Postpartum hemorrhage is one of the leading causes of fatal birth trauma in the United States. For that reason, scientists have made efforts to decrease it and save lives. A new study from the British Medical Journal provides valuable insight into one of the common causes of postpartum hemorrhage: Antidepressant use during pregnancy.
The use of antidepressants close to the time of delivery causes a 1.4 to 1.9-fold increase in the risk of postpartum hemorrhage, according to the medical research.
The study examined the cases of 106,000 pregnant American women diagnosed with an anxiety or mood disorder. Researchers sorted the women into four groups, based on their use of antidepressants during pregnancy. After adjusting for other factors in postpartum hemorrhage, the scientists determined that that both serotonin and non-serotonin antidepressants present a serious risk to pregnant mothers.
The data concludes that Effexor is perhaps the most dangerous antidepressant for women to take in late pregnancy.
It’s not surprising that antidepressants increase the risk of postpartum hemorrhage. For decades, doctors have noticed a strong correlation between antidepressant use during pregnancy and birth defects or miscarriage.
If you or your child has suffered because of undisclosed side effects of medication then you may have the legal right to recover compensation. An experienced Michigan birth injuries attorney can help you learn more.
McKeen & Associates, P.C. is a highly-acclaimed personal injury law firm with a reputation for winning serious cases involving birth trauma.
Source: British Medical Journal, “Use Of Antidepressants Near Delivery And Risk Of Postpartum Hemorrhage: Cohort Study Of Low Income In United States,”
