Antidepressants in pregnancy

More than one in ten pregnant women are thought to suffer from depression. Pregnant women are often prescribed a kind of antidepressant called SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) but new research indicates that there may be risks to this. Researchers from Aarhus University in Denmark studied 57,001 women. 329 had been treated with SSRIs, 4,902 had a history of mental-health problems but had not taken the drugs and the rest had no history of mental-health problems. Women who took SSRIs during pregnancy gave birth an average of fived days earlier and had twice the risk of pre-term delivery. Children exposed to SSRIs in utero had more difficulties immediately after birth and were more likely to be admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. But it is important to remember that depression in pregnancy carries its own risks and you should always ask your doctor before changing your medication.

You can find out more about this research at

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091005181629.htm