But, an FDA warning last year, that said women who took the SSRI paroxetine (Paxil) during the first trimester had an increased risk of birth defects and might develop transient withdrawal symptoms, has many women reconsidering their options.
Dr. Michael Miller, editor in chief of the Harvard Mental Health Letter, says, "Luckily, there are many good treatment options, with or without drugs."
He says, "Women with milder depression may want to gradually reduce the dose of medication and rely on psychotherapy and family support from the time they try to get pregnant until the middle of the pregnancy. But, that may not be a good choice for women with moderate to severe depression. For them, antidepressant treatment may sometimes be necessary."
Dr. Miller advises women who stop or switch medications to make any change gradually.
According to the report, depressed mothers are more likely to miss doctors' appointments, drink alcohol, use drugs, and give birth to low-birthweight babies.
