Treatment for Depression During Pregnancy

With the protective effects of pregnancy on depression recently called into question, perhaps the common practice of automatically discontinuing antidepressants during pregnancy needs to be reevaluated. Babies born to mothers taking SSRIs during pregnancy do have an increased incidence of withdrawal symptoms 48 hours post birth; however, women who discontinue their meds during pregnancy have a marked risk for relapse, contributing to other health concerns ie. smoking, poor nutrition and inadequate prenatal care. There is obvious need for further research on the subject, but treatment plans should be made with the above information in mind. Complimentary therapies such as acunpuncture and massage could potentially mediate depression symptoms for those discontinuing their medications. Stanford University is currently conducting a clinical trial on just that. Food for thought.