Is Prozac Okay During Pregnancy?
QUESTION
Dear Midwife,
On Thanksgiving Day, my husband of 6 ½ years told me that he didn't want to be with me anymore. I soon found out that he was cheating. Right now, I am about 6 months pregnant and I have been very depressed. We have a 5-year-old son and he has been acting up because of everything going on. My husband wanted me to leave the house, so I did. My son and I live with my parents and I am finding it very hard to cope with this.
I explained the situation to my doctor and he prescribed Prozac for me, but I do not want to take it while I am pregnant. Can you suggest anything else?
Christie
ANSWER
What an awful story! I am so very sorry.
Prozac is considered safe for pregnancy, although Zoloft has been studied a little more, so that is what I usually prescribe. I hope you have found a good counselor who can help you through this. It would probably be a good idea to get a lawyer to advise you as well. I know it is hard, but do try to tell your baby and your son every day that you love him or her. This is not their fault or yours.
Good luck.
-- Cynthia, CNM
Cynthia Flynn
Cynthia Flynn, CNM. PhD, is the General Director of the Family Health and Birth Center which provides prenatal, birth, postnatal, gynecological and primary health care to underserved women and their families in Washington, D.C. Recently Cynthia served as Associate Professor of Nursing at Seattle University. There she not only taught, but remained in full scope clinical midwifery practice at Valley Medical Center where she cared for pregnant and birthing women, and practices well-woman gynecology, family planning, and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases.
Cynthia founded Columbia Women's Clinic and Birth Center, where she took care of pregnant women and infants up to two weeks of age and attended both birth center and hospital births. Before Cynthia earned her CNM, she worked as a registered nurse in labor and delivery and postpartum and is a certified Doula and Doula trainer.
