{"id":5539,"date":"2021-02-14T17:16:44","date_gmt":"2021-02-14T17:16:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thebadassbreastfeeder.com\/?p=5539"},"modified":"2021-02-14T17:17:26","modified_gmt":"2021-02-14T17:17:26","slug":"breastfeeding-and-zoloft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thebadassbreastfeeder.com\/?p=5539","title":{"rendered":"Breastfeeding and Zoloft"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Dr. Samantha Radford is a chemist with expertise in Public Health. She focuses on how mothers and babies are exposed to chemicals, and what the effects of those chemicals are. In addition, Samantha owns Evidence-based Mommy<\/a>, where she helps mothers and their kids to thrive using science and wellness. Samantha has four children of her own.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is Zoloft safe for breastfeeding?<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Whether you\u2019ve dealt with mental health challenges in the past, or it\u2019s a new experience for you due to postpartum hormone changes, anxiety and depression can be debilitating for a new mom. And while there\u2019s several ways to help with PPA or PPD, one of the most common remedies is to prescribe Zoloft (sertraline).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re in the States, you probably know just how lacking postpartum care is here. You get a check-up at 6 weeks and may be given a ten question survey assessing for depression or anxiety, and that\u2019s it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, many moms think (or they\u2019re even told by their providers) that if they start an antidepressant such as Zoloft that they need to wean their child. So then, moms feel torn: They know breastfeeding is important for their child\u2019s health (and their own health), but they also want (and need<\/em>) to feel better. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re in a similar position and looking for answers, the good news is that Zoloft is not incompatible with breastfeeding.<\/strong> If you want more details, read on to learn about Zoloft\u2019s impact<\/a> on your nursling\u2019s health and on your milk supply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Abby<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How Zoloft works<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your brain uses many different signal molecules to regulate your emotions. One of the most important chemicals in regulating your mood and feeling of well-being is serotonin<\/a>. If you have too little serotonin, you may feel stress, depression, or anxiety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zoloft is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor<\/em> (SSRI). Basically, it blocks reuptake (removal) of serotonin from your brain. When there\u2019s more serotonin around, it can help regulate your mood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How breastfeeding lowers risk of postpartum depression<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Serotonin isn\u2019t the other neurochemical involved in mood. Another major player is oxytocin, the \u201clove hormone.\u201d Oxytocin reduces stress and increases feelings of trust and relaxation. You definitely want it swimming around your brain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And one of the best sources of oxytocin for new moms is breastfeeding. In fact, when your baby suckles, it causes a release of oxytocin, which in turn signals the milk ejection reflex (or \u201cletdown\u201d).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because of the link between oxytocin and nursing (not to mention prolactin, estrogen, and other hormones), quitting breastfeeding can actually cause more<\/em> upheaval with your mood. For this reason, exclusive breastfeeding decreases<\/a> the risk of PPD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zoloft and milk supply<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So if breastfeeding helps mood, it would be ideal if taking Zoloft is compatible with breastfeeding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your first concern may be whether Zoloft affects milk supply<\/a>. Fortunately, this doesn\u2019t seem to be the case. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While a few moms have had a delayed onset<\/a> (by less than a day) of their milk \u201ccoming in,\u201d Zoloft doesn\u2019t decrease overall milk supply. So if you\u2019re starting an SSRI after your supply is already established, this shouldn\u2019t be an issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does Zoloft pass through breast milk<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A bigger concern for many moms, though, is whether Zoloft passes through their milk to their baby. After all, a baby\u2019s brain and nervous system is under serious development, so any small damage at an early stage can have life-long effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The short answer is that, yes, Zoloft can be found in breastmilk. However, the levels of this chemicals in breast milk is extremely low, partially because it breaks down so quickly (in fact, up until a few years ago, it was assumed that Zoloft didn\u2019t pass through milk at all).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Researchers have found that, once you add up all the feeds a baby does over the course of the day, less than 1% of the mother\u2019s sertraline dose is passed to baby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, even a small amount of a chemical can have a profound effect on an infant, but to date, no negative long-term impacts have been found on people who were breastfeed while their mother took Zoloft. With that said, there certainly need to be more studies of the long-term impact of Zoloft exposure during infancy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, there have been plenty of studies on a less obvious \u201ctoxin\u201d for infants – the long-term effects of maternal stress, depression, and anxiety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you\u2019re depressed or anxious<\/a>, you may be less responsive to your children\u2019s needs, or you may be more irritable or snappy. You also have a harder time modeling problem solving and emotional regulation for your kids (all of this isn\u2019t to say that you\u2019re a bad parent just because you have depression or anxiety. It just means you have to work harder as a mom. No judgement).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bottom line: While there\u2019s no evidence that Zoloft exposure through breastfeeding can cause long-term effects on children, there is substantial evidence that maternal stress and anxiety can cause long-term cognitive, social, and emotional effects on children, even into adulthood. <\/strong>Therefore, it is better for your child (and yourself) to do something about your depression and anxiety, and if medication is the right choice for you, then that\u2019s okay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other ways to help with PPA or PPD<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Of course, medication is not the only treatment option for postpartum depression or anxiety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Going to therapy<\/a> can be very helpful for dealing with the transition to motherhood (or just to having a new baby). In fact, studies show that combining therapy with an SSRI is more effective than medication alone, because your brain gets a break while you\u2019re learning new coping skills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many moms find some relief by taking a magnesium supplement, either orally (be sure to choose chelated magnesium as it\u2019s absorbed best), or through the skin with magnesium oil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And of course, all the other basic self-care – drinking plenty of water, eating a nutritious variety of foods, and light exercise (or at least getting outside for fresh air!) makes a big difference in how you feel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusions on Zoloft and breastfeeding<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve been prescribed Zoloft during your postpartum months, you don\u2019t have to worry about it ending your breastfeeding relationship with your little one. Do what you need to so you can take care of yourself and your baby.<\/p>\n\r\n