I’m conflicted on taking my meds for my mental health and breastfeeding…help?
I have major depression, ADHD, postpartum, and anxiety disorder. The medications I need to function properly are not safe for breastfeeding. I’m torn between switching to formula or continuing breastfeeding and not being mentally healthy. I don’t want to let my baby down or disappoint anyone. Would it be wrong of me to stop breastfeeding so I can go back on my meds?
I don’t think so… Your mental health should always come first!
Absolutely not. Please continue to take your meds. Your child will be JUST fine!
No it’s not wrong to take care of yourself. Formula is just right for the baby, you have to make sure your okay too.
Clean up your diet and drink more water you’ll feel better
When it comes down to it you need to be healthy to take care of baby properly. If you can I would pump for a week to atleast have some milk to help transition to.formula
Your baby needs a healthy mom. That’s your focus. Food is food and you’re NOT LETTING ANYONE DOWN
No U got to take care of yourself for your. Baby
Go back on your meds. You will be doing the best for your baby
Formula, you need to be happy and healthy for your babe 
Take your medicine, you have to the care of yourself too so you can be the best momma you can be!!!
If your not mentally well then you cant properly care for your baby I say get back on your meds mama
It isn’t wrong if you stop breastfeeding do what’s best for the baby. Who cares what people think this is between you and your child.
They maybe able to prescribe you meds that are safe for breastfeeding.
Fed is best, doesnt matter if it’s breastmilk or formula!!!
Be healthy FOR your baby. A healthy mom makes for a healthier baby. Don’t feel bad for taking meds that you need. Don’t listen to people who tell you otherwise.
A fed baby with a healthy mama is best. You can’t adequately look after your baby or yourself if you go off the medication. There’s nothing wrong with formula at all. They’ll all end up eating stuff off the ground anyways 
I’m a huge breastfeeding advocate (my middle child was BF for 2 years and 5 months after that I breastfed my youngest for 2.5 years). Breastfeeding may be easier and cheaper but mental health is way more important especially when there are so many other options. If you’re worried about formula try finding donor milk and take your meds momma!
Your baby needs a healthy mom. Nothing wrong with formula…
Take your meds. The meds i was on, decreased my supply but the way i looked at it was some was better than none. They got formula from 4 months on…nothing wrong with formula
A fed and loved baby is the best kind. Do not let people make you feel like you cannot formula feed your baby so you can take care of your baby
You have to do what is best for you. Take care of you so youe baby can be taken care if. Just like with a plane crash throw your oxygen on before your child’s so you can help them completely. Fed is best !
Yes take of yourself,so u can take care of your baby
It’s extremely important to take your meds. Put your baby on formula.
Becoming a mama doesn’t mean becoming a martyr. Your babies just need a happy mama — science has been amazing to give us that break if we need it! Plenty of babes are formula fed & they turn out just fine. When we feel 100%, we can give 100% of ourselves to our kiddos, rather than just the 3% that we have left over because we’ve neglected ourselves. If breastfeeding is what has to go, then it has to go 
& don’t feel guilty about it at all Mama. Fed is best 
Be Your best Mom. I have3 healthy kids who grew up on formula. BF. Doesnt always work. Fed is best.
Oh no ! If you re not the best you can be you can’t be the best mom take your meds! Just by asking the question I can tell your a great mom.
Your baby deserves a mama who is happy and well! I loved breastfeeding my son and am looking forward to breastfeeding my second son, but if it came down to which one I would choose, I would choose my mental health ANY DAY! You’ve got this mama!
Please take your meds, if your mental health goes down it will be worse for your baby than being bottle fed (not that bottle fed is bad it’s not). Take your meds then it’s happy mummy happy baby x
Be a healthy mom!! Formula works just as well. No guilt or worries. Take care. 
You can do either! Dont let anyone make you feel bad. You’re a wonderful mom and brave to ask! I admire that. Do what makes you comfortable. I breast fed for a few months then started supplementing with formula and it eventually just ended up being formula all the time. Its ALL GOOD.
I took prozac and I breast fed. Your mental health is very important before, during and after pregnancy. There are safe medications but it’s your choice. I had to. I have a lot of the same mental health issues. My daughter is a bright beautiful and healthy 13 year old now!
Use formula. As long as baby & you are healthy thats all that matters.
If you want to give 100% to your baby you gotta be 100% first, you aren’t letting anyone down by taking care of yourself. Baby will be just fine on formula 
formula exists for a reason, and its here to help you!!
Try happy coffee/hot chocolate I started taking it for post partum because I didnt like how traditional anxiety meds made me feel. Its pregnancy and breastfeeding safe. I do sell it now cause I loved it that much. I’ve never felt this good in my life once I started drinking it.
You need to be well to take care of your baby
Mental health is way above breastfeeding.
I don’t care if you want to breastfeed or formula feed. But, as someone with bipolar depression anxiety etc, and a mom, I can tell you they do have meds that will work for you to continue to breastfeed. Talk to your Dr. If you don’t want to switch around, I know it’s a pain in the butt, then formula is the way to go. No shame either way. Take care of yourself.
Just think of it this way…your child is not going to grow up and be angry about the way they were fed. Honestly there not going to care! As long as there fed that’s all that matters. Your mental health is way more important. There is more at stake by you not taking meds than baby not being breastfed!
Take your meds mama!! Being the best mom you can be sometimes means doing things you may not necessarily want to do, but you have to take care of your health in order to take care of baby! Sending hugs!
Your mental health is more important
There is no shame in bottle feeding your baby. Well there is but ignore them. Do what is best for you! Your baby needs a happy and healthy Mom. Hang in there!!! xo
Breast feeding is not nearly as important as being the best mother you can be for your baby
No. You need to be feeling well also.
Just my opinion. Switch to formula and get on your meds. Baby will be totally okay, and you will be healthy. It’s a win win. Remember, if you’re suffering mentally, that will transfer to how you care for your baby. Good luck momma and don’t let anyone tell you you don’t deserve your sanity.
Nope! You have to be healthy too!! Formula is just fine! Doesn’t matter at all what others think. What matters is you and your baby are healthy mama!
Mental health first momma❤️
Science has come so far with formula it’s totally safe and it’s not actually anyone’s business if you formula feed or breast feed. Fed is best. If meds make u feel better you will be a better mum. It’s not really up to anyone else other than you, make the decision and Own it. I think what’s more worrying is you are worried about letting others down. Fuck em. That’s the wonderful thing about motherhood is it’s your baby, it’s your decision and if people feel “let down” by a sacrifice you made to protect you and your kid are they really the sort of people you want in your life? I’ve always breast fed my babies but I tell ya what more power to the mums out there who have to formula feed and who have these decisions to make. With my 3rd I noticed a massive decline in the quality of my milk when I had anxiety and she ended up weaning. With my next bub I’m totally formula feeding if need be I won’t put myself or baby through my anxiety.
Go back on your meds baby girl. Formula is not bad for your baby. You have nothing to feel guilty about. Be proud of yourself that you breastfed at all. Happy mommy, happy baby
Girl if you need your meds take them! You being happy will help your baby immensely
Definitely best to take your meds, but talk to your dr about it!
Its so important to take care of you!
Take your meds, baby needs mommy mentally healthy, do skin to skin feedings when possible for bonding…more important that mom can emotionally be there for baby, and enjoy this tie, don’t make yourself suffer, you will eventually feel resentment if you do…
You could always talk to your doctor about alternative medications! There are some out there that are safe for breastfeeding (Zoloft!).
If none of those are working for you, there is NO harm in using formula! Your little one needs you to be healthy also. Fed is best.
Fed is best!! It really doesn’t matter.
Not even a question… Give that baby a bottle… You cant provide for the baby if you are not ok! If what is good for you inst good for the baby… Then it is what it is! Good luck!
Your mental health is more important.
Your baby needs a mother who can take care of not only her, but yourself as well. An unhappy mom makes for an unhappy baby.
With all the late nights, early mornings and no sleep you being of healthy mind is so much more important!!
Yes, formula is a pain and not what you want, but you are not letting any one down!
You are beating your self up more then anyone else will. And that is to expected. I cried for 2 days when I realized I had to switch to formula.
Fed baby is always best, regardless of what you choose.
Fed baby = happy baby
Happy mama = even happier baby!!
You can’t take care of another person if you don’t take care of yourself. Baby will be fine on formula. You need to be good mentally to take care of your little bundle of joy and to enjoy the baby. Good luck and enjoy the baby. You can do this.
The only way you’d let your baby down is by not taking care of yourself. Who gives a shit if it means you have to stop breastfeeding. Your mental health and well being are much more important than any idiot who wants to push you to keep breastfeeding cuz they’re so anti formula. FED IS BEST. Feed that baby formula and take care of yourself!
Switch to formula. Breastfeeding is NOT more important than your mental health. It does not make you a failure.
You will be a potential danger to your baby if you dont get back on your meds, switch to formula right now, fed baby is all that really matters if that means mum is happy and mentally well in my opinion
Personally, I would take the meds and feed baby formula. In order for you to be the best mom you can, you need to take care of yourself. I was on seizure meds which I did not want to breastfeed while taking. So I chose to formula feed all 4 of my kids. Do not let people make you feel bad for doing what you need to. Your baby will be just fine.
There is some meds that are safe to take when you’re nursing. Ask your midwife
Thank you for posting this question I am struggling with this right now. My daughter is a month I am not on any meds but I have major depression and I can tell postpartum. I just haven’t gone to Dr cuz I am too stubborn but I cry every single day. I also have panic attacks, anxiety and PTSD from a past abusive relationship. Very scary like rape and torture stuff. Thank you for making me feel it is ok to go to the Dr and maybe stop breastfeeding. I felt horrible just even considering it
go to formula is you arent healthy mentally you cant be your best for the baby
Take your medications. Baby needs a mentally health mommy. Stay on meds as long as you need them. I know someone that I wish to God she had taken hers.
Take your meds! As long as baby is being fed, baby will be fine. Mommy needs to be healthy!
You should talk with your ob about your meds. There are safe meds to take while breastfeeding if you wish to continue. If you would rather formula feed and go back into your meds that perfectly fine as well. Your baby needs a healthy and happy mama 
I wish you the best of luck. You’re mental health is extremely important
I took adderal for my add while nursing after my baby was 6m and ambilify is ok for nursing
Do what you heart tells you to do, definitely think breastfeeding is the way to go but a happy mom is the most important thing. If you had to be on any others meds that you couldn’t nurse, you just can’t. Be a happy mama, many kids are given formula and are fine.
Take care of yourself, so you can care for others. Fed is best .Happy momma = Happy baby
As someone who’s been there the best thing for your baby isnt breastfeeding, it’s having a healthy mom. Your child NEEDS YOU. Don’t risk your mental health for something so simple as formula feeding. I think it’s much more damaging longterm to have a mentally unstable mother because of how the childs brain grows. Mother baby connection is so important.
There is no shame in formula! A happy mama means a happy baby and a fed baby is a happy baby. Don’t feel guilt for taking care of yourself! (Easier said than done)
Go to formula honey. Take care of yourself. Your baby needs you healthy.
Momma, your baby needs you. That means if you need to formula feed then that’s the best thing you can do for you and the baby. No shame. If baby is happy and healthy there is NO SHAME in formula feeding. Take care of yourself. Dont be so hard on yourself either. You are doing great.
I would either buy breast milk or go formula. Your mental stability is more important in this situation. <–my opinion
Take your meds. The baby needs a happy and healthy mama. Formula isn’t going to hurt your baby. It has all the nutrition your baby needs to grow and be healthy. You gotta do what’s right for you.
Take your meds girl. That baby will benefit most from the best version of mommy. Taking care of yourself is important in taking care of baby. Don’t let anyone bring you down about choosing that route.
Thier nothing wrong with formula, cause u needs u meds.
Zoloft is breastfeeding approved and helps with depression and buspherion (spelled wrong) helps with anxiety. It’s what my doc gave me while I was breastfeeding.
That baby needs a happy and healthy momma. He/she will be okay on formula. No mom guilting here! You have sooo many things to offer her/him when your not suffering! Fed is best!
First off, thanks goodness she reached out to ask this question. It is a very hard situation I was in with the only the lowest dose of Zoloft prescribed to me.
I stopped nursing so I could take it. An anxiety medication won’t work if you’re anxious about taking it and feel guilty for trying to mentally better yourself.
Contact infant risk, most Drs will swear meds aren’t safe that are perfectly fine. Lots of breastfeeding mom’s take meds for depression, anxiety, etc myself included.
https://goo.gl/search/infant+risk+hotline
FAQs | InfantRisk Center The phone number for the call center is 1(806) 352-2519 and is open from 8 AM to 5PM Central Standard Time to answer your questions.
GO BACK ON YOUR MEDS! Formula is just fine. You are so important, mama. Please PLEASE take care of yourself.
Do what u need to do baby will be fine
Not at all stop breastfeeding and go onto formula. Cos baby needs their mother it’s so important that you get well and look after baby sending love to you and baby
No your not wrond. Get back on the meds.
Go to formula please. You need to be healthy for your child. No shame in that.
I was on medication after my first baby and the doctor found one that was safe while breastfeeding. Maybe see if you can find something safe? If not, you need to take care of you as well. Your mental health is just as important!
No dear it wouldn’t, what Is do is pump as much as you can, then begin to taper the breast milk off and start introducing formula!! Your mental health us very IMPORTANT!°
Id switch no problem my health for the baby is more important for the baby along with formula being just as fine. A fed baby is a healthy baby period.
Happy mom = Happy baby. Fed is best momma.
Ask your doctor about this. He may put you on something that won’t hurt the baby. It’s better, I think anyway, that it might be better if you could control your problems at the same time.
Take care of you so that you can better care for that baby. Screw the opinions of others. YOU are Momma. YOU are in charge.
Formula is much healthier than a sick mama
In your case being on your meds is so much more important than breastfeeding. Baby needs a stable mommy most of all.
I would stop breast feeding, and take the meds. You need to take care of yourself to be able to care for your baby. My son wasn’t breastfed due to my health and there is nothing wrong with him.
Please take care of urself, if u cant function what good r u for ur bub. Xxxx