New study suggests antipsychotic use not linked to birth defects

A major study of 1.3 million women has suggested that antipsychotic use during pregnancy does not significantly increase the risk of birth defects. The research, carried out at Harvard Medical School, also found that there was no enhanced risk of cardiac malformations in particular. Exposure to antipsychotics during pregnancy is increasingly common, said the researchers. Antipsychotic medications are used for…

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Psychiatric medication in pregnancy: difficult decisions

“Nine months is a very long time if you are depressed or anxious.” To take medication or not to take medication; for some women with mood disorders, this can be the most difficult decision they will make during their pregnancy. “Moms & Meds: Navigating Pregnancy and Psychiatric Medication” is a newly-released documentary film that explores the options women face when…

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I have major depression, and it's serious

Catherine*, 37, works in public health and has suffered from severe depression for more than a decade. She takes Prozac but refused to let this stop her from pursuing her dream of having a family. This is her story. (*real name changed for anonymity.) I was diagnosed with major depression in 2004, when I was 26 and I began taking…

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Women and Meds: A documentary on mental illness & pregnancy

A few years ago, my husband Gary and I began talking seriously about having a child. We were approaching the “now or never” point (in terms of age), and realized that it couldn't just be a “happy accident,” because the mental illness medication I was taking at the time could potentially cause the baby harm. So I started scheduling consultation…

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Psychotropic medication during pregnancy

An estimated 50 million Europeans (11% of the population) experience a mental disorder at some time in their lives. With mental disorders so common, it is vital that women get the right advice on how to manage their condition during pregnancy. Psychotropic medications during pregnancy: the facts Despite the staggering prevalence of depression during pregnancy, huge gaps still lie in…

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PTSD a pregnancy risk, medicated or not

Alongside growing global diagnoses of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is on the rise, affecting around 10% of women over their lifetime and, significantly, most prevalent among women of childbearing age. Together with those who begin pregnancy already suffering from the condition is the 1-7% of women who develop PTSD after giving birth. It’s clear there’s an issue that needs addressing.…

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Managing mental illness in pregnancy with support and self-awareness

I decided that I would rather struggle with anxiety than worry I was potentially harming the baby by staying on my medication. I am not judgmental of women who decide otherwise, but weaning off my medication was the best individual decision for me. I was so grateful and surprised that I felt better than ever during my pregnancy (even better…

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