SSRI's During Pregnancy: Do They Really Hurt the Babies?

Background: There have been reports that maternal use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in late pregnancy is associated with neonatal complications, in particular respiratory distress. Given the sparse data available, and the lack of clinical trials assessing efficacy and safety of the use of SSRIs in pregnant women, we conducted a review of the birth records of children born to mothers who were patients at a tertiary care reproductive mental health clinic. Methods: Data were abstracted from both maternal and infant hospital charts. Outcomes of neonates whose mothers used SSRIs in late pregnancy…