Our View on SSRIs During Pregnancy

What's an SSRI?

SSRI stands for Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor. It's a type of antidepressant medication that works by increasing the amount of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that plays a role in regulating mood, emotions, and other bodily functions.

Untreated symptoms of Perinatal Mood Disorders during pregnancy can lead to:

• Preterm birth

• Low birth weight

• Substance use

• Preeclampsia

• Limited engagement with health care

• Reduced self-care

• Impaired attachment with child

• Suicide

As experts in high-risk pregnancies, the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine (SMFM) strongly supports the use of SSRIs to treat depression in pregnancy, as recommended in the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecological (ACOG) Clinical Practice Guidelines.

Depression is a recognized medical condition requiring interventions and treatments. Pregnancy can worsen existing health problems, including psychiatric disorders of depression and anxiety.

Unfortunately, misinformation about depression and its treatment create confusion and doubt among patients and the public, leading unnecessary barriers to care.

As your provider we will...

• Advocate for you: Our advocacy means standing with you, not steering you.
  

• Support you in informed and collaborative decision-making: We will help you understand what current and reliable research says about mood disorders in pregnancy risks and benefits of all treatment options, and the risk of untreated mood disorders in pregnancy.
  

• Support you in whatever treatment decision you choose: We are here to honor the choices that feel right for you.

SSRIs are a safe, evidence-based option for managing perinatal mood disorders. As your provider, we're here to inform, support, and advocate for you—whatever path you choose!