Feeling Depressed and Breastfeeding - The Breastfeeding Network

If you have any questions about this information, you can contact the Drugs in Breastmilk team through their Facebook page or on druginformation@breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk.

You can take anti-depressants and continue to breastfeed without harming your baby.

Around 10-15% of mothers feel depressed during the first year or so after giving birth. Many of them are also breastfeeding. It is nothing to feel ashamed about. It is important to ask for help.

Symptoms of depression are sometimes vague and hard to define but include:

a persistent feeling of sadness and low mood which goes on for days and weeks
loss of interest things that used to give you pleasure
lack of energy, feeling tired all the time
trouble sleeping at night when your baby is asleep
problems concentrating and making decisions
loss of appetite or an increased appetite
feeling agitated, irritable or that you “can’t be bothered”)

Our mood varies from day to day, week to week, but if you feel miserable on more days than you feel happy then you should share with those who love you how you feel and think about discussing this with your health visitor or doctor.

If you are feeling miserable because breastfeeding isn’t proving to be as easy as you hoped please keep asking for help from local drop in support groups or by calling the National Breastfeeding Helpline.

The drug of choice for someone who has never had depression before is sertraline which passes into breastmilk in very low levels. If you have been treated for depression before, the drug which is best for you is probably the one which helped you then. For more detailed information, see our factsheet on antidepressants.

If anyone tells you that you have to stop breastfeeding in order to take a medication please contact the Drugs in Breastmilk team via Facebook or email on drug-information@breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk and we will discuss this with you and help you find information based on research.

Support the Work of The Breastfeeding Network

Our factsheets are free for everyone who needs them. If you’re in a position to support the work of The Breastfeeding Network charity, you can do so by donating here – we’re so grateful for every contribution.

The Breastfeeding Network is a registered Charity (SC027007). We work within the scope of the WHO Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, so we do not accept funding from any source with a commercial interest in infant feeding. This means families can trust that the information and support we give is never biased.