Antidepressants and Pregnancy

Pregnancy is often considered as a period of joy for expectant mothers. However, this may not prove right for all pregnant women, as some of them experience mild to severe depression, during this stage. According to some studies, around ten per cent of pregnant women suffer from symptoms of depression during their pregnancy. This condition is mostly found in women who have a history of depression, those who are very young and those who have stressful events in their life.

While depression during pregnancy may affect both the fetus and the mother, in a negative way, taking antidepressants during this period is also not safe. Antidepressants and pregnancy is not considered a good and healthy combination, as there are speculations of serious health problems in the fetus.

Pregnancy and Depression

Depression during pregnancy is not uncommon. Some women have a history of depression, which they experience during pregnancy too. Some others experience depression as a result of the hormonal changes during this period. Whatever may be the reason, depression during pregnancy leads to improper pre-natal care and affects the health of both the fetus and the mother. It has been observed that some pregnant woman with depression resort to smoking and alcohol consumption, which is not good during this period. Apart from that, untreated depression may lead to hypertension, premature birth, low birth weight of the baby and developmental problems. In some women, depression during pregnancy can pose an increased risk of postpartum depression. Hence, treatment of depression during pregnancy is very much necessary.

Using Antidepressants During Pregnancy

The most common treatment for depression is medication like, antidepressants and supportive measures, like, psychotherapy. Pregnancy is a condition, wherein the doctors have to exercise much more caution before prescribing any medication, so as to avoid any side effects to the fetus as well as the mother. So, depression during pregnancy is considered as a sensitive situation, where both the condition (depression) and the medication for the condition may be harmful. Even though, researches regarding antidepressants and pregnancy are still underway, it is contented that these medication can cause serious health problems.

According to some studies, consumption of antidepressants during pregnancy may cause congenital malformations in the baby. There is also a possibility that such babies experience withdrawal symptoms, after birth. It may be like, tremors, disturbed sleep, gastrointestinal problems or incessant crying. It is also contented that the women, who use antidepressants during the first trimester, may have babies with heart defects. However, there is no conclusive evidence to these contentions as studies regarding use of antidepressants during pregnancy, are still going on. However, it is always better to discontinue or minimize the use of antidepressants during pregnancy. There is no conclusive evidence to suggest that these medicines can affect pregnancy tests.

Antidepressants and pregnancy is still a controversial topic. While treating depression during pregnancy is unavoidable, the most common depression medication are also not advisable. However, the solution lies in the fact that the benefits of treating depression outweigh the side effects caused by antidepressants.

The risks posed by these drugs are minor, when compared problems associated with depression, which is left untreated. According to a study published by the British Medical Journal, exposure to antidepressants in the womb caused problems in less than 1% of children. It is also contented that only some antidepressant medication are associated with such risks. So, if you are taking antidepressants, it will be better to seek the opinion of the doctor (regarding the safety of the drug during pregnancy), before continuing this medicine, in case, you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant.

You may also resort to other measures like psychotherapy and avoid taking antidepressants, but, this is not advisable for women with severe bouts of depression. Even nursing mothers, who have doubts regarding antidepressants and breastfeeding, can replace these drugs with therapy. However, consult your gynecologist and psychiatrist, before replacing antidepressants.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice. Visiting your physician is the safest way to diagnose and treat any health condition.