Pregnancy is a time when every choice is amplified, but one of the most common medical decisions – taking antidepressants – the risks are rarely fully disclosed. These drugs are routinely presented as safe and necessary, while alarming scientific evidence about fetal harm is quietly ignored.
What’s missing from the conversation is an honest look at how changes in brain chemistry affect both mother and child during this critical stage of development. Serotonin, the very neurotransmitter that this drug targets, is also a component that determines how the baby’s brain and body are formed in the womb. Interfering with this process has lasting consequences that are too often ignored.
The debate has become more polarized as medical organizations and media outlets have downplayed concerns and viewed antidepressants as the first line of defense against prenatal depression. But the question remains. If science shows ongoing risks to children exposed in the womb, why are these drugs still promoted as the safest choice? The next study provides deeper answers.
Studies have shown that antidepressants during pregnancy are harmful to the developing fetus.
An analysis published by the Brownstone Institute examined how medical institutions and the mainstream media downplayed evidence that antidepressants taken during pregnancy were harmful to developing fetuses.1
Author Peter Gøtzsche, PhD, who co-founded the Cochrane Collaboration, summarized findings from a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) panel in which experts raised warnings about the risks of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Instead of acknowledging these concerns, major medical groups have dismissed the evidence as biased and reassured the public that these drugs are safe.
• Brain development is at risk — Animal studies have shown that fetal exposure to SSRIs disrupts brain development and causes long-term harmful behaviors. These include delayed motor skills, abnormal fear responses, reduced ability to feel pleasure, and vulnerability to depression and anxiety.
Studies in humans have echoed these findings, showing an increased risk of miscarriage, congenital malformations, low birth weight, and persistent pulmonary hypertension. This means that antidepressant use during pregnancy is not just a short-term problem, but has a lasting impact on the child’s development.
• Newborns often exhibit withdrawal symptoms. Studies have also found that babies exposed to SSRIs in the womb often suffer from what doctors call neonatal abstinence syndrome.
In one study, 30% of newborns exposed to this drug had symptoms including agitation, weak crying, decreased muscle tone, feeding difficulties, seizures, and difficulty breathing.2 These problems require many infants to require intensive care, making the first days of life particularly difficult for both mother and child.
• The long-term developmental risks are significant. Studies have shown that prenatal antidepressant exposure is associated with higher rates of childhood attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, and mood disorders later in life.
FDA panelist Jay Gingrich, Ph.D., explained that children exposed to SSRIs in the womb appear normal initially but have a sharp increase in the incidence of depression as they reach adolescence.3 This is consistent with animal studies showing that altering serotonin during fetal development rewires the amygdala, a brain region that regulates fear and mood.
A group of experts has dismissed warnings against antidepressants during pregnancy.
The American Psychiatric Association, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and other medical groups issued statements dismissing the FDA panel’s warning.4 They argued that untreated depression was a real risk during pregnancy and that antidepressants were safe.
However, as Gøtzsche points out, meta-analyses of placebo-controlled trials have shown that the benefits of antidepressants are so small that they lack clinical significance. This means that the claim that “the risks of no treatment are greater than the risks of treatment” is not supported by the evidence.
• Antidepressants interfere with brain and heart development. Serotonin plays a key role in brain development, guiding the growth, connections and function of neurons. By blocking serotonin reuptake, SSRIs alter the way fetal cells use this neurotransmitter during key stages of development.
This confusion helps explain why animal studies continue to find long-lasting changes in brain function and behavior. Simply put, changes in serotonin during pregnancy rewire the baby’s brain in a way that increases the risk of lifelong mental health problems. A study published in Communications Biology found that using SSRIs during pregnancy increases the risk of congenital heart defects in the baby.5
• Antidepressants increase preterm birth — A Kaiser Permanente study of 82,170 pregnant women found that counseling led to an 18% decrease in preterm birth, while antidepressant use increased by 31%.6 The higher the drug dose, the higher the risk. This means that choosing non-pharmacological treatments, such as counseling, can not only avoid these risks but also improve outcomes for both mother and child.
• Conflicts of interest within psychiatry and medicine lead to systematic denial. Gøtzsche explained how conflicts of interest have created an “industry of suspicion” designed to confuse the public.
By flooding the field with biased or poorly designed studies, researchers with financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry create uncertainty and shield antidepressants from scrutiny. This leaves pregnant women misinformed and vulnerable, often believing that these drugs are safe even when substantial evidence suggests otherwise.
• Experts warn of unprecedented risks. At the FDA hearing, Dr. Adam Urato summarized the severity of this problem: “Never in human history has a developing baby, particularly a developing fetal brain, been chemically altered like this and this is happening without real public warning.”7
His statement captures the scale of the problem. The responsibility to question standard medical advice has never been more urgent. Knowing the risks can help you find safer alternatives for your mental health during pregnancy.
Safe ways to support your mental health during pregnancy
Depression during pregnancy is real, and it often feels overwhelming when your body and mind are already working overtime to nurture your new life. In fact, antidepressants do not address the root cause of the problem. Antidepressants interfere with serotonin and interfere with your baby’s development.
Instead of relying on drugs, we recommend taking steps to naturally nourish your body, restore energy, and calm your nervous system. These are not quick fixes, but real solutions that will give you and your children a stronger foundation for health.
1. Give your cells real energy — The brain runs on fuel, and when your cells don’t produce enough energy, everything suffers, including your mood. It is recommended to increase your intake of easily digestible carbohydrates such as fruits and white rice. Most adults need 250 grams of carbohydrates per day, and more if you are active.
Cut out vegetable oils and processed foods high in linoleic acid (LA), which impairs mitochondrial function and depletes energy. Instead, cook with saturated fats like grass-fed butter, ghee, and tallow. When your cells are nourished, your brain works better and your emotional resilience improves.
2. Deficiencies in the Right Nutrition That Affect Your Mood — If you’re depressed, you’re likely lacking key nutrients. Magnesium is one of the most important ingredients. It helps regulate stress and has been shown to have lower levels in people with depression.8 Vitamin B also plays an important role. A lack of B3 causes anxiety, paranoia, or aggression, while a lack of B1 causes irritability, poor sleep, and confusion.9 Add more foods rich in these nutrients or use a high-quality supplement if your diet does not provide enough.
3. Move your body gently. Exercise is a natural antidepressant.10 If you are pregnant, continue low-impact exercise, such as yoga, swimming, or walking outside. These movements increase blood circulation, balance hormones, and release feel-good chemicals in the brain. Think of every step as a small boost to your mental health. Tracking your progress (you can even log the minutes you walk each day) will help you see how far you’ve come and build your confidence to keep going.
4. Spend time outdoors in natural light — Sunlight is free medicine for the mind. Exposing your skin to sunlight produces vitamin D, which has been linked to lower rates of depression. Aim for a range of 60 to 80 ng/mL (150 to 200 nmol/L in Europe) and test your levels regularly to ensure you are in the right range.
Sunlight also has profound effects on mental health beyond vitamin D, including affecting endorphins and mitochondrial energy. If your diet has been high in vegetable oils, avoid midday sunlight now and start with early morning or late afternoon sunlight to prevent skin damage. Over time, your skin will become more elastic if you eliminate harmful vegetable oils from your diet for at least six months. Morning sunlight resets your body clock, making it easier to sleep at night.
5. Prioritizing comfortable sleep and stress relief — Sleep is when your brain resets, and lack of sleep can cause drastic changes in your mood. Get outside within 30 minutes of waking to lock in your circadian rhythm, then create a calming bedtime routine that allows you to fall asleep and stay asleep in complete darkness. Block out blue light in the evening and dim the lights when the sun sets.
To manage stress during the day, practice deep breathing, meditation, or emotional freedom techniques (EFT). These methods calm your nervous system and prevent stress hormones from overwhelming your brain.
By shifting from numbing symptoms with medication to fueling your body, balancing nutrients, moving, and resting, you and your baby will have the strongest chance for a healthy outcome.
If you feel desperate or have suicidal thoughts and live in the United States, call 988, 911, or go to the nearest hospital emergency room. UK and Ireland helpline numbers can be found at TherapyRoute.com. For other countries, search online for “suicide hotline” followed by the name of your country. In times of crisis, it is impossible to make long-term plans for lifestyle changes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Antidepressants During Pregnancy
cue: Are antidepressants safe to use during pregnancy?
no way: no. Evidence shows that antidepressants, especially SSRIs, interfere with fetal brain development and increase the risk of miscarriage, low birth weight, preterm birth, and long-term problems such as ADHD, autism, and depression.
cue: What kinds of problems do babies who are exposed to antidepressants in the womb at birth face?
no way: Newborns often display symptoms of neonatal withdrawal, including agitation, weak muscle tone, poor feeding, seizures, and difficulty breathing. One study found that 30% of infants exposed to SSRIs experienced these symptoms.11
cue: How do serotonin disorders harm fetal development?
no way: Serotonin is essential for guiding how your baby’s brain cells grow and connect. Antidepressants interfere with this process by blocking serotonin reuptake. This rewires the brain in a way that increases the risk of mental health problems later in life.
cue: Why does the medical community claim that antidepressants are safe during pregnancy?
no way: Groups such as the American Psychiatric Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists argue that untreated depression is more dangerous. However, a meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials suggests that antidepressants offer minimal benefits, too small to outweigh the risks.
cue: What are safer alternatives for managing depression during pregnancy?
no way: Steps to address the root cause include eating enough easy-to-digest carbohydrates, correcting nutritional deficiencies, staying physically active with light exercise, spending time in the sun, improving sleep, and practicing stress-reduction techniques such as EFT.
