https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 04 May 2026 21:31:20 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antidepressants-taken-during-pregnancy-increase-risk-of-autism-by-87-percent#post-2389525 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 14:59:44 +0000 MrsSCB 2389525@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@IRunForFun: @Mrs.KMM: To be fair, he mentions that in the study so at least he's not trying to hide it. But still...that combined with the previous studies that did not show a correlation, including one with a much larger sample size, makes me suspicious! At the very least, way too soon to draw any serious conclusions.</p> <p>@mrbee: Yeah, NYT didn't do too badly, but some places I've seen literally say, "Use of depression medication increases risk of autism." I think that's just irresponsible! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antidepressants-taken-during-pregnancy-increase-risk-of-autism-by-87-percent#post-2389410 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 13:52:34 +0000 mrbee 2389410@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsSCB:Yah agree on the headline... talk about clickbait!</p> <p>Regarding association versus causation, I thought the Times article handled that issue pretty well... the published interview in the other outlet was disappointing to me though, because all they did was interview one person and then slap a huge scary headline on it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antidepressants-taken-during-pregnancy-increase-risk-of-autism-by-87-percent#post-2389393 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 13:39:17 +0000 Mrs.KMM 2389393@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsSCB: Yeah that isn't a conflict of interest or anything.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antidepressants-taken-during-pregnancy-increase-risk-of-autism-by-87-percent#post-2389373 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 13:26:26 +0000 IRunForFun 2389373@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsSCB: Wow I actually hadn't seen that, but um yeah, I think there'd be a bit of a conflict of interest! I mean if the author could stand to profit from finding another reason antidepressants could be harmful... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antidepressants-taken-during-pregnancy-increase-risk-of-autism-by-87-percent#post-2389201 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 11:57:36 +0000 Autumnmama79 2389201@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Gosh this is a difficult one. I know from my own personal experience and how cautious I am about what I put in my body while pregnant (and when I'm not pregnant for that matter) in terms of medicines and foods and chemicals, etc. However, my heart goes out to pregnant women who are dealing with serious depression and have a need for these antidepressants. To see a headline like this must be really difficult. Hugs to all those mamas. :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antidepressants-taken-during-pregnancy-increase-risk-of-autism-by-87-percent#post-2389085 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 10:43:56 +0000 MrsSCB 2389085@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@IRunForFun: Sounds like controlling for other factors was difficult. I read this in the NY Times: "no matter how carefully researchers aim to evaluate each risk factor, it’s often extremely difficult to tease them apart — particularly in this case in which autism spectrum disorder and depression share some of the same environmental and genetic risk factors." </p> <p>Reading more details this morning is making me more frustrated with the coverage. Even the study author cautioned against jumping to conclusions saying "we measured an association, it's not a cause." Of course that's buried two-thirds of the way into articles. Having previously worked in news, I can only imagine what led to the headlines. "Well, the possibility is still less than two percent, that doesn't sound very impressive or clickable. Hey, what if we say 87 percent increase?" :meh:</p> <p>ETA: Wait. Maybe everyone else has already seen this, but I just read the study author "was a consultant for plaintiffs in the litigation involving antidepressants and birth defects." So that means he could have a financial interest in the findings. Hmmm... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antidepressants-taken-during-pregnancy-increase-risk-of-autism-by-87-percent#post-2388977 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 09:40:03 +0000 catomd00 2388977@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ms.line: agreed! The study results aren't all that impressive but the headline is. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antidepressants-taken-during-pregnancy-increase-risk-of-autism-by-87-percent#post-2388938 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 09:24:34 +0000 sorrycharlie 2388938@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ms.line: that was one thing the psychiatrist said - she was like, honestly, the effects of a minimal dose of lexapro (I started on 10 mg) are far less than the effects of a constantly stressed, anxious and depressed mother with stress hormones bombarding the baby. really made me think!</p> <p>@Mrs. Oatmeal: I thought the same exact thing re: vaccines. I hate sensational headlines that are detrimental to the article. clickbait, or whatever the word is? lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antidepressants-taken-during-pregnancy-increase-risk-of-autism-by-87-percent#post-2388870 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 08:46:55 +0000 Mrs. Oatmeal 2388870@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sorrycharlie: and others: exactly. I think those numbers sound totally skewed based on the headlines, and I would be in a much different place if I hadn't stayed on my pills through both pregnancies. The article itself makes a lot more sense, but how many women would see that headline at a quick glance, and be nervous about getting help? We don't want antidepressants to become the new vaccinations (in regards to 'causing' autism). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antidepressants-taken-during-pregnancy-increase-risk-of-autism-by-87-percent#post-2388841 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 08:17:57 +0000 ms.line 2388841@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sorrycharlie: I agree, it's hard enough to get healthy people to exercise and attend regular doctor visits, let alone people who are depressed and anxious (and pregnant!). </p> <p>Following on your point about the detrimental effects of headlines like this, I actually thought the NYT article was pretty good - it notes:</p> <p>"Taking antidepressants, on the other hand, is an established treatment for very real psychiatric conditions, and suggesting that the medications are dangerous to fetuses — before all the observational evidence is in — could have disastrous results.</p> <p>'I have seen people terminate pregnancies because they’re so psychiatrically ill and they’re afraid to be treated because they’re afraid that their baby is going to be exposed to a psychotropic agent,' Dr. Yonkers said.</p> <p>What is more, 'untreated maternal depression is associated with a host of other complications,' wrote Bryan H. King, M.D., professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington and the director of the Seattle Children’s Autism Center, in an editorial that accompanies this new study. Research has found these complications to include preterm birth, an increased risk of asthma in children and elevated cortisol levels in babies, which may have lifelong effects on those children’s brains." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antidepressants-taken-during-pregnancy-increase-risk-of-autism-by-87-percent#post-2388819 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 08:04:43 +0000 sorrycharlie 2388819@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LovelyPlum: I agree - I was so far down I wasn't leaving the house. You couldn't have gotten me to exercise or meditate for $1000. I think most OBs won't prescribe anti depressants for those who don't truly need them - I had to consult my OB, get a referral to my maternity hospital's behavioral health department, have a very long interview and consult with a psychiatrist and then we discussed extensively types of meds and risks. I also had to go monthly during my pregnancy to meet with that psychiatrist and postpartum as well.</p> <p>I worry that articles like this are only detrimental. There may be a risk factor but isn't there in anything? I worry about women who are debating whether or not to seek help - like I was - choosing not to for fear of autism and things becoming way worse. I was terrified to go on Lexapro while nursing and then again pregnant but my marriage was falling apart, I was a hermit and my 1 year old was suffering. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antidepressants-taken-during-pregnancy-increase-risk-of-autism-by-87-percent#post-2388804 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 07:43:24 +0000 LovelyPlum 2388804@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: fair! I like that it raised the possibility of alternatives. Exercise and psychotherapy ARE good alternatives for some people, but for some, they're not enough. A rational, informed discussion is great, but I don't think throwing around numbers like 80% add to it at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antidepressants-taken-during-pregnancy-increase-risk-of-autism-by-87-percent#post-2388726 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 00:58:04 +0000 mrbee 2388726@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>&lt;&lt; Stories like this make me so angry. They say, "such-and-such (taking anti-depressants, turning your less-than-two year old FF, not breastfeeding) increases the risk of (insert scary thing here) by such and such percent (insert huge number here)," when really, it's from a really small percent to a little bit bigger but still small percent. It doesn't serve to make anyone more informed. It just instills fear and makes people feel guilty for their choices. &gt;&gt;</p> <p>@LovelyPlum: I agree that the risk is relatively low!</p> <p>But I thought the interviews raised a good point about different severity of depression, and different treatment options: "Indeed, 80-85 percent of depressed pregnant women are mildly to moderately depressed; exercise and psychotherapy have been shown to be efficacious to treat depression in this sub-group."</p> <p>Those nuances didn't come across in the headlines... but I thought they were useful findings! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antidepressants-taken-during-pregnancy-increase-risk-of-autism-by-87-percent#post-2388719 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 00:36:09 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2388719@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LovelyPlum: Thank you for that. I didn't take antidepressants but took a HUGE amount of antibiotics. I could have died, but the way I see it so could someone with any other illness that their doctor thinks they need treatment for... Damage from said illness and reducing the chance of recurrence is why I'm not bfing too... mommy guilt for all! (Tbh I don't feel guilty but this reminds me of some of the bf stuff floating around there...) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antidepressants-taken-during-pregnancy-increase-risk-of-autism-by-87-percent#post-2388711 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 00:27:17 +0000 anonysquire 2388711@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd rather have an autistic child than kill myself. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antidepressants-taken-during-pregnancy-increase-risk-of-autism-by-87-percent#post-2388695 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 23:53:51 +0000 IRunForFun 2388695@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow talk about a sensationalistic headline. </p> <p>If I were to take this study alone into account, I would have to forgo having biological children, because taking an SSRI is the difference between me being unable to function (eat, sleep, work, etc) and me being a normal person (who works, goes to school, exercises, has positive relationships, etc.) </p> <p>If this is valid I'll still take a less than 2% chance of my child having autism over the chance of never having a child at all. </p> <p>I agree with those who said correlation does NOT equal causation. I haven't had the time to delve deeper into the study yet but I'll be interested to see what other factors they controlled for and the demographics. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antidepressants-taken-during-pregnancy-increase-risk-of-autism-by-87-percent#post-2388640 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 22:57:32 +0000 Ash 2388640@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ladybee: :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antidepressants-taken-during-pregnancy-increase-risk-of-autism-by-87-percent#post-2388610 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 22:34:15 +0000 Mrs.KMM 2388610@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LovelyPlum: THIS! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antidepressants-taken-during-pregnancy-increase-risk-of-autism-by-87-percent#post-2388600 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 22:28:30 +0000 LovelyPlum 2388600@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ladybee: dude. I tried to wean off of my anti-depressants at 20 weeks, and it was an EPIC. FAILURE. My doctor said to me: "If you have diabetes, would you take medicine for that? That is an illness, like depression is. You must treat Mama in order to have a healthy baby." And that was that. It's hard enough to be pregnant and depressed. No one needs the added guilt.</p> <p>Stories like this make me so angry. They say, "such-and-such (taking anti-depressants, turning your less-than-two year old FF, not breastfeeding) increases the risk of (insert scary thing here) by such and such percent (insert huge number here)," when really, it's from a really small percent to a little bit bigger but still small percent. It doesn't serve to make anyone more informed. It just instills fear and makes people feel guilty for their choices. </p> <p>Depression is an illness, a serious one. And women (and men, and children) with depression need treatment options available to them. Yes, there are risks, and we must be informed of them. But at the end of the day, denying a woman treatment because she is carrying a baby, who could very well by harmed by her inaction, is ridiculous. Make the drugs as safe as possible for Mama and baby, but for goodness sake, do not guilt women into not seeking help!!!</p> <p>/rant. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antidepressants-taken-during-pregnancy-increase-risk-of-autism-by-87-percent#post-2388596 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 22:23:49 +0000 Mamasig 2388596@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Healthy mama - physically and mentally - is what is most important. Depression/anxiety is a disease. It should be treated as such. Therefore, if medication is needed, use it. I wouldn't not use my asthma medicine if I needed it or insulin if I needed it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antidepressants-taken-during-pregnancy-increase-risk-of-autism-by-87-percent#post-2388595 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 22:22:18 +0000 littlejoy 2388595@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's a shitty headline!!! So shitty, because it's making it sound like if you take antidepressants, you have an 87% chance of having a child with autism. I imagine most doctors won't take this study into consideration when prescribing ... A happy/mentally stable mother is so important, and I am so thankful these medications exist for women who need them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antidepressants-taken-during-pregnancy-increase-risk-of-autism-by-87-percent#post-2388569 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 22:03:46 +0000 mamabolt 2388569@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ladybee: hugs. I've told you before I'm on Zoloft too and this study definitely stressed me out today, but I trust my mental health team in helping make the best decisions for my family including the child I already have. You are doing the same. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antidepressants-taken-during-pregnancy-increase-risk-of-autism-by-87-percent#post-2388550 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 21:49:48 +0000 MrsSCB 2388550@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ladybee: I understand, depression is a serious problem in my family. You are doing what's best for you and the baby &lt;3 and FWIW, out of 145,000 children studied only 31 had autism, and not all of those mothers took antidepressants. Sounds a lot less dramatic that way... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antidepressants-taken-during-pregnancy-increase-risk-of-autism-by-87-percent#post-2388548 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 21:48:14 +0000 sorrycharlie 2388548@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ladybee: Hugs&lt;3 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antidepressants-taken-during-pregnancy-increase-risk-of-autism-by-87-percent#post-2388533 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 21:36:04 +0000 ladybee 2388533@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ms.line: @MrsSCB: Thank you both. I am on Zoloft right now and have been since 16 weeks. Seeing this made me feel horrible but having a suicidal mother wasn't good for me, my son or this baby either. </p> <p>I'm also a special education teacher who has taught children with autism for 7 years. I'm kind of thinking bull on this after knowing all the parents of students I have taught. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antidepressants-taken-during-pregnancy-increase-risk-of-autism-by-87-percent#post-2388529 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 21:31:24 +0000 MrsSCB 2388529@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ms.line: completely agree with the "correlation does not equal causation" thing. For example, the connection could be between depression and autism. What if mothers who have depression are more likely to have children with autism? It may not be about the medication at all and I think it could be dangerous to jump to conclusions too early. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antidepressants-taken-during-pregnancy-increase-risk-of-autism-by-87-percent#post-2388527 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 21:27:48 +0000 ms.line 2388527@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Correlation does not equal causation. And at any rate, it's not "safe" to have a non-functional or self-harming mama, either. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antidepressants-taken-during-pregnancy-increase-risk-of-autism-by-87-percent#post-2388519 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 21:24:39 +0000 sorrycharlie 2388519@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well I suppose I'll be the odd one out, but had I not taken Lexapro during my last pregnancy I might be in a very different - and dire - place right now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antidepressants-taken-during-pregnancy-increase-risk-of-autism-by-87-percent#post-2388511 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 21:20:23 +0000 Truth Bombs 2388511@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My doc wanted me on antidepressants with my first because my anxiety was out of control. This study makes me very happy I decided to pass. And I say this as someone who has used antidepressants in the past and I know how valuable they can be. I just didn't feel comfortable with using them while pregnant. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antidepressants-taken-during-pregnancy-increase-risk-of-autism-by-87-percent#post-2388507 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 21:19:45 +0000 hilsy85 2388507@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The headline sounds scary but the context provided by the Times is what's important here, I think. </p>