Interventional treatments may be useful and appropriate options for postpartum depression and other mental health conditions during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Safe treatments during pregnancy
Treatments that are entirely safe during pregnancy include:
Ketamine and nitrous oxide are each used frequently and safely for people who are pregnant for various surgeries and conditions, for example: infertility treatments, anesthesia for ECT, and surgeries such as appendectomies and C-sections. However, we do not administer ketamine or nitrous oxide at Wells Medicine to patients who are pregnant.
Although ketamine and nitrous oxide are very safe medications and should cause no problems with the pregnancy or developing baby, we try to stay on the side with minimal intervention for our pregnant patients. TMS and stellate ganglion blocks, meanwhile, are both very localized — TMS to the targeted regions of the head / brain, and stellate ganglion blocks to specific areas of the neck.
Safe treatments during Breastfeeding
Treatments that are entirely safe during breastfeeding include all of the treatments we provide, including:
We’ve had patients come back to pick up treatment with us as early as two weeks after they’ve delivered.
For ketamine treatment, there may be some mixed messages as to whether patients need to ‘pump and dump,’ meaning that milk is expressed and then thrown away without being given to the baby. There are some practitioners who recommend this in order to make certain that there is not a single iota or metabolite of ketamine in the breast milk.
At Wells Medicine we do not ask our patients to pump and dump. Ketamine is processed in the body very quickly. Even if there is the smallest amount or metabolite of ketamine in the breast milk, it is very unlikely to affect or harm the baby in any way due to how small the quantities of ketamine are in an infusion and how spread apart the infusions are — even during an initial series. When ketamine is used for C-sections, or when patients have surgery shortly after pregnancy (at higher doses than we use for infusions), they are not asked to pump and dump. We are of the mindset that breast milk is liquid gold, and do not take lightly the amount of work and effort it takes to create.
The easiest thing for patients to do is to breastfeed or pump right before an infusion, giving the body time to metabolize and process the medication before their next scheduled feeding. Provided they have someone to watch the baby, we are happy for patients to bring their baby to the clinic and feed right before their infusion.
About Us
Wells Medicine is a Houston-based practice designed to provide meaningful care for mental health. Providing targeted interventional treatments for Depression, Anxiety, OCD, PTSD and other conditions, with Ketamine Treatments, Stellate Ganglion Blocks, TMS, and Nitrous-Oxide Treatments. Focused on comprehensive care and integration with Psychiatry, Psychology, and Support Services. We are evidence-based, patient-focused and mission-driven.
The content here is for informational purposes and should not be relied upon for medical decisions. For the details of your specific medical conditions and treatments consult your doctors or other qualified healthcare professionals.
