Zoloft for Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: What the Evidence Says
Zoloft is one of the most studied antidepressants in pregnancy and is often continued when the benefit outweighs the risk. Here is what the FDA label, UK guidance and large studies say, and what people on Reddit report.
By withClaro Editorial · 2026-10-23 · 6 min read
Medical review pending. Written by the Claro editorial team from the FDA label and published studies.
Key takeaways Zoloft can be used in pregnancy if needed; the decision weighs its risks against the risks of untreated depression or anxiety. Studies covering more than 25,000 pregnancies mostly found no higher risk of birth defects with sertraline. Some newborns exposed late in pregnancy have short-lived symptoms; a link with a rare lung condition is debated, and the absolute risk is small either way. Postnatal depression can start up to a year after birth, and sertraline is often used for it, including while breastfeeding. Sertraline passes into breast milk in small amounts, and side effects in breastfed babies are uncommon. On this page
What 326 people on Reddit said about Zoloft and pregnancy Is Zoloft safe during pregnancy? What are the risks of Zoloft late in pregnancy? Should you stop Zoloft if you get pregnant? Can you breastfeed while taking Zoloft? Can you take Zoloft for postnatal depression? What should you ask your prescriber about Zoloft and pregnancy? Zoloft (sertraline) can be used during pregnancy when the benefit to you outweighs the possible risk to the baby. The FDA label says studies of first-trimester use suggest no difference in the risk of major birth defects compared with the background rate. The NHS says your doctor will talk through the risks and benefits with you.
What 326 people on Reddit said about Zoloft and pregnancy
We read 99 recent threads on r/zoloft and pregnancy forums such as r/beyondthebump, comments included, and 326 people described their own experience. People with a strong experience are more likely to post, so treat this as a range of experiences, not a measure of risk. Of the 326, 229 said what they did with Zoloft around pregnancy or after birth: 96 started it, 83 stayed on it and 24 stopped or tapered off.
What they did with Zoloft Of 229 people Started it in pregnancy or after birth 96 Stayed on it 83 Stopped or tapered off 24 Raised the dose 20 Lowered the dose 6
Most of the 326 wrote after the birth: 185 were postpartum or breastfeeding. Of the 229, 59 said how they made the decision, and 57 of them made it with their doctor, obstetrician or midwife.
One person on r/pregnant wrote:
I’ve been on Zoloft since 2016 and am continuing to take it throughout this pregnancy.
Another was weighing coming off:
we thought to try tapering down again over the next few months
Is Zoloft safe during pregnancy?
For sertraline, MotherToBaby, a US service run by teratology experts, says there are reports of more than 25,000 pregnancies exposed to it, and most studies found no higher chance of birth defects. Other studies suggested a higher chance of birth defects, including heart defects. But when studies looked only at pregnancies of women with depression, they found similar rates whether sertraline was taken or stopped before pregnancy, which points to factors other than the medication. The label also mentions reports of some specific defects, with inconclusive results. No antidepressant is free of risk in pregnancy, and neither is untreated depression.
MotherToBaby also says studies on miscarriage are limited but overall have not shown a higher chance with sertraline. The UK's Bumps service says the overall risk of SSRIs in pregnancy is low and that no single SSRI is known to be better in pregnancy than the others.
What are the risks of Zoloft late in pregnancy?
Three risks are discussed for SSRIs taken late in pregnancy. Use in the month before delivery is linked to less than a twofold rise in heavy bleeding after birth, a risk for the mother, which is one more reason to tell the birth team you take Zoloft. Some newborns have short-lived symptoms such as jitteriness, feeding problems or breathing trouble; MotherToBaby says they are usually mild and pass within a couple of weeks. Telling the birth team about Zoloft lets them watch for this. The label asks that exposed newborns be watched for these signs and for persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN), a rare lung condition.
PPHN occurs in about 10 to 20 of every 10,000 births in general. A 2015 study of US Medicaid pregnancies found it in 20.8 of every 10,000 babies not exposed to antidepressants and 31.5 of every 10,000 exposed to SSRIs late in pregnancy. Among women with depression, after accounting for other factors, the overall difference became small and not clearly real, though a small signal remained for one form of PPHN; the study counted SSRIs as a group, not sertraline on its own. MotherToBaby says it is not clear whether any rise comes from the SSRI or other factors, and that if there is one, the overall chance is still below 100 in 10,000.
The NHS says you will usually be advised to give birth in hospital so you and your baby can be monitored.
Should you stop Zoloft if you get pregnant?
Not without a plan. The decision is made with your prescriber and obstetrician, who will look at how severe your depression or anxiety has been, how you did when doses changed before and how far along you are. MotherToBaby notes that some people have a relapse if they stop during pregnancy. If you have already stopped, contact your prescriber without waiting for the next scheduled visit. The clinical view:
If you become pregnant on an antidepressant, do not stop it suddenly, and talk to your prescriber soon.
Stopping suddenly risks withdrawal and relapse at a time when both are harder to manage. The decision weighs the risks of the medication against the risks of untreated depression or anxiety. Both affect parent and baby, and for many people continuing treatment is the safer choice.
If you and your prescriber decide to come off Zoloft, what withdrawal can feel like is covered in Zoloft withdrawal symptoms .
Can you breastfeed while taking Zoloft?
Usually, yes. Sertraline passes into breast milk in small amounts. In a pooled analysis of 53 mothers and babies cited on the label, exclusively breastfed babies had on average 2% of their mother's blood level, ranging from 0% to 15%, and the babies showed no adverse reactions. In other words, a breastfed baby gets only a small fraction of what the mother has in her blood. MotherToBaby says side effects in breastfed babies are uncommon, and to contact the baby's doctor if the baby seems unusually sleepy or irritable.
The NHS says sertraline can often be used while breastfeeding and that you will usually be advised to continue it if the benefits outweigh any risks.
Can you take Zoloft for postnatal depression?
Yes. Sertraline is often used for postnatal depression, and it can usually be taken while breastfeeding. Doses and the wait for an effect are the same as for depression at other times, covered in Zoloft dosage . Postnatal depression can start in pregnancy, soon after birth or up to a year later, the NHS says. Feeling down, anxious or irritable for a few days after the birth is very common and usually passes within 2 weeks; if it continues, gets worse or you are struggling to cope, that is the time to get help. Signs include finding it hard to enjoy anything, feeling hopeless, guilty or unable to cope, constant worry, trouble sleeping even when you can rest, and difficult feelings about the baby. The NHS says many antidepressants are safe while breastfeeding, and that asking for help very rarely leads to a baby being taken away.
What should you ask your prescriber about Zoloft and pregnancy?
Ask your prescriber, ideally before you conceive, how they would weigh staying on Zoloft against stopping in your case. A plan made early, with your obstetrician involved, leaves time to adjust without rushing. It helps to tell them and ask:
Tell them what happened to your mood the last time your dose changed or you missed doses. Ask whether your current dose is the lowest that keeps you well. How the birth team will check your baby after delivery. What to watch for in the baby if you breastfeed. Who to call if your mood drops during pregnancy or after the birth. Some things can't wait. Thoughts of suicide or of harming yourself or your baby, or feeling unable to keep yourself or your baby safe, need urgent help now: in the US, call or text 988, or call 911; in the UK, call 999 or NHS 111; elsewhere, find a crisis line near you .
Download on the App Store Decisions about Zoloft in pregnancy and after birth rest on how you are doing week to week. The withClaro app lets you log mood, sleep, energy and side effects each day, linked to your dose, and turns it into a report to share with your prescriber and obstetrician.
Frequently asked questions Should I tell my obstetrician I take Zoloft? Yes. Watching the baby after birth, and the NHS advice to give birth in hospital, both depend on the team knowing, and your obstetrician can help plan from the start.
Can I take Zoloft while trying to get pregnant? Many people do, after planning with their prescriber. A plan made before conception gives time to settle the dose without rushing.
Does Zoloft affect milk supply? The label says there are no data on how sertraline affects milk production. If feeding is going badly, tell your midwife or the baby's doctor.
Is there a pregnancy registry for antidepressants? Yes. The Zoloft label points to the National Pregnancy Registry for Antidepressants, which tracks outcomes after exposure in pregnancy. Ask your prescriber about joining.
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Sources ZOLOFT (sertraline) prescribing information, US Food and Drug Administration via DailyMed, revised August 2023 NHS: Sertraline MotherToBaby: Sertraline (Zoloft) fact sheet Bumps, UK Teratology Information Service: Sertraline in pregnancy, October 2026 Huybrechts et al., 2015, JAMA: Antidepressant use late in pregnancy and risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline r/pregnant: zoloft during pregnancy r/BabyBumps: Dr wants me to get off Sertraline (Zoloft) and I’m not sure r/zoloft: Zoloft and pregnancy r/beyondthebump: Sertraline (Zoloft) r/beyondthebump: At what point did you realize you needed Zoloft instead of trying to manage anxiety on your own? r/BabyBumps: Anyone been on SSRIs while pregnant? Worried about my Zoloft NHS: Postnatal depression Claro articles are for self-monitoring and educational purposes only. They are not a medical device, therapist, or diagnostic tool, and do not replace care from your prescribing clinician. If you are in crisis, contact your care team, emergency services, the Samaritans (UK: 116 123), or the Crisis Text Line (US: text HOME to 741741).