When my alarm goes off at 6:30, I turn onto my side, trying not to strain my already taxed core muscles since I’m 32 weeks pregnant. Carefully, I push myself up to sit, then make my way down the stairs, gripping the handrail to avoid waking my two toddlers. Those quiet moments alone? Absolutely precious.
After letting the dog outside and feeding him—yes, even when the kids are asleep, there’s still a furry one to tend to—I settle into my desk chair with a cup of coffee, some water, and toast. I take a moment to glance at the calendar: just two more weeks until my mom arrives to help with the kids. Honestly, handling a 2.5-year-old and a 15-month-old while pregnant feels like a sport. Heavy lifting is an understatement.
Beside my calendar, I have the ultrasound photos from my recent scan tacked up. A silent wish crosses my mind that my husband, away on deployment, will be back in time for baby number three.
Next, I take one of my pink pills—my SSRI, which has been a part of my morning routine for nearly a decade. I mentally prepare myself for the day ahead.
As I head back upstairs to get the kids, my heart races when I learn about the FDA’s recent panel discussing antidepressant use during pregnancy.
For mothers, it’s no surprise that perinatal women often deal with significant mental health issues. The reality is, medical organizations like the AHA and APA agree that disorders like depression and anxiety are major contributors to complications during pregnancy. They affect about one in five women.
Unfortunately, these important points were largely ignored during the panel’s discussion on SSRIs. With someone like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is known for his views on antidepressants, overseeing things, the outcome was sadly predictable.
The panel mainly featured academics, yet only one member actively treats pregnant patients. They seemed to amplify the risks of antidepressants while downplaying the consequences of untreated mental health issues for both mothers and their children. There were claims linking antidepressant use to cognitive disorders in children, but the latest evidence doesn’t really back this up.
In fact, one panelist questioned whether antidepressants were effective at all, contradicting existing research. Another dismissed the existence of depression in perinatal women, suggesting that it was merely a heightened emotional state. It’s disheartening to see this kind of misinformation spread.
The truth is, of the 14-23% of women diagnosed with mental health disorders, only about 8% take an SSRI during pregnancy. Many women hesitate to take antidepressants despite their potential benefits. In fact, almost half of those who were on SSRIs before getting pregnant choose to stop while expecting.
When I was diagnosed with OCD back in graduate school in 2016, I hit rock bottom. Anxiety made it hard to engage in therapy, which was quite frustrating. I initially resisted medication, but eventually gave it a try, and honestly, it changed my life for the better.
After taking a combination of Zoloft and Abilify for years, I switched to Viibryd, also an SSRI, under my psychiatrist’s guidance. When I became pregnant in 2022, all three doctors I consulted agreed it was best for both me and my baby to continue my medication, given the minimal risks. We even scheduled a fetal echocardiogram to monitor for any potential heart issues.
I welcomed a healthy baby girl in October 2022, but soon found myself facing postpartum depression and anxiety, leading me to adjust my dosage with my psychiatrist’s support.
When I unexpectedly became pregnant again ten months later, I didn’t think twice about staying on my medication. Now, as I approach the arrival of my third child in three years, quitting my SSRI isn’t even a thought.
The panel failed to acknowledge the growing distrust of medicines—something that predates the MAHA movement but is particularly palpable among women. This connection between medical skepticism and the wellness industry has been thoroughly documented. It’s troubling that the FDA’s panel may exacerbate fears among those already susceptible to misinformation.
Ironically, some panelists professed a desire for better communication and transparency regarding antidepressant risks during pregnancy. Yet, none of the referenced studies were found on the FDA’s website. The discourse felt one-sided, framing options in a black-and-white manner reminiscent of pseudoscience.
Only one panelist, Dr. Kay Roussos-Ross, highlighted the benefits of antidepressants for pregnant women, pointing out that suicide is a leading cause of maternal death and that SSRIs are critical tools in countering this urgent issue.
Antidepressants aren’t right for everyone, and they aren’t the sole solution for mental health struggles. Nevertheless, they are often the first line of defense and can amplify the effectiveness of other treatments.
Taking my SSRI makes me a better mom. My children, including the one I’m carrying, benefit from having a mom who can manage her anxiety and not spiral into despair.
Even though it’s not a miracle drug, my SSRI helps me handle the myriad responsibilities that come from being a working parent and military spouse effectively.
The risks related to my medication seem minor compared to the dangers of leaving maternal mental health issues untreated, which include preterm birth and possible complications for both mother and baby.
During the panel, Roussos-Ross stressed the need to balance the mental health of both mother and child, arguing that neither should take precedence over the other. It was striking how many “experts” overlooked the mother’s well-being, reinforcing the outdated belief that mothers shouldn’t prioritize their own needs, a notion entrenched deeply in our society.
With less than 16% of women facing maternal depression receiving treatment due to stigma and lack of awareness, mothers need accurate and current information. They deserve to know that choosing to take an SSRI doesn’t equate to being a bad parent.
I’m thankful I had the option to continue my SSRI through my pregnancies, and I’m concerned that the FDA’s recent panel could further restrict women’s choices when they’re already facing so many challenges.
Women like me matter. If we need antidepressants to maintain our health and care for our children, then we absolutely should have access to them, free from judgment.
