Article by Laurel Cohen

If you have never considered the idea the use of fish oil supplements during pregnancy to be all that important, then you could be shortchanging your unborn child. It has been proven over the years that an abundance of omega fatty acids must be present in both the mother and the child in order for maximum cognitive development to take place.

Scientific studies have proven the benefits that infants and even unborn fetuses receive from exposure to an ample supply of omega fatty acids. Children that have received omega fatty acid supplementation through the mother since the all important third trimester best other children their age in contests of mental skill, and in physical competitions involving hand and eye coordination.

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And with our first. The last couple of days I have just felt really sad and not wanting to do much at all. I am just really emotional. I was like this at the begging of the pregnancy to and then I had a bit of depression then too. I was wondering is this going to effect me after I have the baby? Like for the postpartum like will I go into a depression?

Thanks for the answers in advance

I’ve increased my daily dose from 100mg to 150mg as per my doctors instructions. I’ve taken the new dose of 150mg the past two days and have felt a sudden increase in my depression, and suicidal thoughts. I am bi-polar and before I had my first child seven months ago lamictal worked wonders for me, during my pregnancy I did not take lamictal and after my sons birth I did not immediately go back on lamictal. I waited so that I could breast feed and didn’t want to worry about any side effects for my son. I’m wondering if having a baby changed the way my body responds to lamictal? Also wondering for any others who have or are currently taking lamictal have you ever had a increase in your depression and suicidal thoughts?

I have been extremely depressed and currently 22 weeks pregnant. I don’t think there is a day I don’t cry at least once and I just want to sleep and not move. I’ll have a better day here and there, but the good days seem to be fewer and fewer.

I totally don’t want to take any medicines at all b/c I know it can pass to the baby and no medicine is 100% safe. I already have an autistic child and I don’t want to do anything that may cause me to think a defect may be my fault later.

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I still have doubt about not getting pregnant. I had unprotected sex the other night, knowing that I was on birth control. Afterwards, I was in unimaginable pain and remembered: I ran out of my birth control a week prior. At first, I thought it wasn’t even sex because I couldn’t really feel him go in all the way. I found out the next morning that I had a tampon in, stuck way in, so far that before intercourse I couldn’t find it so assumed there wasn’t one in. But I went to the doctor yesterday and got a pelvic exam because of my pain. He said everything looked healthy but that there was a lot of sperm left over and that I should take the morning after pill. My mom said if I didn’t take it then I would have to find somewhere else to live becaus she couldn’t take care of a baby. Of course I wanted to take it, I DID NOT WANT TO GET PREGNANT. It took me a couple hours to take it for reasons unknown. But finally I took it and now, this morning, I feel terrible guilt: I told the boy I was on birth control, stupidly forgetting I was out, I probably waited too long to take the pill. He won’t talk to me ever since I told him about the birth control deal. Today, I’m starting high school. I went in august for the first few days but was then sent to a residential treatment facility for chemical dependency and depression. I discharged over winter break and now I HAVE to go today. I’m so numb so I’m not scared. But I haven’t felt this sick ever. I got up at four, took a shower (which hurt because it hurts to stand up period) and even getting dressed took so much energy out of me to where it was hard to breath. I’m sore. Very sore. Not just there, but everywhere. I know it’s too soon to take a pregnancy test but I just want to know if it’s possible to even try to take one today. I asked my doctor over and over and he told me that if I don’t get my period by the end of the month, he would test me. And the scariest thing is I was ovulating. I JUST WANT TO KNOW SO I CAN HAVE PEACE AT MIND.

I had a very crazy blue period where I wept constantly in the 7th month of my pregnancy. Now I’ve had the baby and have been at home for nine days – I’ve had sporadic moments of anxiety but nothing that resembles the depression I went through in my pregnancy…just wondered if I am in the clear or if post-partum may still present itself…? Any thoughts from others who have gone through it?

About 4 years ago I was diagnosed with depression I was never admitted but saw somebody to speak about it and was put on anti depressants.
I haven’t ever had any problems since.
I am currently 31 weeks pregnant and have been very poorly throughout my pregnancy with UTI and Wednesday was confirmed to have kidney stones.The radiographer was unable to give me any information about how this would effect me or my baby so on Thursday I called the hospital for more details.
I was promised 4 times that a doctor/Midwife would get back to me which they did not.
Friday I was in a lot of pain and still worried about the outcome of my kidney scan.
I found myself getting rather upset and going into the maternity unit for help and advice.
When going to the hospital I was calmed down with a drink and told that a doctor would come and see me.
When the doctor came to see me she asked how I was feeling etc and by that time was calm and expressed by fears.
I was then shocked to be asked about my depression and was then asked if I was self harming!!!!!
I showed I was shocked by the question but they then followed by asking if I felt able to cope at home and if I had any thoughts of self harm I was to contact somebody asap.
I am now really shocked and worried that because I had 1 emotional day at 31 weeks pregnant doctors feel that I may have depression again.
I am scared and worried what this could mean for my baby!
Can they investigate my capability to look after my baby over something so silly.
Please help I don’t want to keep worrying I want to enjoy the rest of my pregnancy and look forward to my little girl being born.

I’m 37 weeks pregnant and am quite afraid of the effects of the medication on the baby. I have called mother risk a number of times. They specialize in studying medications like this and the effects on the baby and they say it is the most prescribed and has less severe effects on the baby than depression does. So I have my information. I have had any medical professional in my life advise me to stay on as well.

I’m just curious about real experiences people have had and how their babies are.

i have always been emotional and prone to depression, but since i have became pregnant, i feel so much more hopelessness than usual, with self-image, financial and relationship issues.

my councelor and my doctor are going to collaborate and prescribe a medication for me take.

my mom says cymbalta has worked for her, and it seems like something that will work for me as well.

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I take both of these medications for severe anxiety and depression. It is an absolute medical necessity for me. I am considering getting pregnant in a few years, as my wedding is in October. My ob/gyn told me today that neither of those medications should be taken during pregnancy. Ideally I would like to not take anything during pregnancy, but I am pretty sure that may not be plausible as I have a history of horrible panic attacks and hospitalization due to psychiatric symptoms. I have been stable for several years now on medication and haven’t been hospitalized in 12 years.

Has anyone here taken these drugs during pregnancy? What happened, if so?

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