By Sara Cuccio June 30, 2005
Antenatal depression, which occurs during pregnancy, is often
misdiagnosed as simply a temporary hormonal imbalance causing sadness
-- and therefore not considered a "real" problem -- but is a true mood
disorder. Pregnancy does cause hormone levels to change, which affects
brain chemistry, and can manifest as clinical depression and anxiety.
Though there are risks to taking any medication, especially for
pregnant women, these risks must be weighed against the risks of _not_
taking them (discuss individual treatment plans with your doctor).
Severe problems often result from abrupt discontinuation of
antidepressants that were used before pregnancy, and those who
experience the most severe forms of depression may only find relief in
medications. The poor sleeping, eating, and substance use habits often
caused by untreated depression can in turn harm fetuses, which may
suffer from low birth weight, premature birth, higher heart rates,
developmental problems, and increased vulnerability to depression in
their own lives, most likely due to their altered in utero
environment.
<http://www.acsh.org/factsfears/newsID.580/news_detail.asp>
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<bevthornton@despammed.com> Support: <http://www.planetark.com/>
All wrong doing arises because of mind.
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