More Depressing News About Depression
April 6, 2006 by kate baggott
Filed under Mental Health
The results are in. According to an article in today’s Toronto Star (and every other major Canadian daily), anti-depressants do bring risks to fetuses that include premature birth, low birth weight, infant seizures and a slightly increased risk of fetal death.
- “The study found that of women on the antidepressants, 19.3 per cent gave birth to pre-term babies, compared with 12 per cent of women not on the drugs. Almost 9 per cent of babies born to women on the drugs were low birth weight, defined as less than 2,500 grams (or 5 1/2 pounds), compared with 5.3 per cent of women not on antidepressants. Fetal death occurred in 1.1 per cent of the mothers on antidepressants compared with 0.4 per cent,” said the Star article.
- Dr. Mark Walker, a high risk OB at The Ottawa Hospital said that depressed women who take antidepressants must talk with their doctors before either stopping the meds or continuing treatment.
- “For any woman I treat on SSRIs, I would review the indication for the medication, her mental status at the time, her mental history, to see if it can be safely stopped. If not, then continue the patient on,” Walker told the interviewer.
- Reassuringly, “the team found no greater risk of birth defects, infection, need for breathing support or death up to one year after birth,” the report stated.
The study brought to mind this heart-wrenching story in Salon, about the issues women on medication to control mental illnesses wrestle with when making the decision when or if to start a family.
You know, I’ve been called a tolerant person, but tolerant is the wrong word. I enjoy people, their uniqueness, their talents and perspectives. I’ve talked to lots of people who apparently have mental illnesses and not even noticed. Either the drugs work really well or my own definition of sanity/normal is rather elastic.
I really think there is too much written about depression, whether pre-natal, post-natal or non-natal. It’s making me depressed. Out of 74 posts, 8 of them, more than 10%, have mentioned depression.
As I have said before pregnancy, birth, babies and children make people happy. But I think the constant bombardment of messages about depression makes it harder for us to enjoy our kids. Sometimes, I think half the global population is depressed and the other half are wondering if they’re depressed.
Do you think I should stop following depression-related stories and focus on child-bearing/rearing issues that get less attention in this blog, or should I keep posting about depression to reduce the stigma that is often associated with mental illnesses no matter how common?
I’ve suffered from depression most of my life, and I understand what you mean about abstaining from posting about depression because sometimes writing about it too much gives it energy – and can make people “feel down.” On the other hand, there are many stories about depression that give hope too. There may be depressing news about depression, and I know there are many inspiring news about the people behind or around the depression. You may not need to remove your focus completely, because it’s important to keep informed and be knowledgeable (part of alleviating the stigma), and look at the courage and hope behind these stories. I have no doubt they are there.
You are right, of course. Postive breakthroughs that help pregnant and nursing mothers will always be posted here.
I have to say I do like the other posts MUCH better, even if they are less’hot’ right now. Actually I too am sort of irritated about how much airtime depression has received.
Overall I think it is good and useful that the information is out there so that depressed people feel more comfortable discussing it and thus hopefully getting help, I guess I would just enjoy reading other stuff here more often!
Gotcha. It’s all about the mothers.
Perhaps keep it in the mix and keep it short and simple. And discuss alternatives to medication, such as exercise and support groups – focus on what can keep new mommies from becoming depressed (a good social network, help from family/friends/partner/hired help if possible, getting out of the house etc.)
I was diagnosed as moderately depressed during pregnancy. I declined anti-depressants and focused on exercise instead. At the time the dr. didn’t approve, but studies have shown that exercise is as effective as anti-depressants for mild to moderate depression. The problem of course is that if you are too depressed or you don’t have the resources to exercise (location, time, good weather, energy etc.) then exercise isn’t going to help. I treated it like a pill – I needed to exercise to get well, so I did it, almost every day. After the baby was born, I exercised by taking a walk, either outdoors or at the mall with a stroller or sling. I’d swim occasionally if my husband could watch the baby. Even now, I try to exercise four times a week.
Exercise keeps me on an even keel too. It really is a mood booster.
Thanks for posting this. I’m so glad I decided to go against the psych and abstain from returning to anti-depressant therapy.
I’ve been feeling really good – wonderful, actually – for most of the past two months. I would not be having this experience if I had allowed myself to be medicated.
As for media (over)exposure, I do tend to perk up when issues that affect me personally are presented, but I also learned years ago that for the most part the media is a bullshit money-making machine so I don’t give it that much of my attention.
I am glad you did without the drugs too. I am glad you can feel all these special things. Watch yourself post partum. Get lots of help, lots of good food, drink enough, nurse and let the baby’s soft head touch your skin. Inhale his scent. I wish you and the little one all the best. I hope he gets here soon.