{"id":5218,"date":"2026-08-08T03:14:29","date_gmt":"2026-08-08T03:14:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lumeamara.online\/?p=5218"},"modified":"2026-08-08T03:14:30","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T03:14:30","slug":"are-antidepressants-safe-during-pregnancy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lumeamara.online\/?p=5218","title":{"rendered":"Are antidepressants safe during pregnancy?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pregnancy<\/a> can bring excitement and joy, but it can also increase anxiety, depression and emotional stress<\/p>\n

To make matters seemingly more overwhelming, women taking antidepressants \u2013 or those experiencing symptoms for the first time \u2013 might question if it\u2019s safe to take medication during pregnancy<\/p>\n

One of the most important things for anyone expecting a baby should know is this: Untreated mental health<\/a> conditions can pose serious risks for both moms and babies<\/p>\n

Jessica Sedevie, M.D., is a specialist in obstetrics and gynecology at Sanford Health in Bismarck, North Dakota<\/p>\n

\u201cMental health is part of prenatal health,\u201d Dr. Sedevie told Sanford Health News<\/a>. \u201cTreating the entire pregnant individual is very important.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hailey Pomonis, DNP, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, said anxiety and depression during pregnancy are more common than many people realize<\/p>\n

\u201cPregnancy is not always rainbows and butterflies,\u201d Pomonis said. \u201cPeople are carrying heavy things in their lives, and we need to support them and not make them feel guilty for something they take so they can be a better mom.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pomonis treats a variety of conditions, including depression, anxiety, insomnia and mood disorders<\/p>\n

What are antidepressants?<\/h2>\n

Antidepressants are medications used to treat a variety of psychiatric conditions by helping regulate neurotransmitters in the brain that are involved in mood, anxiety, motivation, and emotional processing. They are commonly prescribed for depression, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other mental health conditions<\/p>\n

SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, are the most prescribed medications during pregnancy<\/p>\n

Pomonis said sometimes we need a little help from an SSRI to regulate serotonin<\/p>\n

\u201cFor example, Zoloft is the oldest and most studied medication out there,\u201d she said<\/p>\n

But there are so many SSRIs on the market today. Talk to your provider to find a medication that\u2019s right for you. Find a mental health specialist at Sanford Health<\/p>\n

\u201cThe best medication for a pregnant or breastfeeding mom is the one that keeps her well,\u201d Pomonis added<\/p>\n

Why it\u2019s risky to stop medications<\/h2>\n

A big misconception they see in the clinic is the belief that women should stop their medications as soon as they become pregnant<\/p>\n

Both Dr. Sedevie and Pomonis encourage women to talk with their healthcare providers before making any changes to their medication, ideally before pregnancy if possible<\/p>\n

\u201cPregnancy is not the time to discontinue anxiety and depression medication,\u201d Dr. Sedevie said<\/p>\n

Untreated anxiety and depression during pregnancy have been linked to a 56% increased risk of preterm birth and 96% chance for low birth weight and preeclampsia<\/p>\n

\u201cMy patients with untreated mental health diagnoses are also like less likely to engage in their care, show up to visits, and so they aren\u2019t getting the same routine screening,\u201d Dr. Sedevie said<\/p>\n

Signs it\u2019s time to seek help<\/h2>\n

If anxiety or depression starts interfering with daily life or sleep, it\u2019s time to get help<\/p>\n

\u201cI always start off by asking my patients: how does this affect your daily life? Is your anxiety affecting you from going to work? Is it affecting how you\u2019re eating? Is it affecting relationships?\u201d Pomonis said<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd if you\u2019re dealing with it for long periods of time, every single day, then it\u2019s time to make some adjustments.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other warning signs include:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Persistent sadness<\/li>\n
  • Panic attacks<\/li>\n
  • Withdrawing from loved ones<\/li>\n
  • Intrusive or distressing thoughts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Treatment may include therapy, medication, or a combination of both<\/p>\n

    \u201cOne or the other is great but research shows therapy in combination with medication management will get you better quicker,\u201d Pomonis said<\/p>\n

    Having a supportive circle is important<\/h2>\n

    Whether prenatal or postpartum, support systems matter<\/p>\n

    \u201cI think validation is key \u2013 for any moms experiencing a type of psychiatric illness,\u201d Pomonis said<\/p>\n

    For example, try saying, \u201cI\u2019m sorry you\u2019re feeling this way. This has to be so uncomfortable for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cValidating them, even though maybe you don\u2019t agree with something they are or are not doing. Just supporting them and asking, \u2018What do you need?\u2019\u201d Pomonis added<\/p>\n

    Both women want others to know they\u2019re not alone and should never feel ashamed for seeking help<\/p>\n

    And they recommend talking openly with an OB\/GYN, primary care provider or mental health professional before making any decisions about antidepressants during pregnancy<\/p>\n

    \u201cIn the end, taking care of Mom and Baby is all that matters,\u201d Dr. Sedevie said<\/p>\n

    Learn more<\/h2>\n
      \n
    • Safe medications during pregnancy<\/li>\n
    • Skin care during pregnancy: What to do (and not to do)<\/li>\n
    • Debunking common mental health myths<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Posted In
      \n Behavioral Health, Bismarck, Pregnancy, Women’s<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Pregnancy can bring excitement and joy, but it can also increase anxiety, depression and emotional stress<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5220,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[767,115,99,186],"class_list":["post-5218","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-health-news","tag-antidepressants","tag-during","tag-pregnancy","tag-safe"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lumeamara.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5218","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lumeamara.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lumeamara.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lumeamara.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lumeamara.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5218"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lumeamara.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5218\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5219,"href":"https:\/\/lumeamara.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5218\/revisions\/5219"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lumeamara.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5220"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lumeamara.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5218"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lumeamara.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5218"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lumeamara.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5218"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}