Directives on antidepressants and pregnancy issued

It has been found that around 13 percent of pregnant women in the U.S. consume antidepressants during their pregnancy without being even aware of the dangerous side-effects that the drugs can have on their baby.

Keeping this in mind, the American Psychiatric Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists have issued directives for coping up with depression during pregnancy.

Guidelines will create awareness
The latest directives have been compiled in a document form and say that routine “talk therapy” can be an excellent alternative for pregnant women affected by depression.

Dr. Vivien Burt, a psychiatrist at the University of California, Los Angeles, was quoted as saying, “This is a very exciting time in obstetrics and psychiatry, a golden opportunity for us to really make a difference in the lives of women and their children.”

Anti-depressants can harm the fetus
The guidelines have dwelled on the fact that there is an increasing evidence which suggests that anti-depressants given to protect pregnant women can actually prove to be risky for the fetus, especially in the first weeks of life.

It has been discovered that babies who are exposed to antidepressants in the womb have a higher probability of being under weight at the time of birth.

Also, mothers who take antidepressants in late pregnancy are likely to get affected by a series of troubles in their first two weeks of life. These problems include irregularity in heartbeat, body temperature and wavering blood sugar levels, bad temper and in a few cases - seizures.

Under treatment for depression can be harmful
The latest guidelines are noteworthy because they talk about the other side of the coin too. They stress on the fact that anti-depressants may actually be beneficial for women who have a grave and frequent depression problem or suicidal tendencies. In such cases, under-treatment might prove to be dangerous.

Many previous studies have revealed that depression in expecting mothers can lead to lack of nutrition and prenatal care, premature birth and an increased danger that the child might as well develop depression.

For women who have a personal or family history of depression or other severe mental disorders such as bipolar disorder or psychosis, medication can actually be helpful, the guidelines added.