Notes on treatment of depression during pregnancy

Depression is now a major problem of modern society. The treatment of depression during pregnancy requires great consideration between the benefits and risks to the health of the mother and baby.

Depression during pregnancy has many bad consequences such as pregnant women not being able to participate in daily life.

• Do not take care of yourself and have access to monitoring and medical care services during pregnancy.
• Inadequate eating.
• Use of tobacco and alcohol as well as other stimulants.
• The most dangerous risk is that the pregnant woman can commit suicide.
• Depression during pregnancy can affect the development of the fetus: causes miscarriage, premature calving and affects the personality of the post-baby and behaviors as the child grows up.
• Post-birth depression is more common in women with depression during pregnancy, which leads to inadequate care for babies, the link between the affected mother and child is also

Treatment of depression in pregnant women requires the coordination of an obstetrician, internal medicine, psychiatrist and a family doctor. Women will be consulted about the risks of depression affecting the health of both mother and child, treatments will be applied.

First, pregnant women will be advised and apply measures to quit alcohol, tobacco, eliminate harmful habits, regulate lifestyle and behavior before deciding on taking antidepressants. For mild depressive bodies, pregnant women can simply need treatment by eliminating risk factors and psycho therapy, regulating behavior, lifestyle.

When taking antidepressants, some undesirable effects have been reported so when taking antidepressants for pregnant women must necessarily be carefully considered by a specialist as well as the patient's treatment response to choose the optimal option.

There are many studies that show that taking antidepressants in a pregnant mother can have a harmful effect on a post-baby, but deciding whether to continue taking antidepressants during pregnancy is also a major challenge for doctors. Depression medications during pregnancy can cause a number of side effects on the fetus:

• Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS): in a new study on pregnant women taking antidepressants: about a third of babies born with NAS symptoms include: tremors, sleep disorders, gastrointestinal problems and increased muscle muscle movements.
• Continuous pulmonary arterial hypertension in babies: antidepressants can cause pulmonary artery hypertension in babies that prevent the baby from breathing on his own, but must rely on the support of the machine, if severe the child can die.
• Premature birth: studies show that taking the drug after the first 3 months can lead to gestational hypertension, an increased risk of miscarriage and premature birth, so babies born before 37 weeks are more likely to suffer health problems.
• Autism spectrum disorders: the use of SSRI group antidepressants such as Lexapro increases the risk of autism spectrum disorders, reducing a child's ability to interact with people.
• Behavior-related problems in newborns: taking Lexapro and other antidepressants of the SSRI group during pregnancy can cause behavior syndrome in babies with symptoms such as difficulty feeding, constant crying, restlessness, shortness of breath and convulsions.
• Cleft palate: one of the common birth defects that the baby may experience if the mother took depressive medication during pregnancy. Cleft palate occurs when the tissues of the fetal lips or palate do not develop along with the development of pregnancy. Children with cleft palate often do not have enough tissue in their mouths, and this tissue does not come together to form the palate. This condition affects the development of the face and aesthetics.
• Umbilical hernia: recently many studies have in explained that taking depression pills during pregnancy can increase the risk of umbilical hernia in babies. Umbilical hernia is a condition where part of the intestine is exposed to the navel and causes the navel to swell, which easily leads to damage to the abdominal cavity, muscles and infections.

Taking depressive medication during pregnancy can cause birth defects in the child. Therefore, before taking the drug the doctor will clearly tell the pregnant woman the possible risks. A healthy diet with the right supplements and an active lifestyle can also help prevent depression.

The Psychological Clinic – Share99 Times City International Health Hub officially came into operation in April 2019, with the function of outpatient examination, consultation and treatment of psychological and mental health issues. With modern equipment, Share99 Psychological Clinic is currently cooperating with experienced professors and experts:

• MSc. Dr. Nguyen Van Phi has 7 years of experience working as a lecturer in The Department of Psychiatrists – Hanoi Medical University, Psychiatrist at Hanoi Medical University Health Hub and Central Geriatric Health Hub.
• MSc. Dr. Pham Thanh Luan with 5 years of experience in researching and treating diseases in the psychiatric specialties, trained at prestigious universities, specialized practice in the French Republic.
• MSc. Dr. Nguyen Trong Hien has 6 years as a lecturer in The Department of Psychology – Hanoi Medical University and Central Geriatric Health Hub, along with experience in researching and treating mental diseases such as emotional disorders, stress-related disorders and body-form disorders. , developmental disorders in children, adolescents / childbirth periods….

Along with combining the implementation of psychological tests, intensive psychological therapy for diagnosis and treatment, in order to bring the best medical examination and treatment effect.