A pregnant question
How antidepressants may subtly alter a growing baby’s brain
By Susan Gaidos
The glow of pregnancy is no shield against depression. Millions of expectant mothers rely on antidepressant medication for help. But treating mom with drugs at this time in her life may have long-term consequences for baby.
Around 10 percent of women suffer bouts of despair during the hormonal chaos of pregnancy or in the months after delivery. Some women are already being treated with antidepressants such as Prozac and Zoloft, while others get new prescriptions. For many adults these drugs, known collectively as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs, work as advertised: lifting mood by temporarily boosting the availability of the brain chemical serotonin. But SSRIs may have a different, more long-lasting effect on a developing baby’s brain.