• Breastfeeding and Psychiatric Medications

    November 2015 Roundup: Recent Publications in Reproductive Psychiatry

    It has been another busy month! Ruta Nonacs, MD PhD Antidepressants, pregnancy, and stigma: how we are failing mothers and babies. Osborne LM, Payne J. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2015 Mar;203(3):164-6. Do anxiety symptoms predict major depressive disorder in midlife [...]

    October 2015 Roundup: Recent Publications in Reproductive Psychiatry

    When we started our website 15 years ago, a productive month in the field of reproductive psychiatry meant that a few good articles were published.  Times have certainly changed.   In fact, it is sometimes difficult [...]

    Postpartum Depression Affects Initiation But Not Duration of Breastfeeding

    For decades, researchers have postulated a connection between breastfeeding and postpartum depression (PPD). However, the research examining the association between postpartum depression and breastfeeding has been somewhat difficult to interpret. A recent cross-sectional study yields [...]

    You Asked: Is Smoking While Breastfeeding Safe?

    This is one of the most common questions sent in to our website.  Many women ask if it is safe to smoke while they are breastfeeding.  Smoking is relatively common during pregnancy, with about 10% of all women smoking at some point during their pregnancy. The rates are even higher among women with psychiatric illness.  While many women may be able to stop smoking or reduce their intake during pregnancy, most women resume smoking during the postpartum period.  And women who suffer from postpartum depression are at even higher risk for smoking relapse.

    Happy New Year: Let’s Start By Taking a Look Back to 2014

    2014 was a huge year in the field of Reproductive Psychiatry.  Never before have we seen so many articles published in this specialty.  Much attention has focused on the reproductive safety of psychotropic medication; however, we have seen an increased interest in the mental health of women and a greater appreciation of how psychiatric illness in the mother may affect the entire family, including her unborn child and family.

    FDA Finalizes Guidelines for Pregnancy and Lactation Labeling Information

    Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a report outlining the new standards for how to present information regarding the safety of medications used during pregnancy and breastfeeding: “The new content and formatting requirements will provide a more consistent way to include relevant information about the risks and benefits of prescription drugs and biological products used during pregnancy and breastfeeding.”  These changes will be put into effect by June 2015.

    Breastfeeding and Postpartum Depression: Further Insights Into a Complicated Relationship

    For decades, researchers have postulated a connection between breastfeeding and postpartum depression (PPD). Many have suggested that breastfeeding may protect against postpartum depression and have suggested that the cessation of breastfeeding may be a trigger [...]

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