Question:
I have read a lot of posts stating the risks of anti-depressants, how
anti-depressants are the cause of tragedies like school shootings, how
anti-depressants taken by nursing mothers cause withdrawal symptoms in
babies, and I feel like I need to put in my 2cents. I have struggled
with depression my whole life. I finally reached a point where I was
ready to deal with some of my root issues, found a good psychologist,
and started taking an SSRI. I made great progress, never felt better,
and was able to stop the medication. The drugs helped me reach a state
where I could really evaluate where I was and how to change, something
I hadn't been able to do for over 20 years. I went off the drugs before
I got pregnant, but once the hormones started raging, I decompensate
and became depressed again, so on my OB's advice, I went back on. I
agreed with her that a depressed mother is not good for the baby, in
the womb or out. I feel that I was doing my baby more harm by not
taking the drugs. We have discussed post-partum depression as I am at
high risk and I will probably increase my dose then. And plan to breast
feed. Most research shows that minimal amounts of the medication
(citalopram) pass into breast milk. And if you read the whole and
original papers on withdrawal symptoms in infants (not just the popular
news stories which only give you part of the story and leave out the
number of subjects, materials and methods, and any information that may
conflict with the reporter's opinions) the numbers are very small. And
most important, each patient should weigh the benefits to herself
versus the risk to the baby. For myself, the benefit of being a
reasonably happy pregnant woman, eventually a happy mom, and a happy
wife far outweighed what I believe are minimal risks to my child, based
on my research on this subject. We should be cautious and careful, but
for those women out there who really need the medications, I need to
say to them that you need to look at the benefits, not just the risks. I have battled with antenatal depression and postnatal depression since being pregnant for the 1st time 10 yrs ago. I am keeping 'it' at bay with exercise, but I can feel it grabbing my ankles trying to drag me down.
Answer:
I have read a lot of posts stating the risks of anti-depressants, how
anti-depressants are the cause of tragedies like school shootings, how
anti-depressants taken by nursing mothers cause withdrawal symptoms in
babies, and I feel like I need to put in my 2cents. I have struggled
with depression my whole life. I finally reached a point where I was
ready to deal with some of my root issues, found a good psychologist,
and started taking an SSRI. I made great progress, never felt better,
and was able to stop the medication. The drugs helped me reach a state
where I could really evaluate where I was and how to change, something
I hadn't been able to do for over 20 years. I went off the drugs before
I got pregnant, but once the hormones started raging, I decompensate
and became depressed again, so on my OB's advice, I went back on. I
agreed with her that a depressed mother is not good for the baby, in
the womb or out. I feel that I was doing my baby more harm by not
taking the drugs. We have discussed post-partum depression as I am at
high risk and I will probably increase my dose then. And plan to breast
feed. Most research shows that minimal amounts of the medication
(citalopram) pass into breastmilk. And if you read the whole and
original papers on withdrawl symptoms in infants (not just the popular
news stories which only give you part of the story and leave out the
number of subjects, materials and methods, and any information that may
conflict with the reporter's opinions) the numbers are very small. And
most important, each patient should weigh the benefits to herself
versus the risk to the baby. For myself, the benefit of being a
reasonably happy pregnant woman, eventually a happy mom, and a happy
wife far outweighed what I believe are minimal risks to my child, based
on my research on this subject. We should be cautious and careful, but
for those women out there who really need the medications, I need to
say to them that you need to look at the benefits, not just the risks. I have battled with antenatal depression and
postnatal depression since being pregnant for the 1st time 10 yrs ago. I am keeping 'it' at bay with exercise, but I can feel it grabbing my ankles
trying to drag me down.
I have decided not to have the drugs while pregnant, but to go on them as
soon as the baby has been born. I hope all goes well for you.
I usually just ignore the
anti-anti-depressant threads because they're just rants,
and the posters aren't otherwise regular contributers
to this group. It sounds like you've put a lot of thought into finding
the best solution for your situation, and I admire that. OBs are closing birth canals up to 30% bizarrely causing difficulty getting
the baby out of the womb - bizarrely causing "difficult labor" - which is
thought to increase the risk of postpartum depression.
No - that's not the good news...
The good news is your OB *may* be able to reduce your risk of postnatal
depression - just by letting your birth canal open maximally at delivery.
See the excerpt of my Open Letter to Psychiatrist Carol Watkins, MD below.
PREGNANT WOMEN: Semisitting and dorsal delivery CLOSE the birth canal - up
to 30%. To allow your birth canal to OPEN the "extra" up to 30%, simply
roll onto your side as you push your baby out.
BEWARE THOUGH: Some OBs and midwives will let women "try" alternative
delivery positions but will close their birth canals the "extra" up to 30%
by rolling them back to semisitting or dorsal for the actual delivery.
BEWARE ALSO: When babies get stuck, OBs routinely KEEP birth canals closed
the "extra" up to 30% as they gruesomely pull with hands, forceps and
vacuums.
Talk to your OB today.
Attn: OBs: The Four OB Lies are WHOPPERS - please help stop the grisly
obstetric tomfoolery.
See Dr. Gastaldo corrects BRITISH GRAY'S ANATOMY
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/chiro-list/message/3293
What follows is a substantial excerpt of my Open Letter to Psychiatrist
Carol Watkins, MD...
"Warning Signs Of Severe Postpartum Depression...Intense fatigue or
sleeplessness...Feelings of hopelessness and helplessness...You have
aggressive impulses..."
http://www.alexian.org/progserv/babies/birthto3m/severe.html
Inconsolable screaming/crying ("colic") would be quite understandable in
babies who have just had their spines gruesomely wrenched (MOST babies have
their spines gruesomely wrenched; see above)
Wouldn't "intense fatigue or sleeplessness be EXPECTED when babies suffering
"colic" are combined with women already suffering the debilitating effects
of major abdominal surgery (see below) - or "just" the effects of labor and
delivery complicated by OBs closing birth canals up to 30% and keeping birth
canals closed up to 30%?
Carol, you say that women "may have more difficulty with postpartum
depression"
if
there is a "prior history of postpartum problems"...
http://www.ncpamd.com/Postpartum_Depression.htm
Makes sense to me! A prior history of an OB committing one or both surgical
felonies - PLUS the related OB felony - closing the birth canal up to 30% on
the baby (potential for intense sleeplessness/fatigue)...
Well - who WOULDN'T be depressed - who wouldn't at least feel a little
"blue"?
Again, Carol, your incredible postpartum blues figure:
"In America, about 50% to 80% of new mothers experience
a mild, self-limited period of depression, anxiety, and emotional reactivity
called the postpartum blues...usually...about three to five days after
delivery...
You include SYMPTOMS after your up to 12% postpartum depression figure...
"...a more severe, lasting depression is
experienced by up to 12% of women after delivery. Symptoms may include
hopelessness, guilt, difficulty concentrating, poor appetite, and thoughts
of suicide. Frequent trips to the baby's pediatrician may be a sign of
depression."
Why not mention of SEVERE SLEEPLESSNESS, as in the Alexian Brothers Warning
Signs excerpted above?
Was this an accidental omission? Or is there controversy on this point?
Carol, you advise women regarding "Getting Psychiatric Help" if they are
suffering postpartum depression.
http://www.ncpamd.com/Postpartum_Depression.htm
WHAT ABOUT PREVENTION?
Again, you note that there is increased postpartum depression risk
after "difficult labor."
http://www.ncpamd.com/Postpartum_Depression.htm
Since OBs are *causing* difficult labors by routinely closing pelvic outlets
up to 30%.
Since OBs are causing difficult labors by routinely KEEPING birth canals
closed up to 30% when babies get stuck.
And since,
"It is established obstetric teaching that a narrow pelvic outlet
predisposes to a difficult vaginal delivery..."
--Ass-Ärztin Dr. Andrea Froschauer-Frudinger et al. [Br J Obstet Gynaecol
2002;109(11):1207-12]
Maybe psychiatrists could help stop OBs from closing birth canals up to 30%,
etc.?
Maybe you could start interacting with your obstetric peers...
You say your work "requires...rigorous and
ongoing interaction with my peers to stay abreast of the latest
breakthroughs."
http://www.ncpamd.com/Watkins.htm
Your obstetric peers are *concealing* a birth breakthrough made last
century -
to wit - it is easy to allow the
birth canal to open an "extra" up to 30%.
Your obstetric peers are actually lying as they conceal this breakthrough...
I noted some of the OB lies in an Open Letter to the FTC years ago...
http://home1.gte.net/gastaldo/part2ftc.html
THE FOUR OB LIES...
OB LIE #1. After MASSIVE change in the AP pelvic outlet diameter was
clinically demonstrated in 1911 and radiographically demonstrated in 1957,
the authors of Williams Obstetrics began erroneously claiming that pelvic
diamaters DON'T CHANGE at delivery.
OB LIE #2. After Ohlsen pointed out in 1973 that pelvic diameters DO
change - the authors of Williams Obstetrics began erroneously claiming that
their most frequent delivery position - dorsal - widens the outlet.
OB LIE #3. After I pointed out in 1992 that dorsal CLOSES - and so does
semisitting - the authors of Williams Obstetrics - put the correct
biomechanics in their 1993 edition - but kept in their text (in the same
paragraph!) - the dorsal widens bald lie that first called my attention to
their text...
OB LIE #4. OBs are actually KEEPING birth canals closed when babies get
stuck - and claiming they are doing everything to allow the birth canal open
maximally. (ACOG Shoulder Dystocia video - also forceps and vacuum births
are performed with the mother in lithotomy.)
See Make birth better: Dan Rather, before you leave CBS...
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/chiro-list/message/2983
A LIKELY PART OF THE REASON OBs ARE LYING:
Cowan et al. wrote in 2003:
"Our findings show that more than 90% of term infants
with neonatal encephalopathy...without specific syndromes or major
congenital defects, had evidence of perinatally acquired insults...Reasons
for injuries of perinatal onset remain poorly understood."
--Cowan F, Rutherford M, Groenedaal F, Eken P, Mercuri E, Bydder GM,
Meiners LC, Dubowitz LMS, de Vries LS, Origin and timing of brain lesions in
term infants with neonatal encephalopathy. The Lancet
(Mar1)2003;361:736-42.
THINK ABOUT IT CAROL: Most women never hear of the "extra" up to 30% - and
women lucky enough to learn about it have to ASK for it...
Sometimes the "extra" up to 30% is denied when women ask! (It's not just
OBs. Dagny a mother on misc.kids.pregnancy says that a homebirth midwife denied
the "extra" up to 30%.)
Why should pregnant women be psychiatrically burdened (in effect) with the
task of informing their OB (or midwife) that he/she has been closing birth canals
up to 30% (and keeping birth canals closed when babies get stuck)?
Psychiatrists should help stop OBs from closing birth canals up to 30%.
Women shouldn't have to ask.
Again those quotes from the AMA's Principles of Medical Ethics:
"A physician shall...strive to expose those physicians deficient in
character or competence, or who engage in fraud or deception."
"A physician shall...seek changes in those requirements which are contrary
to the best interests of the patient."
"A physician shall...make relevant information available to patients,
colleagues, and the public..."
http://www.psych.org/psych_pract/ethics/ethics_opinions53101.cfm
I was pleased to read that you were able to help yourself with the
anti-depression drug after so many years of depression.
That must have been a fantastic feeling....
And then to be able to get off the anti-depression drug - YAY!
But then came pregnancy and you needed the drug again.
Well, I am glad it has helped you - and I like your recognition that "We
should be cautious and careful."
Please be cautious and careful about birth itself.
Women shouldn't have to ASK for the "extra" up to 30% of pelvic outlet
area - that's just the way it is - so talk to your OB today.
