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Pregnancy and Depression.

Recent studies have given researchers some surprising results regarding pregnancy and depression. These studies have shown that as many as 20% of pregnant women are suffering from depression. That statistic makes it more common than its more publicized cousin, postpartum depression. The childbearing years are the highest risk time for women to develop depression.

These studies have also shown that pregnant women with depression, and their children, encounter a number of complications such as:

• higher risk of preterm births.
• lower birth weights.
• various complications such as preeclampsia.
• later behavioral problems in the children.
• delayed cognitive and language development in the children.
• higher risk for postpartum depression for the mother.

Researchers do not fully understand the complex nature of pregnancy and depression but they have established certain facts. They know that the hormones and brain chemistry involved in depression are affected by changes in other hormones that are related to pregnancy. The impact of these changes on the fetus is unknown.

Women who have experienced depression prior to pregnancy are twice as likely as other women to develop depression during pregnancy. In addition, women with a history of depression were found to have poorer overall health, consume alcohol, smoke - and have a higher risk of depression during pregnancy.

Treatment

Surveys and studies have demonstrated that only 14% of pregnant women with depression are receiving any form of treatment. Standard treatment of pregnant women with depression is similar to treatment methods for the general population - psychotherapy and antidepressant medication. It should be noted that many experts believe that some antidepressant drugs have been shown to be safe for both the mother and the baby. They state that the risk of birth defects, IQ, or learning problems is no higher.

However, not all antidepressant drugs are safe. The newer antidepressant drugs are "too new" and have not undergone thorough investigations of safety regarding fetal development or breastfeeding. In general, the newer antidepressant drugs have fewer side-effects but their safety is not established for pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Although the medical community claims some, perhaps many, antidepressant drugs are safe for both pregnancy and breastfeeding, it is not true for all drugs. Please note the exceptions:

• MAOI - known as Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors and sold under the names of Nardil (Phenelzine) and Parnate (Tranylcypromine). These drugs are UNSAFE for pregnant women.
• Aurorix (Moclobemide) is considered safe for pregnancy but is considered UNSAFE for breastfeeding.

Please click on the following link for more information about the most commonly used antidepressant drugs.

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