News Tagged ‘pregnancy

Parents ask GSK: ‘How many more babies will suffer?’

Manie’s parents want answers. Their beautiful son was born with transposition of the greater arteries and endured surgeries children should never have to experience. His parents blame GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), makers of the antidepressant Paxil.

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Depressed, black women at higher risk of delivering prematurely

depressed black woman 150x150 Depressed, black women at higher risk of delivering prematurelyWomen who experience symptoms of depression prior to becoming pregnant have an increased risk of preterm birth, but black women who are depressed are at greater risk of delivering a preterm baby than white women, according to a report in the Journal of Women’s Health.

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Folic acid may help reduce risk of heart defects in newborns

caring health folicacid 150x150 Folic acid may help reduce risk of heart defects in newbornsThe B vitamin folic acid has long been touted for its ability to reduce the occurrence of neural tube birth defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly when taken by the mother before and during . Now it is being credited for possibly reducing babies’ risk for , according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

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Australian group to screen expectant mothers for postpartum depression

postpartumdepression 150x150 Australian group to screen expectant mothers for postpartum depressionDepression initiative BeyondBlue is working in conjunction with the Australian government to push routine testing for expectant mothers to gauge their risk for suffering from postpartum depression, according to TheAge.com.au.

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Coming off antidepressants can take months of effort

hand holding pills1 150x150 Coming off antidepressants can take months of effortNews of frustrating and sometimes serious side effects to can be enough to motivate one to wean oneself off the medication. New reports show SSRIs have been linked to suicidal thoughts, a Parkinsons-like condition known as Tardive Dyskinesia, and serious birth defects in infants born to women who took SSRIs during . But coming off is not always easy and if done improperly can cause uncomfortable withdrawal effects, also known as SSRI discontinuation syndrome.

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Pre-pregnancy checklist for women considering pregnancy

pregnant woman 150x150 Pre pregnancy checklist for women considering pregnancyThere are several factors a woman should consider before trying to conceive, according to the March of Dimes, a voluntary health organization whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality.

One of the most important is to see your health care provider before getting pregnant so that she can evaluate your health and identify any health or lifestyle risks that may affect your .

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Study: antidepressants, depression linked to preterm birth

preemie baby 150x150 Study: antidepressants, depression linked to preterm birthWomen who are depressed and women who take during may face a greater risk of delivering their baby prematurely, according to a recent study in the American Journal of Psychiatry and cited in Health magazine.

For the study, researchers observed a group of 300 pregnant women, most of whom did not suffer from depression but some either had a history of depression or reported becoming depressed during . Of those observed, some took medication to treat their depression either for part of their or for the entire ; some did not take medication and remained depressed; and some did not take medication and reported being depressed for only part of their .

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Mothers-to-be should weigh risks of antidepressants during pregnancy

depression 150x150 Mothers to be should weigh risks of antidepressants during pregnancyYears ago, it was thought that protected women from depression, but researchers have since learned that being pregnant and recent childbirth may actually contribute to a woman’s depression, filling her with a range of emotions that make dealing with the symptoms of the condition even more difficult. According to the Mayo Clinic, an estimated 10 percent of women experience depression during .

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Postpartum depression puts mother, baby at risk

postpartumdepression 150x150 Postpartum depression puts mother, baby at riskWomen who have suffered from depression are more likely than women who have never suffered from the disorder to experience postpartum depression, according to the March of Dimes. Postpartum depression is a serious medical condition that goes beyond the so-called “baby blues.” Medical experts believe that a woman’s changing hormones following delivery may cause the disorder.

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Child is helpless victim of mother’s use of Paxil during pregnancy

preemie baby 150x150 Child is helpless victim of mothers use of Paxil during pregnancyChristine K’s newborn baby spent her first four days of life hooked up to tubes in an incubator at a hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit, a helpless victim of her mother’s longtime use of prior to and for the first six months of her .

Christine K had been prescribed a combination of Paxil, Risperdal and Depakote five years prior to becoming pregnant. While pregnant she read that could be harmful to her unborn baby. She asked her doctor take her off the meds, but he insisted she stay on them.

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