New Moms Taking Antidepressants are More Successful at Breastfeeding: Study

A team of Australian researchers discovered that antidepressants do not interfere with breastfeeding and are not a risk to the baby's health.

Researchers at University of Adelaide found that women on antidepressant medication are more successful at breastfeeding compared to other women who discontinue the use of antidepressants due to concerns about baby's health.

This study was based on data retrieved from the Danish National Birth Cohort. The researchers evaluated the outcome of 368 women who were on antidepressants before conceiving.

The researchers saw that nearly 67 percent of the women discontinued the use of antidepressants either after conceiving or during breastfeeding. And over 33 percent of them continued taking the medication throughout the pregnancy as well as during breastfeeding.  Surprisingly, mothers who continued taking the medication were much more successful at breastfeeding up to six months or more.

The researchers said that women who stopped the antidepressants did not continue breastfeeding till the recommended six months and stopped earlier. "This is a really important message because we know that breastfeeding has immense benefits for the child and the mum herself, including a degree of protection against post-natal depression," says NHMRC Early Career Fellow Dr Luke Grzeskowiak from the Robinson Research Institute."The amount of antidepressant medication that finds its way into a mother's breast milk is very low. On the balance of it, we believe that continuing to take antidepressant medication and maintaining regular breastfeeding will be the best outcome for both the baby and the mother."

Most often many new moms are torn between the decision to either continue or stop taking the medication during pregnancy as well as lactation.

The researchers solved this dilemma by suggesting that women taking antidepressants should be supported by family and healthcare professionals to continue the medications as it leads to good breastfeeding outcomes and is important for both mother and child.

The study presented at the 18th Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand (PSANZ) Annual Conference in Perth, was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council, and the Women's and Children's Hospital Foundation.