A new study suggests that women who take antidepressants during pregnancy have fewer delivery complications.

This is the first study of its kind to report any positive effects from maternal use of antidepressants, which part of a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

Mothers were less likely to have a preterm birth and were also less likely to deliver by Cesarean section, the study reports.

While the moms may have fewer complications during delivery, the benefits did not extend to their children. The study also suggests that babies born to women who are undergoing antidepressant drug therapy also may have a higher risk of problems, such as breathing issues.

These findings are in line with previous studies that linked infants’ difficulties or birth defects to antidepressant use.

SSRI Study Statistics

The study was conducted in Finland and looked at births in the country over a fourteen year span. Of the 845,000 women studied, 13,000 of the women had filled at least one prescription for an SSRI antidepressant.

SSRI medications work on the specific neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinepherine in the brain. Common SSRI medications include Celexa (citalopram), Lexapro (escitalopram), Prozac (fluoxetine), Luvox (fluvoxamine), Paxil (paroxetine) and Zoloft (sertaline).

For women taking SSRI antidepressants during pregnancy as compared to those with a diagnosed mental disorder who did not take SSRIs, the following was reported:

• They were 16 percent less likely to have a preterm birth
• They were nearly 50 percent less likely to have a very preterm birth
• Cesarean rates were lower, hovering at  17 percent (versus 26.5 percent for women not taking SSRIs)
• Being born small for gestational age was not affected

However, the study did report a risk in ALL neonatal issues, including breathing problems. These issues often led to longer hospital stays for the newborns.

Various Problems and Birth Defects Linked to SSRIs

Previous studies have shown a number of concerning issues facing babies who were born to mothers taking antidepressant drugs while they were in the womb. Such issues include:

• Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN)- This condition affects the baby’s heart an lungs and may require a mechanical ventilator to assist babies in breathing outside the womb.
• Heart defects- Septal defects, also known as hole in the heart, as well as ventricular defects are the most common congenital heart defects
• Anacephaly- In this condition, a large part of the brain of the infant is missing, and this often leads to early death.
• Craniostynosis- This condition results when the bones of the skill close prematurely.
• Omphalocele- An omphalocele is a defect in the abdominal wall where the intestines, liver and other organs protrude outside of the abdomen and through the umbilical cord.
• Cleft Palate/Cleft Lip- Cleft lip and palate occurs when the bones to not properly form together in the mouth, leaving an opening in the upper mouth/lip extending to the nose.
• Respiratory Distress- Respiratory distress includes any type of breathing difficulty.
• Autism- A 2011 study linked maternal antidepressant use in the first trimester with about a 3 percent risk factor for developing autism.

Lawsuit Information for SSRI Birth Defects

If your baby was born with birth defects or other problems and you were taking SSRI antidepressant medication, you may have a legal claim. Our compassionate attorneys are available to guide you on understanding your legal rights. Consultations are complimentary and are confidential.