Antidepressants for Pregnant Moms

Antidepressants for Pregnant Moms Don't Affect Infants' Growth

Infant weight and length over first year aren’t impacted by antidepressant exposure

March 20, 2013 | by Marla Paul

CHICAGO --- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants taken by a woman during pregnancy do not impact her infant’s growth over the first year, reports a new study from a Northwestern Medicine scientist.
There had been concern that antidepressant treatment during pregnancy reduced growth during the first year. Previous data suggested depression during pregnancy also could diminish infant growth.
But the new study showed infants born to mothers who took SSRIs during pregnancy had a similar weight, length and head circumference over the first year as infants born to non-depressed women who did not take antidepressants. The infants whose mothers took antidepressants were shorter at birth, but the difference disappeared by two weeks of age.
In addition, growth measurements for the infants of depressed women who did not take SSRIs were similar to the general population.
Antidepressant Use by mothers and their babies