Antidepressants: Safe During Pregnancy?

Antidepressants: Safe During Pregnancy?

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Antidepressants are one of the most commonly taken drugs available. They are taken by both men and women and can help improve a person’s life in a number of ways. However, when you become pregnant, it is important to discuss your usage of antidepressants with your doctor because there are some health risks to be concerned about. Here is some more information to help you learn about pregnancy and antidepressants. Claim Your 20 Free Pregnancy Tests – Click Here

How Does Pregnancy Affect Depression?

At one point, it was believed that pregnancy actually helped improve the symptoms of depression. However, research now shows that this is not the case and that pregnancy can actually make symptoms worse. About 10 to 20% of pregnant women are diagnosed with depression and around 13% take antidepressants while they are pregnant.

The mother is not the only one who is affected by this depression. Instead, the baby is also affected by the symptoms while it is still in utero. Research shows that babies who are born to women with depression are more irritable. They also tend to have fewer facial expressions and are less active and attentive.

 

Risks

Naturally, there are always pregnancy risks associated with taking medication while you are pregnant because they will enter your baby’s blood stream. With antidepressants, the risks include an increased chance of a miscarriage during the first trimester. Heart and birth defects are also a possibility if you continue to take antidepressants. Babies are also more likely to develop ADHD, a behavioral syndrome, pulmonary hypertenstion and even breathing issues when certain antidepressants are taken late in a pregnancy.

What are your Options?

The good news is that there are many options out there when it comes to antidepressants. You can work with your doctor to determine the best option for you to take. Usually, the rewards of taking antidepressants greatly outweigh the dangers that you are in by avoiding them.

There are also some things you can do to minimize the effects of depression naturally while you are pregnant. Experts say that things like talking with a therapist throughout your pregnancy, exercise, stress reduction techniques, yoga and meditation are all very helpful things that can help you avoid taking antidepressants while you are pregnant.

However, for women who have a history of severe depression or mental illness, these items will not be very effective. Instead, continuing taking their prescribed medication is the best answer. Remember, you should never simply stop taking your medication before you talk to your doctor. Doing so could have severe negative side effects that you will want to avoid if at all possible.

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Monica Scott, BS, RN
Monica Scott, BS, RN | ConceiveEasy
Ms. Scott joined ConceiveEasy after working in prenatal obstetrical care for two years in a private practice before being promoted to Director of Nursing. She has a strong interest in women's health with an emphasis on promoting fertility awareness.

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