#queenofthehive

Cont: I have (very) unsuccessfully tried going off meds, so I’m very curious about the unmedicated pregnancy/post experiences of others in this regard. J, what did you do? Were you on Rx before you got pregnant? Did you continue working/if so, how?

Cont: What was your experience with drs/obgyns? Any other resources on the topic would also be MUCH appreciated! Thank you so much, and congratulations J!!! :) (sorry about the length)

Okay, so I am still unmedicated and still breastfeeding. I did a bunch of research though and as long as you keep the dose quite low (like, short-acting Adderall at 10mg per dose) it doesn’t seem like stimulants get into breast milk in any kind of large quantities. It’s about as safe as taking an antidepressant while breastfeeding.

I was unmedicated prior to becoming pregnant, for nearly a year. I went off my meds due to side effects, not because I was going to start trying for a baby. I worked really hard while on medication to develop a system that would work for managing my life when I was off meds again, and it took a lot of tries before I was finally good enough at it to go without. Every time I tried and it fell apart, I looked carefully at what failed and tried to find a way to change it so I could do better next time. I still do that.

I have worked from home since 2009, so that didn’t change. I took a few months off around the birth and have a reduced work load now but I’m hoping to be able to increase it again soon. We’ll see.

My GP referred me to my OB, who I saw a few years prior when I had a huge ovarian cyst (which he removed). I mentioned depression to him once during my pregnancy and he said we could treat it if I felt that I needed medication but I never did. After my hospitalization at the beginning of my second trimester, I had a second OB (a specialist). (I had a fibroid and it bled into my abdomen, baby not at risk except that I could have died.) Honestly, my ADHD was never brought up though I did put it on all my forms like a good girl.

One thing I strongly recommend is pushing for regular screening for post-partum disorders (depression, anxiety, OCD, psychosis) throughout the first two years post-birth, and keep an eye on yourself during pregnancy for the same (PPD can start during pregnancy). I probably should have been treated but I wasn’t because I am really bad at making sure I talk to people about such things and I always think stuff is normal when it isn’t.

For meds and breastfeeding, check out this forum. The thing to remember is that ADHD meds are Category C, which doesn’t mean they aren’t safe… it means they haven’t been studied enough.

My son is nearly 18 months old now and he’s quite the handful! He’s got a lot of words and he’s very active. He loves books and things with motors.

(For those wondering about the 18 months thing, you will see when you have your own kids, but up to about 3 years of age your kids are aged by the medical professionals first by day, then by week, and then by month. As in, you go by days old until about 2 weeks. Then you go by weeks until about 2 months. Then you go by months until about 3 years. This is how children ages work. I don’t make the rules, I think it’s weird, but there you go.)