Essential Reads: Stress and Distress During Pregnancy—How to Protect Both Mother and Child
This article reviews the research on the effects of antenatal maternal psychological states on offspring.
Language and Mathematical Skills in Danish Children with Prenatal Exposure to Antidepressants
Some studies have demonstrated associations between in utero exposure to antidepressants and cognitive outcomes.
Reassuring News: Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Two-Year Olds with Prenatal Exposure to Lamotrigine (Lamictal)
These findings are encouraging and suggest that the newer AEDs, specifically lamotrigine and levetiracetam, are not associated with worse neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Essential Reads: Long-Term Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Children with Prenatal Exposure to Antidepressants
While questions and controversies remain, the information on long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes in children prenatally exposed to antidepressants is largely reassuring.
Essential Reads: Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Children with Prenatal Exposure to Antiepileptic Drugs
There is a growing body of literature to indicate that exposure to certain antiepileptic drugs, most notably valproic acid (VPA, Depakote) during critical periods of development may be associated with long-lasting neurodevelopmental deficits.
Measuring the Impact of Maternal Anxiety on Children’s Social-Emotional Development
Over the last few years, the medical community has been using the term perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) to describe the spectrum of psychological symptoms women may experience during pregnancy or the postpartum period. [...]
Prenatal Cannabis Exposure Associated with Psychopathology in Older Children
Despite decreasing rates of alcohol and tobacco use during pregnancy, the use of cannabis use during pregnancy is on the rise. According to data collected from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the [...]
Secondhand Smoke Increases Risk for Hyperactivity and Behavior Problems in Young Children
Previous studies have demonstrated that children born to mothers who smoke during pregnancy are at increased risk for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In a recent review, Huang and colleagues looked at data from 15 cohort [...]
Iron-Deficiency Anemia During Pregnancy Affects Child’s Brain Development
We often talk about the importance of planning for pregnancy. In these discussions, we emphasize the importance of supplementation with folic acid as a means of decreasing risk for birth defects and improving neurodevelopmental [...]
Opioid Exposure During Pregnancy, Long-Term Effects on Children’s Development
According to a recent analysis of national data by the Centers for Disease Control, the number of pregnant women with opioid use disorder (as documented at the time of delivery) more than quadrupled from 1999 [...]