Mental health management during pregnancy

A confusing state: treating mental illness during pregnancy

Many women suffering from a mental disorder, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, control their condition using antipsychotic drugs. But if a woman taking this type of medication wants to have a baby, there aren’t many standard answers from the medical community as to what’s the best thing to do. Whether or not a woman continues to take her medication…

Antidepressant usage in pregnancy hits the headlines

According to a paper published by US academics in March 2014, pregnant women taking antidepressants are more likely to have their child prematurely. If these findings are accurate, then that’s a concern because of the sheer number of people taking these kinds of drugs. A report published back in 2011 found that 23% of women in their 40s and 50s…

Treating depression during pregnancy

There’s a one in four chance that a woman will suffer from depression during her life. And given this statistic, there’s a fair chance that depression may coincide with pregnancy. So what should women who take drugs to manage their depression do if they want to have a baby, or if they find themselves pregnant? Opinion surrounding the use of…

Bipolar disorder and pregnancy: to treat, or not to treat?

When it comes to medication and pregnancy, women suffering from bipolar disorder often receive conflicting advice. Most simply don’t know what’s best for their health and for that of their child. For some women, like Natasha Tracy, it’s easier to rule out pregnancy altogether. And this isn’t surprising: as recently as a decade ago, the general advice was that women…