Depression During Pregnancy

Words: 340
Pages: 2

The risk of depression during pregnancy affects 1 in 5 women, in which most of the cases are untreated. Untreated depression during pregnancy can lead to several complications and numerous hospital visits. In order to prevent depression during pregnancy, it is important to regularly follow antidepressant therapies and to increase doses in late pregnancy. Many women discontinue the therapy because they fear the antidepressants can affect their child’s health. A study shows that antidepressants can lead to cardiac malformation, specifically ventricular septal defect (hole in the heart). This causes the blood to flow from the left side of the heart to the right, allowing the oxygen-rich blood to reach the lungs instead of exiting the body, making