Hello everyone! Re: postpartum depression, a dear friend of mine needs your collective Lactnet wisdom. She is currently 20 weeks pregnant (first baby) at age 42, after having adopted a newborn last November! Starting in 1993, she went through infertility treatments including Clomid, Pergonal and progesterone (hormone hell) for 2 years. (This included GIFT and in vitro attempts.) In the past year, she was laid off from her beloved hospital administration job, her father died and her husband was laid off also. She and hubbie live in different households as his consulting job is 3 hours from her house. She became depressed last year and was put on anti-depressants. Here's the current problem: she just completed several ECT(shock therapy) treatments which appear to have *cured* the major depression she developed last December after learning she was pregnant. (Medications had failed to alleviate this totally incapacitating depression.) The docs have told her that her depression was caused by her "unusual sensitivity" to hormones. Any opinions from mental health experts? This very bright lady is an RN and has a Master's degree in administration. She'd always assumed that she'd breastfeed one day. Now she is understandably terrified of possible postpartum depression since her recent depression had her thinking she was near death (as opposed to suicide). She is currently taking the antidepressant Serzine (Nefazodone). Her questions to you are: 1. Are there any appropriate antidepressants she could take while breastfeeding? 2. Is there ANY chance that the hormones circulating during lactation could increase her risk of postpartum depression? She's really been spooked by the psychiatrist's explanation.(With her connections, she's seen the *very best* doctors available.) 3. Does anyone know about the outcomes of cases where depression was treated with ECT during pregnancy? One more note, she had an older (adult) brother who committed suicide many years ago. She's been told his illness was different from hers. All thoughts are welcome!! TIA, Diana [log in to unmask] P.S. Thanks to those of you who've mailed your Lactnet T-shirt order.