Mother's Video Exposes Newborn Withdrawal from Common Antidepressant
A Derbyshire mother has released a harrowing video showing her newborn baby experiencing withdrawal tremors after she took the antidepressant Sertraline throughout her pregnancy. Beth Tricklebank, who was prescribed 200mg of the medication following her mother's death in 2021, was told by her GP that the drug was "completely safe" during pregnancy, with only a "very tiny chance" of affecting the baby.
Visible Tremors Last Three Weeks
Baby Jack was born in July 2024 showing immediate signs of medication withdrawal, with visible shaking that persisted for the first three weeks of his life. The video footage shows the infant trembling in his cot, while text overlays quote medical professionals assuring Beth about the drug's safety during pregnancy.
"The tremors started as soon as he was born," Beth explained. "The midwives were pretty confident it was my meds and the doctors confirmed this once we were at the hospital. This was really tough on me – the mum guilt was insane."
Medical Response and Monitoring
Medical staff recognized the cause immediately when Beth confirmed her medication history. Doctors explained that while such reactions sometimes occur, there was little they could do beyond monitoring the infant's condition. Jack received no specific medication for the tremors, though doctors suggested breastfeeding might help by passing small amounts of Sertraline into his system – an approach Beth found ineffective.
"There were no other signs that he had been affected by the medication, aside from the tremors," Beth noted. "They explained that sometimes this happens and that there wasn't anything they could do to help him other than monitor him."
Prescription Context and Risk Assessment
Beth had been relying on Sertraline "to function" after her mental health deteriorated following her mother's death. Her doctor had emphasized that the risk of discontinuing the medication during pregnancy was "far greater" than any potential risk from the drug itself.
"It would have been a risk to come off Sertraline during pregnancy due to both my depression and the length of time I had been taking them," Beth said. "My mental health was certainly not strong enough to come off of them completely, and due to the high dose I was on, coming off them cold turkey would have been dangerous for me and the baby."
Gaps in Informed Consent
Despite these medical assurances, Beth claims she wasn't properly informed about what to expect when her baby was born. The GP who originally prescribed the medication didn't discuss pregnancy implications since she wasn't pregnant at the time, and subsequent consultations downplayed the possibility of withdrawal symptoms.
"I contacted them once pregnant and they said there was a very tiny chance of the baby withdrawing but this was very rare – and they did not explain what this would look like, and didn't talk about wanting to lower my dosage," Beth revealed.
Advocacy for Better Communication
While acknowledging that she needed the medication and "couldn't have survived" pregnancy without it, Beth is now advocating for several changes in medical practice:
- Lower dosages in the weeks leading up to birth to limit impact on babies
- More comprehensive informed consent about potential withdrawal symptoms
- Better communication between doctors and pregnant patients about medication risks
"I decided to share my story to make other people aware of the risks, so they can discuss with their doctor the best way to proceed," Beth stated. "And to also remind doctors that informed consent is absolutely paramount in pregnancy, and women should always be given the full and entire facts."
Positive Outcome and Medical Context
Thankfully, baby Jack is now "fully fit and healthy" and has met all developmental milestones, with no apparent long-term effects from the withdrawal experience. The NHS generally considers Sertraline a safe and preferred antidepressant during pregnancy and breastfeeding, noting that benefits of managing severe depression or anxiety often outweigh small risks.
However, medical guidelines acknowledge the drug may be associated with a very small increased risk of congenital heart problems or temporary, mild withdrawal symptoms in newborns. Beth's experience highlights the importance of balancing mental health treatment needs with comprehensive patient education about potential neonatal effects.
"I'd love to spread awareness so other mums can be informed and aware – because I wasn't," Beth concluded, emphasizing her mission to prevent similar experiences for other families navigating mental health treatment during pregnancy.
