According to a new study, pregnant women who take certain drugs for depression or anxiety may have heightened risks of preterm delivery or other birth complications.

Per Reuters, "Researchers found that among nearly 3,000 women who gave birth in Washington State, those who started taking antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in the second or third trimester had a higher risk of preterm birth.Compared with their counterparts not on the medications, these women were nearly five times more likely to deliver prematurely." To read the entire article click HERE.

So what does this mean for pregnant women suffering from anxiety and depression? We asked our expert Dr. Jason Rothbart to weigh in: 

The important thing about it is this:  "Those who started taking antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in the second or third trimester had a higher risk of preterm birth."

 

But if someone who is already in second and third trimester and is just being prescribed the meds, she's probably suffering in some way and really needs them; therefore, the benefit usually outweighs the risk. Also, they didnt talk about a potential bias in that study-- The fact that depression and anxiety alone (as seen in women who aren't eating or sleeping, etc.) are risk factors for preterm delivery in and of itself.

To read the entire article click HERE.