The use of antidepressants in our country is rampant. We all know of a friend or relative who has used or is using antidepressants to help them cope with the stressors of life. Culturally, we have villainized the wide range of emotions a person can feel depending on the season of their life and made it acceptable to numb out emotions that are inconvenient or difficult to deal with.

Pregnancy, for example, is a wonderful season in a mother’s life, but it can also be a season of anxiety and fear for others. Thanks to the media and our current medical model, women have been instilled with a fear of pregnancy and birth. Consequently, some women who already take antidepressants continue to do so during pregnancy in hopes that it becomes easier to cope with their journey.

During this season of a mother’s life, she goes through a mental and physical transformation that will aid in the survival of her baby.

One of those incredible changes includes the growth of the placenta, the organ that grows in the woman’s womb to specifically help sustain the baby before she is ready to join her mother Earthside. Through the umbilical cord, the placenta supplies oxygen and nutrients to the baby. It also removes waste, produces hormones, and blocks the transmission of viruses. Any medication that the mother takes can also pass through the placenta at varying degrees, including antidepressants.

This should make us question if the maternal use of antidepressants during pregnancy will affect the baby, and if they do, are they harmful?

Several studies have been conducted on SSRI antidepressant use and their effects on babies in and out of the womb. The findings are alarming.

One study concluded that 30% of newborns exposed to SSRIs in utero have Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS). NAS occurs when a baby experiences withdrawals from drugs or medications they were exposed to in utero. Some of the symptoms include irritability, breathing problems, feeding problems, seizures, and slow weight gain.

Another study showed that SSRI antidepressant use significantly changed placental gene expression in male infants. Placental gene expressions are physiological responses to fetal growth and development.

Other studies linked antidepressant use to preterm birth, low birth weight, birth defects, developmental problems, and sometimes even death.

With such alarming findings, it is crucial for mothers to be fully informed about the risks and benefits of antidepressant use during pregnancy.

Unfortunately, our current medical model doesn’t prioritize true informed medical consent. It is quite easy for one to walk out of their doctor’s office with a prescription for antidepressant medication in hand.

When it comes to pregnant mothers, however, it seems almost negligent for a provider to not fully inform her about any medication that could affect the baby growing in her womb, and that includes antidepressants. Not only must providers carefully diagnose pregnant women, but they must also be transparent about the medications they are going to prescribe so that the mother does what is best for her and her baby.

The lack of true informed consent from medical professionals has caused many patients to question the ethics of their providers. From birth control to vaccines to antidepressants, the medical establishment has failed to be transparent about risks or negative effects, further eroding the trust they once had with their patients.

For this reason, whether you are pregnant or not, it is important to practice true informed consent even if it is not reciprocated by our medical providers. Everyone is ultimately responsible for their own health, and we are fortunate to live in a time where information is everywhere.