I had prenatal depression when I was expecting my first daughter in 2012 . Around that time, I wrote a series on prenatal depression for Slate in which I discussed the difficult decision to go back on antidepressants at the end of my first trimester. “Untreated depression and anxiety has profound effects on Mom, the baby and the whole family.” Among the risks of untreated prenatal depression are pre-term birth and low birth weight, while among the risks of using S.S.R.I.s during pregnancy are also … pre-term birth and low birth weight. But today is World Maternal Mental Health Day, so it makes sense to talk frankly about what I experienced. As many as one in five women will experience perinatal mood and anxiety disorders; including prenatal and postpartum anxiety, and depression and psychosis.

Source: International New York Times April 30, 2019 20:15 UTC