Women are faced with many challenging decisions when deciding to start a family. One in particular is the decision regarding if and when to wean off certain types of medication. The most common and controversial pharmaceutical medication that women feel apprehensive about stopping is any type of antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication. Pregnancy itself is fraught with heightened anxiety and the emotional roller coaster of fertility treatments and the additional hormones prescribed during that process may exacerbate the emotions and can leave a woman trying to conceive feeling frustrated and anxious. Even the joyous news of learning you’re pregnant can cause feelings of ambivalence. This is an incredibly exciting and wonderful journey, but the great changes on the horizon, whether it’s about your body or simply the attendant upheaval of lifestyle, can cause more than a little anxiety.
Many common medications that treat anxiety pose potential risks to your baby’s health because all medications cross the placenta and impact the growing baby. While many studies have been done showing the risk is low, around 3 to 4%, drugs that treat mental health conditions still increase risks: congenital malformations, preterm birth, gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia, stillbirth and increased risk of miscarriage are among some of the possibilities. Studies have also found that the timing of use of medication during pregnancy impacts the baby as well.
It is critically important to have a strong medical team to support you through the process of making these decisions. Have you considered other options to support you through the process? This can include activities like yoga, meditation, proper supplementation of Omega-3 fatty acids, light therapy, talk therapy, and acupuncture. Did you know acupuncture is incredibly helpful at relieving feelings of anxiety and depression? By inserting needles into specific points along the body, your mind is calmed, your cortisol levels are lowered, and a release of dopamine and endorphins, the feel good chemicals in your body, flood your system, enhancing and lifting your mood. Acupuncture, along with the use of Chinese herbal medicine, is a wonderful way to lower anxiety and stop heart palpitations associated with heightened anxiety or panic attacks.
It’s very important when making this decision to speak with both your care provider and the prescribing physician, as it may not be possible for some women to discontinue the use of medication supporting their mental health. A strong support team can offer help with dosage, changing a medication, and access to other sources for support such as referrals to mental health therapists.
I hope that during this thrilling time of your life you consider the benefits of using acupuncture to support your mental health during your pregnancy!