Should Pregnant Women Risk Mood Meds?

 

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"I don't think there's some smoking gun out there that's been hidden," Nonacs said, adding that misinformation, fear and personal preference not to use drugs may be factors in deciding whether to use antidepressants. "It's a reasonable fear of harming kids which probably everybody has... that's gone awry."

Depression Can Lead to Lost Time With Children

And Sevlie pointed out that her experience with untreated depression during pregnancy as well as the eight months of post-partum depression she endured -- for which she did complete a course of treatment -- led to feeling alienated from her daughter.

"I feel like I lost that first year of her life," Sevlie said. "I don't remember when her teeth came in or when she sat up... I remember feeling I wasn't the mom I was supposed to be."

Over the course of her pregnancy and subsequent treatment for post-partum depression, Sevlie said her obstetrician and psychiatrist may have shared her medical charts but that neither asked what the other was advising her to do.

"I would have liked to know more of my options," Sevlie said. "Not just medications but outlets for depression and pregnancy support."

Experts stressed that some facets of the report highlight the need for more research on the risks of both depression and antidepressant treatment. But unified recommendations from both obstetricians psychiatrists should assist in more effective treatment for pregnant women with depression.

ABC News' Courtney Hutchison contributed to this report.