while I was in charge of keeping him growing, I knew that "making it through" wasn't working. My doctor put me back on my usual Wellbutrin and Effexor combination. It wasn't fair to anyone around me to not be medicated and I owed it to my son to be more stable when he was born so that I could actually care for him. He had no problems at all when he was born and the meds had no effect on him. I struggled with my regular depression and post partum after he was born and it was very good that I was already medicated and on the road to getting back to normal. Now I am 37 weeks along with my second son (1st is 2 years old now). We were broke this past year so I hadn't even been medicated to start with but was doing ok. You know how sometimes you can function just fine for awhile but then it doesn't take much to tip that scale and send you to the abyss again? I fell apart shortly after becoming pregnant the second time. It's been a much more difficult pregnancy physically and due to other things going on in my life. I still resisted going back on meds for fear of it having an affect on the baby. I didn't want to start so early while so much was still developing. My husband recognized what was going on tho and just kept encouraging me to set the money aside and go talk to my doc and fill my prescription. It's not fair to my son that is already here needing me all day long. This time the doctor suggested Prozac, as it has been studied a lot and has shown the least possiblities of causing any affect on the baby. I hate the side effects I get from prozac but it's better than nothing. I am able to get up in the morning and give my son what he needs and I know when my second comes in a couple weeks I'll be better prepared to adjust to having two. Yes there are no antidepressants that have been labeled as totally 100% safe during pregnancy but for me, when I weigh the risks of not taking them with the risks of being on them, well, I'm on them. You can also take antidepressants while breastfeeding if that is what you want to do. I was on zoloft while I breast fed my first son because it doesn't go through the milk hardly at all. If depression is mild and a person can get through pregnancy and post partum with out meds more power to them. I'm not one of those people though and there is nothing wrong with that. We do what we have to do to give our babies a healthy functioning momma. Love and hugs to you Joy, I know how hard and scary of a decision this is!

Tally - posted on 09/03/2011

Anti depressants are a big NO during pregnancy. I was on them until I became preg. Happy that when I got pregnant I was weaning myself off of them and haven't been on them for 6 years now. Only problem is I can't kick the habit of taking xanax. Now that I am preg. again...my doc advised me that if I wanted to take xanax that I should take it SPARINGLY. It is hard but I have done pretty well so far. I take one 5mg tablet once every 2 or 3 weeks. Now I'm 7 months preg. So all I can do is pray & hope for the best. I always feel guilty when I take it cuz I think I am hurting my babies. Just do ur best and find someting safer to take. It's BEST to consult with your doctor first.

Rachel - posted on 07/14/2011

I was on antidepressents since before I got pregnant. I was diagnosed with major depression. I've been taking wellibrutin xl they just lowered the dose some when I found out I was pregnant. I'm 36 weeks now and my baby is a healthy little boy. I've had other health issues so they did 3 ultrasound to make sure he's healthy. This is my first pregnancy and it's gone really good for me.

Cassie - posted on 07/04/2011

Since my original post I have been placed back on my Anti Ds - the only one Australia recognises as ok during pregnancy. The docs are aware that it does mean that bub needs to be monitored for withdrawls at birth but considering the evidence of my past history and the scientific proof of babys health suffering a lot more from a severely depressed mum while in utero .... after discussing it all round and arranging for my extra therapy sessions I decided to go back on them (I cleared it with hubby too for the record). Initial side effects were worse than usual but I was carefully watched over by my family and had a couple of extra checkups. I have been on them for about 2 weeks now (tomorrow im 28 weeks pregnant) and they're helping me enormously. Without my meds I would be a mess....If I was still around ..... no amount of positive thinking would have dragged my back out of that hole - and I'm normally a very positive person!
Katherine - you have my utmost respect. Intelligence & emotional wisdom are very evident in your posts. I wish you the very best!
Joy - I cannot state enough for you the importance of finding someone to talk to about how you feel. As Katherine said, "I would hope that if you had a honest talk with your husband that he would be aware that you are not just complaining, but that you have a real problem that needs to be taken care of."
Prenatal depression is only just becoming more commonly known as lots of Mums and Drs have been dismissing it as "just the hormone change". Wether it is hormones or not for you...... I couldn't say .... but don't stay feeling alone ...... reach out ...... too me if you'd like :) Good luck!

Jessica - posted on 06/07/2011

When going on antidepressants, it's a risk vs reward thing. I was put straight back onto my meds in my second trimester because the risks of me being off them far outweighed the rewards of staying off them - it's a very low-risk AD but it's enough that I haven't spent the past three months staying in bed, or having suicidal thoughts, etc. My psychiatrist also said it was important for me to be on them for at least 8 weeks prior to the baby's birth because of the higher risk of PPD.

FTR, I've been back on the meds for 3 months now, I'm just into my third trimester and my baby is very healthy. Baby and I will be in hospital for about 3 days after birth because the baby may go through withdrawals, but the norm is for the baby to be a little restless and grizzly compared to the average newborn.

On a side note, if you do decide to take any herbal/natural things, be sure to tell your doctor or midwife. They need to know everything you are on.

Katherine - posted on 06/06/2011

I wish that were true. I hear that when your body is tired enough that you will eventually fall asleep. I have bipolar, and that gives me unquiet mind, that (try as I might) I can't get to go away. I can be awake for three days in a row without sleep. Is it normal? Is it healthy? Is my body not telling me that I'm tired? Are my blood shot eyes, shaking hands and dizzy head not my bodies way of telling me that I need some sleep?



A person with a chemical embalance is no more capable of blocking out symptoms than they are of controlling someone else's mind.



Trust me, if happy thoughts were all it took, I would have cured an incurable illness. I still have it, though.

Samantha - posted on 06/06/2011

Look, I was just giving advice, which is what you asked for, Joy. I was in no way trying to be offensive just sharing my experience with it.
I am a naturalist. I do not take anything but vitamins while pregnant or not pregnant. If I have a headache, I deal with it. If I have heartburn, I let it be. I don't even take tums. And thats not just because I'm pregnant. I don't take anything unnatural when I am not pregnant either. My body needs to fight off infections on its own, otherwise sickness is inevitable. When you take medicine, you are telling yourself "once I take this pill I will feel better" so of course you are going to feel better. Its all psychological. I feel depression is the same thing. All in your head. If you only think depressing thoughts, you are going to be depressed. There is always positive with the negative. All you have to do is find the good in things. I'm not saying its easy all the time, that it'll happen with a snap of the fingers. But you are in control of yourself.

Chana - posted on 06/05/2011

I think that if depression was something that could be controlled by turning negative thoughts in to positive ones anti depressants would not have ever been needed. Depression is caused by a chemical imbalance.I am sure that if she could snap her fingers and it be gone then she would. As far as her bringing it on herself i am sure that she gets up every morning saying to herself " Man I think i want to feel crappy today! Can't wait to get this day started." Depression is more that just having a bad day or week.

Samantha - posted on 06/04/2011

Have struggled with it my whole life.

√v^√v^√♥ - posted on 06/03/2011

Have you ever been depressed, Samantha?

Alison - posted on 05/04/2011

Some of the precursors present in food are tryptophan, folic acid and Vitamin B.

Some of the widely used antidepressant foods with their important compounds are listed below:

•Walnuts – omega 3 fatty acids and uridine (a natural compound) present in walnuts help in elevating your mood.
•Dark chocolates – cocoa and around 300 other natural compounds present in them help in boosting your spirits.
•Chicken and Turkey – tryptophan and vitamin B6 present in chicken and turkey act as precursor to serotonin and other amino acids. Selenium present in them help in the formation of neurotransmitters.
•Salmon and mackerel – omega 3 fatty acids present in them help in controlling depression.
•Cheddar or swiss cheese – tryptophan present in it help in releasing serotonin.
•Spinach – folic acid content of spinach helps in maintaining a physical and mental health to produce optimum levels of serotonin.
•Citrus fruits – vitamin C present in these fruits maintain your RBC count and produce dopamine, an important neurotransmitter.
•Whole wheat – rich carbohydrate complex present in whole wheat help in production of serotonin.
•Popcorn – carbohydrates present in popcorn help in production of serotonin in your brain.
•Water – natural hydrating properties of water help in flushing out toxins from your body and maintaining a chemical balance throughout your body including brain.
Apart from antidepressant foods, there are many natural antidepressant supplements available in the market such as:

•St. john’ Wort – (Hypericum perforatum) it is herbal antidepressant that is being used as a medicine to treat depression for many decades. It has been clinically tested and has been proven effective in mild to moderate depression states. It has fewer side effects than many prescription drugs.
•5 hydroxy tryptophan (5HTP) – it is believed to be a supplement precursor to increase levels of serotonin. It has also given comparative results of prescriptive medicine but lesser side effects.

http://www.naturalantidepressants.net/

√v^√v^√♥ - posted on 05/03/2011

I don't know if you can take it pregnant but you could ask your doctor about more natural means like these type of pills.



http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605...



Active ingredients:Mood Food is a blend of the following ingredients: Vitamin B-6, Vitamin B-12, Zinc, St. John's Wort, Schisandra, L-Tyrosine and Suma.



http://www.mindreference.com/NutriZACMoo...



I think these are the ones I have, I'm not at home so I can't run and get the bottle right now. They have a mixture of things that are supposed to help with moods. They say alot of depression is a chemical imbalance, so pills usually try to trigger this and help.



Also, I know for sure they are safe while pregnant, my OBGYN put me on 400mg (i'm taking 500 though) of magnesium, which is helpful for hypertension (i got muscle spasms, o fun) and it took about a week of taking them for me to feel the affects but one day I took them and felt my body relax and I went hey, finally :)



Just stuff to look into. Pressure your doctor if they aren't very helpful. I've met alot of unresponsive docs that just want to shove you through their program and shove you out the door. Question question question, and if they have no answers, find someone else because obveiously they aren't what you need and up to date on things.



Tell them you want a pick me up, and heard about natural methods like Moodfood.. and magnesium helping with muscle relaxation.. you want to know what else is out there safe for pregnancies.



Ok, just read an article that says its not recommended to take St johns wort while pregnant as they've really only tested mice and had stuff like low birth weight and slower functioning brains, but the few trials done in pregnant women show no side effects? Dunno..... up to you.



I wanted to add that b vitamins increase energy. I felt like garbage during my last pregnancy and had to drink Powerade Ion (with all the b vitamins) it helped me alot, and helped me to keep drinking water (i hated water all of a sudden). I've been on gateraide this pregnancy, doing fine. They sell huge tubs of powder form to mix. I use 3 scoops lemon to 1 scoop the red stuff because it ends up tasting the best? I dont quite like gatoraide. Anyway........ B vitamins helped me alot and I know for sure those are safe.. they give you energy



Also, the doctor told me to make sure I had DHA in my prenatal pills, which helped promote brain function. If you don't eat a lot of fish, you should normally take omega - 3 and 6 (i think) fish oils? He said it helps you think better... and I don't know about you but i'm scatterbrained so I was going to try this next. I didnt want to try DHA last pregnancy and the pharmacist told me not to take it...... yet the doctor told me to take it? I don't know. Usually pharmasicts are really helpful but maybe not always haha

Joy - posted on 05/03/2011

nah i get it sometimes you need something to relax.what about this mood food?

√v^√v^√♥ - posted on 05/03/2011

also, look into the all natural anti-depressants. I was on MoodFood for a while with a conjunction of all the things that are supposed to help. I can feel the ground get closer to my feet and my shoulders relax a little. You know? Also, I'm probably going to get hit hard for this but red wine (expecially with Fukushima going on the tannins in it will help protect your baby) you know some countries tell women to drink a glass of red wine with dinner every night. I'm sorry, generations before us drank and I'm a firm believer in that if you do not OVERdo it, it's perfectly fine. We all are. So look into natural things and yeah, find a support group for friends or people to even vent to can help ALOT. Heck, write me if you want :)

Joy - posted on 05/03/2011

thank you very much alison i appreciate that

Alison - posted on 05/03/2011

Bring it up with your doc and I'm sure there's something they can do to help that won't harm baby. :)

Joy - posted on 05/03/2011

Well i dont want to put my baby at risk i just need something,maybe it is just the hormones from this pregnancy

Alison - posted on 05/03/2011

There have been several commercials on about anti-depressants and the harmful effects on babies.. can cause birth defects and pregnancy complications. If you think you need to look into it I'd definately ask your doctor first! Good luck!

Katherine - posted on 05/03/2011

I hope Cassie's post was helpful to you. I know where your coming from. I have bipolar. I personally don't take medication out of concern for my babies wellbeing. To offset that, I have a support group. I go to NAMI at least once a week. It helps to have a group of individuals who know what you're going through, and have different ideas about how to cope.
I would hope that if you had a honest talk with your husband that he would be aware that you are not just complaining, but that you have a real problem that needs to be taken care of.
Whatever happens, I hope and pray that you will get through this.

Cassie - posted on 05/01/2011

Joy. I may not have been on anti depressants while I was pregnant but I have been on them. The first thing you need to realise is that you should be able to trust your Doctor! The other thing is that a Dr will never (or should never) perscribe an antidepressant unnessecarily to a pregnant person - simply because it does up the risks involved. That being said however- there are a few medications that can be safely taken during pregnancy (discuss your medical history and possible side effects before accepting any scripts with both the doc and the pharmacy). So you will find the Doc asking alot more questions than usual - but not only for those reasons. Most Docs are VERY aware that postnantal depression can onset during pregnancy and so will want to make sure that you will be able to cope with or without meds - especially with other children in your care. My suggestion is 2 fold:
1) Talk to your doctor (or find another one you feel you can talk to). You may also want to discuss if your history of depression could be a factor on your current situation. Would they advise visiting a councellor/phsycologist/phsychiatrist?
2) Call a helpline. Regularly. Until you feel better able to feel like yourself. Call Often during times that your having trouble coping. These calls can be anonymous.
Mostly I want to say just hold on because this too shall pass but cliches certainly never help me when I'm down (I have Bipolar disorder so its a reoccuring thing for me). I can say for certain is that you are not alone and that you should never keep it to yourself! If you feel you can't talk to your husband about it then find someone you can (there are lots of support groups out there ( http://www.beyondblue.org.au a great aussie one ).
Best of luck hun. xoxox