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  Gabrielle J. Melin, M.D.

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• Oct. 8, 2009

  Depression and pregnancy: What you need to know

  By Gabrielle J. Melin, M.D.

It's important to discuss your plans for

Need more help?

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255) Go to the nearest hospital or emergency room Call your physician, health provider or clergy National Alliance on Mental Illness www.nami.org 1-800-950-NAMI (6264)

pregnancy with your primary care provider, the provider who will deliver your baby, and your mental health provider if you have one. No medication is completely safe in pregnancy and an open discussion is crucial sooner rather than later.

Here are some findings from research on pregnancy and depression:

• Babies born to moms with depression have an increased risk for irritability, less activity and attentiveness and fewer facial expressions.
• There are possible fetal abnormalities when mothers take antidepressants in the first trimester. But there's not a particular pattern associated with a specific medication or class of medications.

Some specific treatment recommendations include:

• Talk to your provider early if you are planning to conceive. You can talk about the best options for you as an individual.
• Encourage the provider who will deliver your baby and your mental health provider to consult with each other on the best options for you. They will help you understand the risks and benefits of medication versus therapy, etc.
• If you are taking an antidepressant for depression, don't discontinue or change your dose of medication on your own. This could be dangerous and your symptoms could worsen.
• If you have severe depression and are pregnant, you should remain on medication.

blog index

• See Also

• Depression (major depression)
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
• Treatment-resistant depression: Explore options when depression doesn't get better
• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
• Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
• Norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs)
• Tetracyclic antidepressants
• Depression: Supporting a family member or friend with depression
• Male depression: Understanding the issues
• Antidepressants: Selecting one that's right for you
• Depression and anxiety: Exercise eases symptoms
• Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
• Combined reuptake inhibitors and receptor blockers
• Depression in women: Understanding the gender gap
• Support groups: Share experiences about depression, mental health conditions
• Antidepressants: Get tips to cope with side effects
• Video: Should depression be managed for the long term?
• Video: Shouldn't you be able to snap out of depression?
• Video: Deciding which depression treatment to try first
• Video: How to help if your loved one has depression
• MAOIs and diet: Is it necessary to restrict tyramine?
• 'Clinical depression': What does that mean?
• Depression self-assessment
• Depression blog
• Antidepressants: Can they lose effectiveness over time?
• Depression and anxiety: Can I have both?
• Antidepressants and alcohol: What is the concern?
• Nervous breakdown: What does it mean?
• Vitamin B-12 and depression: Are they related?
• Video: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) — One woman's journey
• Marijuana and depression: What's the link?
• Caffeine and depression: Is there a link?
• Antidepressants and weight gain: What causes it?
• Antidepressant withdrawal: Is there such a thing?
• Fish oil supplements: Can they treat depression?
• Atypical depression: What is it?
• Lexapro side effects: Is breast tenderness common?
• Antidepressants: Which cause the fewest sexual side effects?
• Antidepressant side effects: Is bone loss a concern?
• Pain and depression: Is there a link?
• Video: Antidepressants — How they help relieve depression
• Serotonin syndrome
• Mental health: What's normal, what's not
• Support groups: Make connections, get help
• Mental health providers: Find one to suit your needs
• Meditation: Take a stress-reduction break wherever you are
• Antidepressants: Safe during pregnancy?
• Mental health: Overcoming the stigma of mental illness
• Tinnitus causes: Could my antidepressant be the culprit?
• Vagus nerve stimulation
• Deep brain stimulation
• Transcranial magnetic stimulation
• Psychotherapy
• Symptom Checker
• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Stress symptoms: Effects on your body, feelings and behavior
• Diabetes and depression: What's the link?
• Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
• Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) genotyping test
• Family therapy
• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
• Postpartum depression
• Dysthymia (dysthymic disorder)
• Seasonal affective disorder treatment: Choosing a light therapy box

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