zoloft and TTC

[pugz]

Welcome! I've been on 100mg of zoloft daily since 2008. My PCP (a family practice doctor) prescribed it for me and so I discussed staying on it with her when I was planning to go off BC. Zoloft is considered probably the safest SSRI for pregnancy. From my reading there is a very very slightly elevated risk of heart defects. The benefits outweighed the risks for me because I am a hot mess when I am not on zoloft. I'm very glad I stayed on, it has kept me very level during the months of difficulty TTC, pregnancy, and post-partum. It is safe for breastfeeding too.

as far as choosing a doctor/hospital. I got recommendations from friends and my PCP. There is an OB in the same family practice that came highly recommended. It was very convenient since they already had all my medical information and my PCP has been able to become DD's doctor too. Everything in one office including a lab and the hospital is next door. It was perfect for me. Not the closest to my home but that's okay. The hospital nearest me does not have a NICU, so I ruled out delivering there.

[redheadk]

I wasn't on it during pregnancy but I breastfeed DD and I'm on 50mg of Zoloft/daily for PPD. It's very, very common and pregnancy and breastfeeding restrictions are pretty much the same.

I would choose your hospital then ask around for recs for an ob that delivers there. I delivered at a hospital 45 minutes from my house rather than at either of the two that are close to home because I much preferred the hospital I delivered at. You might want to think about what appeals to you in a birthing experience and select a hospital (and ob) based on those preferences. Also think about what you want in an ob. I wanted someone friendly but matter-of-fact who is cautious but not overly-so. For my birth, I wanted a somewhat "crunchy" experience even though I knew I wanted an epidural. Most of these things are standard practice (baby delivered onto chest, breastfeeding strongly encouraged, baby in-room, etc) but the two hospitals near me are a bit "behind the times" so I skipped them.

ETA: I was able to find an ob who had office hours very close to my house/work (10 minutes) even though I delivered 45 minutes away. Best of both worlds

HTH!

[Deleted]

I was on 50 mg of Zoloft daily from the time DD was about 11 weeks old. I weaned a couple of months before starting to TTC baby #2. It's a really personal decision, but I chose to wean because I am already on several category C meds for my asthma that I take daily. They are non-negotiables--I have to breathe--so I try to minimize the number of other drugs I take while pregnant.

I would certainly have continued with the Zoloft if I felt I truly needed it, but I made some really great strides in the spring and summer with managing my anxiety and OCD symptoms through cognitive behavioral therapy and practicing yoga and meditation. I was feeling SO great I decided to just see how I do without meds and frankly I do not notice a difference at all.

I will say that I saw a psychiatrist for medication management and I liked her a lot. I was more comfortable with her managing my meds and helping me wean than if I had been seeing a GP or an OB. If I were you, I would try to find a referral to a psychiatrist for that reason. He or she would also be able to help you manage the speed at which you wean and determine if there are other avenues you can take to treat your symptoms if you decide to wean--or even if you don't. Second best route IMO would be to talk to an OB.

I chose my initial OB (for my first pregnancy) because she was my GYN and I liked her. A friend recommended her to me. I switched practices for this pregnancy because, though I LOVED LOVED LOVED my doctor, the practice was really large and I did not love that. I could not get in often to see "my" doctor and the days I did she was ALWAYS on call at the hospital (because I went to the hospital-adjacent location for the practice). I chose my current OB through the recommendation of a friend, because of the small size of the practice (2 doctors and one NP), and because of the hospital where they deliver (same one where I delivered my DD and had a good experience). I would definitely choose a doctor whose hospital affiliation you like and ask local moms what they thought of the experience they had in their delivery hospitals.

Welcome and good luck!

[pugz]

oh one thing I loved about my OB is that he doesn't have partners. So I ALWAYS saw him and knew he'd be there to deliver my baby. He pretty much doesn't take vacations