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Sertraline and breastfeeding

Especially over the past year of the pandemic many mothers are asking about the compatibility of sertraline during breastfeeding. It has been a hard time for everyone with the incidence of anxiety and depression continuing to rise. As access to IAPT and IESO is more difficult the prescription of medication is inevitable.

Sertraline is the first choice medication for breastfeeding mothers as virtually none gets into milk and that we have a high level of experience with it over many years.

Unfortunately many doctors are, in my experience, still recommending that mothers should stop breastfeeding in order to take it. This may be that they think life would be easier if someone else could help with care of the baby or that the mother may get more sleep. Sadly, this doesnt always happen and the loss of oxytocin may also lower mood further.

There is often an assumption that pressure to breastfeed can lead to depression but in my experience pressure to stop breastfeeding in order to take medication may increase depression and may also stop mothers accessing professional help to avoid having that discussion.

This link to the RCGP perinatal mental health toolkit may be useful for professionals and parents

https://elearning.rcgp.org.uk/mod/book/view.php?id=13115

This factsheet contains information from my book Breastfeeding and Medication. Please message me for references used or with any questions.

Setraline and breastfeeding factsheet

Breastfeeding and chronic medical conditions contains chapters on anxiety and depression

https://tinyurl.com/mbbebe8x

wendy@breastfeeding-and-medication.co.uk

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