Trusted Information for Healthy Pregnancies
Anxiety During Pregnancy: How Does it Affect the Developing Fetal Brain?
Apr 11th
During fetal life, neurons proliferate, migrate and form connections, providing the structure of the developing brain. Neurons reach their final destinations by the 16th week of gestation, while branching and making appropriate connections occur even before that time (1). The brain continues to develop during the entire pregnancy, with most of the synapse formation in [...]
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Infertile Women: Is it Better than Medication?
Apr 4th
Research indicates that women undergoing infertility treatment experience high rates of psychological distress (1). Additionally, it is believed that stress and depression have an impact on fertility, as it has been shown that certain psychological interventions may improve pregnancy rates in infertile women (2-4). In a recent study, Faramarzi and colleagues compared the effects of [...]
Atomoxetine Improves Memory and Attention in Peri- and Postmenopausal Women
Mar 28th
Many peri- and post-menopausal women describe problems with memory and attention. Data regarding the use of estrogen replacement therapy to improve cognitive functioning has been mixed. Furthermore, recent concerns regarding the long-term risks of ERT have limited its use. A recent report from C. Nell Epperson and colleagues from the University Of Pennsylvania School Of [...]
Methadone and Breastfeeding
Mar 21st
Up until 2001, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommended that methadone was compatible with breastfeeding in women taking less than 20 mg per day. Because most women on methadone maintenance therapy typically require 50 to 15o mg of methadone per day during pregnancy, this meant that most women on methadone were not able to [...]
Making Individual Decisions Regarding the Use of Antidepressants During Pregnancy
Mar 14th
Women face difficult choices when deciding whether or not to continue psychiatric medications during pregnancy. This choice can be especially difficult for women taking newer medications which lack adequate reproductive safety data. It is not uncommon for women on newer medications with less reproductive safety data available to attempt to change to a better studied [...]
New FDA Warning on the Use of Antipsychotic Medications in Pregnancy
Mar 9th
On February 22, 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) informed healthcare professionals that drug labels for the entire class of antipsychotic drugs have been updated to include warnings regarding the use of antipsychotic drugs during pregnancy. The new drug labels now contain more details on the potential risk for abnormal muscle movements (extrapyramidal [...]
New Research from the CWMH: Escitalopram (Lexapro) for Hot Flashes
Feb 3rd
For decades, estrogen has been used to treat menopausal symptoms, including night sweats and hot flashes. However, after studies reported that estrogen increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and breast cancer, many patients and clinicians have looked into alternative treatments for hot flashes, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). According to a new study published [...]
Antiepileptic Drugs in Breastfeeding: Neurodevelopmental Outcomes
Jan 24th
Because breastfeeding has many psychological and medical benefits for both the mother and her child, many women would like to breastfeed. However, all medications taken by the mother are secreted into the breast milk. While various studies have addressed the safety of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in nursing infants, none have systematically assessed the long-term effects [...]
Tragedy and Coping
Jan 11th
On Saturday, January 8, a gunman opened fire at a local community event in Tucson, Arizona, targeting U.S. congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Giffords was shot in the head and underwent immediate surgery, and there were a total of at least 18 other victims that were killed or wounded. The dead included bystanders and colleagues of the [...]
American Academy of Pediatrics Recommends Screening for Postpartum Depression
Jan 10th
Postpartum depression is experienced by 10-15% of women and carries risks to both mother and baby. Untreated maternal depression is associated with negative outcomes for children including behavioral problems, cognitive or developmental delays and impaired attachment. Treatment of a mother’s depression can improve not only her own functioning and quality of life, but can improve [...]