Preeclampsia, Anti-Depressants and Nursing

[expert on call]

I never had a problem with high blood pressure until the day I went into labor. It stayed that way the 2 days I stayed in the hospital. Then I was told anti-depressants were detected in me and my newborn's urine/blood. Now 5 days later my feet and ankles are swollen to the point where i can press on the area and an indentation will remain. I've never taken any drugs at all let alone during pregnancy. Could this be preeclampsia and the reason the anti-depressants were found in our blood and is nursing harmful?


Expert on Call

[expert on call]

I am not sure what you mean by anti-depressants in the blood - are you sure that's what the doctor was saying? Antidepressants are medications such as Prozac that can help with a patient's mood. They do not have any known relationship to the development of preeclampsia. Swelling is definitely associated with preeclampsia and some heart problems, but if your blood pressure remains normal it may just be a part of the pregnancy resolving. I do not think nursing is harmful in your case.

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