Should I take antidepressants during pregnancy?

If you take antidepressants, in the case of pregnancy or its planning, treatment should be adjusted. Take into account the following recommendations during the decision:

• Certain types of antidepressants are less harmful to a child's future than others. No doctor can say with certainty that their reception is completely safe for the unborn child.
• If you do not treat depression, it can harm a child, because depressed people do not care about themselves. After the birth of a child, the risk of postpartum depression increases.
• The decision whether to take antidepressants during pregnancy or not depends on the severity of the symptoms. Compare the degree of risk of taking medications and the harmful effects on the fetus of symptoms of depression.
• If you have taken antidepressants before pregnancy, a sharp rejection of them can trigger the return of symptoms, as well as a feeling of flu symptoms. Consult first with your doctor.

[1], [2], [3], [4]

What is depression?

Depression is a disease that causes permanent helplessness and despair, which is fundamentally different from the natural feeling of mild sadness or lack of energy. Depression greatly affects the way of life, working capacity, health status, as well as the people around you. Many pregnant women try to fight depression.

Admission of antidepressants during pregnancy: risk factors

There are several types of antidepressants. Some of them cause less harm to the fetus than others. No doctor can say with certainty that their reception is completely safe for the unborn child. Pregnant women are sometimes prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, for example, Zoloft or Prozac or tricyclic antidepressants.

The influence of antidepressants on the development of the fetus has not been fully studied. There is evidence that taking Paxil during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy increases the risk of developing fetal birth defects. Although in some cases, when women previously took this drug, its effectiveness is greater than the possible harm to the child. If you take Paxil and plan to become a mother, consult a doctor.

Side effects are possible during the reception of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or tricyclic antidepressants, but they usually pass through the first few weeks. You may experience indigestion, lack of appetite, may experience diarrhea, anxiety, lack of attraction to the opposite sex and headaches.

If you took antidepressants in the third trimester of pregnancy, the newborn will be left for a while in the hospital so that the doctor can monitor the symptoms of withdrawal. It sounds frightening, but they usually go away in a few days. The child may have a violation of breathing, constant crying, lack of appetite, and sometimes convulsions. If you are concerned, talk with your doctor about the gradual withdrawal of the drug for a week or two before the birth.

[5], [6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12]

Other treatments for depression during pregnancy

Psychological counseling is an important factor in combating depression. If the signs of a depressed state are insignificant, the psychologist will help them cope.

Light therapy - daily stay in a special room right in front of a light device for 30 minutes. It is effective in seasonal disorders.

Abandonment of antidepressants: risk factors

If depression is not treated, it harms both the mother and the baby, because people in a depressed state stop taking care of themselves: they do not eat well and disturb the sleep regime. In addition, they often start smoking and drinking alcohol, and even think about suicide. Pregnant women in a state of depression do not systematically visit a doctor. They have a higher risk of premature birth and a baby with underweight.

If during pregnancy, a woman was depressed, and she did not take antidepressants, the risk of postpartum depression increased, which in turn significantly complicates the care of the child. Children born to such women can develop more slowly than other newborns.

You should never abstain from taking antidepressants. If you have been taking these drugs for a long time and found out that you are pregnant, consult a doctor. If you decide to abandon them, lower the dosage gradually and only under the supervision of a doctor.

[13], [14], [15], [16]