In 2016, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issued new infant sleep guidelines, recommending that infants should sleep in the same room as their parents – on a separate firm sleep surface, such as a crib or bassinet — to decrease the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related deaths. The following 19 recommendations are based […]
We’ve all heard it: Breast is Best. We all know what it means. And if you have had a baby at some point over the last ten years, you have been encouraged, and maybe even pressured, to breastfeed your baby. Breastfeeding has become the foundation of what it means to be a good mother, and […]
There have long been concerns regarding the use of the anticonvulsant valproate (Depakote) during pregnancy. First trimester use of valproate has been associated with a 3-5% risk of neural tube defects, as well as an increased risk of other malformations affecting the heart, limbs, and genitals. Prenatal exposure to valproate may also result in […]
PMDD or premenstrual dysphoric disorder has always been a bit of mystery. We explain that PMDD is triggered by changes in reproductive hormone levels, but when you look at hormone levels in women with PMDD, they do not differ significantly from the hormone levels of women without PMDD. Another question is why some women […]
Over the years, we have seen a number of research studies which suggested a link between maternal smoking during pregnancy and adverse psychiatric outcomes in offspring, including increased risk for bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In a recent article published in JAMA Psychiatry, researchers reported on the results of a population-based cohort study […]
Given that many states have or are now moving forward with the legalization of medical and recreational marijuana, it should be no surprise that we are seeing an increasing number of women in our clinic who are using marijuana on a regular basis. According to a nationwide survey, 7.3% of Americans 12 or older regularly […]
The following post was first published in OB/GYN News. Please see our OB/GYN News archives here. Publish date: March 3, 2017 Over the last decade, appreciation of the prevalence of perinatal depression – depression during pregnancy and/or the postpartum period – along with interest and willingness to diagnose and to treat these disorders across primary care, obstetric, […]
Our group has noted that we are seeing an increase in the number of consultations for women treated with psychostimulants in combination with an antidepressant. The reasons vary. Some women have depression and comorbid attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Sometimes a psychostimulant is used to manage residual symptoms and side effects, such as fatigue and cognitive […]
It was back in 2005 when we first reported on studies which demonstrated an increased risk of “poor neonatal adaptation” in infants with prenatal exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants in late pregnancy. Since that time, reports consistently indicate that about 25%-30% of infants exposed to SSRIs late in pregnancy manifest symptoms of […]
Many studies have documented the finding that exposure to maternal psychiatric illness early on in the child’s life may adversely affect the child’s cognitive, emotional and behavioral development. These early studies focused on the impact of postpartum depression. (The effects of PPD on the child are reviewed in Goodman et al, 2011.) However, we know […]
