Antidepressant Use in Pregnancy – Pros and Cons

There exist many studies dealing with the use of antidepressants in pregnancy. Some of them lay stress on the dangers imposed on the unborn babies, for some antidepressants have been discovered to make women more vulnerable to the risk of preterm delivery or miscarriage, and baby having low birth weight. The baby may develop certain heart defects under the influence of antidepressants.

Other studies hold that if mothers’ depressive condition is left untreated it can also endanger their babies’ health.

With the use of antidepressants by pregnant women growing during the last few years, in many cases doctors stopped the treatment out of concern about a possible harmful influence of the treatment on the unborn baby.

The latest report, the result of co-operation of the American Psychiatric Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, urges that certain women go on with taking antidepressant medicine even after becoming pregnant.

That goes for women with suicidal tendencies, those prone to recurrent psychotic episodes or having bipolar disorders. Severe bouts of depression shouldn’t be allowed to go untreated as well.

In cases where expectant mothers show but mild symptoms or no symptoms, the study suggests a course of a gradual going off medication.

Source of the image: flickr.com/photos/dust/.