<u>Issues (pro and con) associated with treating a clinically depressed woman with antidepressant medications if she is pregnant or is breastfeeding flashcard:</u>
Perinatal depression is the major depressive disorder (MDD) prevails either during pregnancy period or in first six months of postpartum. It is considered as one of the most common complications of both prenatal and postpartum period prevailing in 10% to 15% of childbearing women.
Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale is used to determine the perinatal and postpartum depressions
If PPD is left undiagnosed or untreated it may result in the following,
- Poor mother-infant attachment
- Premature birth
- Low birth weights
- Perinatal telencephalic leukoencephalopathy (PTL)
- Small-for-Gestational-Age (SGA) infants
- Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS)
- Pregnancy-induced hypertension
- Behavioral difficulties
- Language delays
- Mental health disorders
- Low cognitive performance
- Attention problems
Recent reports have stated that up to 13% of pregnant women are using antidepressants. In fact, there are enough risks that are related with exposure to untreated depression during pregnancy like problems for the developing neonate.
It has been said that giving up antidepressant treatment with a previous history of depression may lead to relapse of symptoms. Usage of maternal antidepressant during pregnancy has been associated with risks to infants exposed including persistent pulmonary hypertension of newborn (PPHN) and a neonatal toxicity or withdrawal syndrome.
