Post by hopecounts on Apr 17, 2014 10:29:51 GMT -5
I wonder if they accounted for the connection between anxiety/depression and ASD, as in perhaps the link isn't the med but a genetic tendency through the Mom to certain issues that might include ASD.
And anecdotally I've never been on these meds and DD is on the spectrum.
I wonder if they accounted for the connection between anxiety/depression and ASD, as in perhaps the link isn't the med but a genetic tendency through the Mom to certain issues that might include ASD.
This is what I wonder. DH and I discuss this every so often and I plan to discuss it with my doctor when we get to the point of TTC. It's tough because there may be risks with taking ADs but there are definitely risks with having severe anxiety during pregnancy. And any kids I have will already be more likely to inherit my issues as it is. Sometimes I wonder if I shouldn't have kids.
I wonder if they accounted for the connection between anxiety/depression and ASD, as in perhaps the link isn't the med but a genetic tendency through the Mom to certain issues that might include ASD.
And anecdotally I've never been on these meds and DD is on the spectrum.
This. There are plenty of studies showing a relationship between maternal anxiety and mood disorders an an increase in ASD. Most of my IRL ASD-mom friends are on something, though most didn't need it until they actually had a child on spectrum.
I took SSRIs and DD has ASD. FUCK. FUCK. Fuck. like i need more guilt. FUCK.
I really believe this study is fllawed and the SSRIs are coincidental. The established link to a family history of Anxiety/Depression makes studying the use of SSRIs and ASD too complicated to really trust any result of such a study. It's too hard to remove the potential genetic component from any possible effect of the medicine.
Post Hoc ergo Proctor Hoc, just because 1 thing happened before an event doesn't mean it caused the event. And as I and others have said we didn't take them and our kids are on the spectrum.
I took SSRIs and DD has ASD. FUCK. FUCK. Fuck. like i need more guilt. FUCK.
I really believe this study is fllawed and the SSRIs are coincidental. The established link to a family history of Anxiety/Depression makes studying the use of SSRIs and ASD too complicated to really trust any result of such a study. It's too hard to remove the potential genetic component from any possible effect of the medicine.
Post Hoc ergo Proctor Hoc, just because 1 thing happened before an event doesn't mean it caused the event. And as I and others have said we didn't take them and our kids are on the spectrum.
Logically, I know this, but damn. I am still constantly looking for a cause or reason. I know I need to let go. Her dx isn't new...I just want more of an answer.
I really believe this study is fllawed and the SSRIs are coincidental. The established link to a family history of Anxiety/Depression makes studying the use of SSRIs and ASD too complicated to really trust any result of such a study. It's too hard to remove the potential genetic component from any possible effect of the medicine.
Post Hoc ergo Proctor Hoc, just because 1 thing happened before an event doesn't mean it caused the event. And as I and others have said we didn't take them and our kids are on the spectrum.
Logically, I know this, but damn. I am still constantly looking for a cause or reason. I know I need to let go. Her dx isn't new...I just want more of an answer.
((hugs)) I think all us ASD mom's feel that way to some degree, we want to know why, to have some explanation or understanding of what happened.
I really believe this study is fllawed and the SSRIs are coincidental. The established link to a family history of Anxiety/Depression makes studying the use of SSRIs and ASD too complicated to really trust any result of such a study. It's too hard to remove the potential genetic component from any possible effect of the medicine.
Post Hoc ergo Proctor Hoc, just because 1 thing happened before an event doesn't mean it caused the event. And as I and others have said we didn't take them and our kids are on the spectrum.
Logically, I know this, but damn. I am still constantly looking for a cause or reason. I know I need to let go. Her dx isn't new...I just want more of an answer.
Hmm. So what should I do? I did not take anything with either of my boys (both ASD) but started Lexapro the day after my youngest was born.
For my 3rd pregnancy, I weaned off slowly, was a raging bitch, then miscarried at 10 weeks. I felt that stress contributed. For my recent 4th pregnancy, I stayed on my 10mg dose but m/c at 7 weeks. Still awaiting pathology, probably chromosomal abnormality/old busted eggs.
If I work up the nerve, we might try once more next fall. Maybe even IVF and do PGD to select a healthy embryo. Maybe even pick a girl (gasp) if there is a choice to reduce ASD risk.
I guess that gives me a few months to figure out how to function without meds. But I swear I've read maternal stress ups autism risk, too.
Post by hopecounts on Apr 17, 2014 20:08:07 GMT -5
@vanessadoof I'd honestly take the meds. I think this study is inherently flawed and I don't think the meds will make a difference. If it's going to worry you don't take them purely for your comfort level but I really don't think it'll do anything so do what you are comfortable with.
I didn't take anti-depressants either. 1 on spectrum, one with anxiety, 3rd TBA.
I saw this a while back. I wish the weekly studies would just stop. They look a group and try to work backwards to see if they have something in common. Or ask 2 years to have a woman recall if they did X,Y, or Z during pregnancy.
I know we all want a cause. I just wish they would focus on a cure since there is no clear conscience as to what the cause is right now.
I guess I am glad they are at least studying the effects of ADs on pregnancy. Obviously, I take studies like this with a huge grain of salt, but as someone who will likely end up taking ADs when I have kids I wish we knew more about the effects of these types of drugs.
I really believe this study is fllawed and the SSRIs are coincidental. The established link to a family history of Anxiety/Depression makes studying the use of SSRIs and ASD too complicated to really trust any result of such a study. It's too hard to remove the potential genetic component from any possible effect of the medicine.
Post Hoc ergo Proctor Hoc, just because 1 thing happened before an event doesn't mean it caused the event. And as I and others have said we didn't take them and our kids are on the spectrum.
Logically, I know this, but damn. I am still constantly looking for a cause or reason. I know I need to let go. Her dx isn't new...I just want more of an answer.
First, I wholeheartedly do not support you feeling guilty over this for a number of reasons including those above as well as the fact that current information indicates that most SSRI's are safe during pregnancy.
But let's say you chose something different, just to be sure there is no way YOU would be doing anything to cause harm to your fetus at the time.
Would you 1) quit taking them?
1.a. If you quit cold turkey you could go nuts (I say this loosely as a consumer of SSRI's myself). If you gradually ease off, how long do you allow that tapering? Won't it be during the time period it is seen as most damaging to the fetus (1st tri)?
1.b. How does the rest of your life get managed not being on them? Can you keep your job? I know I depend on mine to be effective in my job. Can you maintain a healthy relationship with your spouse?
1.c. What about the physical health impact that comes with clinical depression or anxiety attacks? Lack of sleep, panic attacks, etc. - damage to your cardiovascular system and ability to grow a healthy baby inside because you aren't healthy otherwise?
2) have an abortion? I cannot answer this question for you, but would you rather have chosen this option?
3) - is there a 3?
I am assuming you followed medical advice when you got pregnant. If you research the interwebz right now you will find the majority of information says most SSRI's are safe during pregnancy. How do I know? I thought I was pregnant week before last (and could be because I still haven't started). And I started freaking out about whether I needed to take the morning after pill, or go with chance, and then do I go off my SSRI's and what will that do to my performance at work, and without my income how does my family pay our bills, or do I go off my meds, have a healthy baby, but we move into an apartment because we cannot afford our mortgage on my husband's salary alone, etc.
I wish you had more answers about you daughter's dx. But THIS is not the answer. THIS is not a choice you had that you could have made differently. There wasn't even a reason then to wonder if you should choose.
Do not add this to the million things a mother could feel guilty about. THIS ONE ARTICLE does not give you the answer and put the blame at your feet.
Post by cinnamoncox on Apr 18, 2014 7:07:30 GMT -5
I never took anything during pregnancy. My oldest (15 DS) has aspergers and is basically "high functioning". I do have anxiety though. I didn't know about anxiety at the time I was pregnant with him (I was 19), so he either has it because I have anxiety (maternal anxiety can contribute , did I read that correctly?), or it's just what it is.
I hate the thought of a mom having to read this and feel badly for making the choice to be mentally healthy while pregnant.
:\ This was not fun to read. It was an incredibly difficult decision for me to make to finally get pregnant while still on AD's. One of the big reasons I have waited until now (35) to get pregnant is because I am unable to go without AD's and I felt and still feel so guilty that I am taking them during pregnancy.