<div><p>New research has uncovered something alarming about autism and how mothers can unknowingly cause their babies to develop the disorder. </p><p>According to research, taking antidepressants can drastically increase the risk of autism, and it doesn't matter if you take the medication before or during pregnancy. </p><p>A recent <a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/2017-04-20-autism-warning-pregnant-women-who-take-antidepressants-found-to-have-81-higher-chance-of-autistic-children.html" target="_blank">study showed</a> that "children born to mothers who took antidepressants during pregnancy had an 81% increased odds of developing autism." Also, "children born to women who took antidepressants before pregnancy had a 77% likelihood of developing autism." </p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/pregnant-momma.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/pregnant-momma_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/pregnant-momma_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/pregnant-momma_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/pregnant-momma_GH_content_850px.jpg 850w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/pregnant-momma_GH_content_950px.jpg 950w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Healthy Niche</cite></figcaption></figure></div><p>Other studies have also shown a correlation between antidepressants and autism. Research from a Canadian Study have found that mothers who took the medication during the second half of their pregnancy posed a risk of autism in their babies. </p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/csm_20151214_antidepresseurs-ts_84eb24c387.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/csm_20151214_antidepresseurs-ts_84eb24c387_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/csm_20151214_antidepresseurs-ts_84eb24c387_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/csm_20151214_antidepresseurs-ts_84eb24c387_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/csm_20151214_antidepresseurs-ts_84eb24c387_GH_content_850px.jpg 850w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/csm_20151214_antidepresseurs-ts_84eb24c387_GH_content_950px.jpg 950w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/csm_20151214_antidepresseurs-ts_84eb24c387_GH_content_1050px.jpg 1050w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>UdeMNouvelles</cite></figcaption></figure></div><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p>The drugs in question are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (<a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/antidepressants-in-pregnancy-tied-to-autism/" target="_blank">SSRIs</a>) such as Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft. Although the findings discovered a risk of autism in these conditions to be over 4 times the usual chance, doctors aren't immediately recommending mothers to cease taking antidepressants. </p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/51913843-jpg-CROP-cq5dam_web_1280_1280_jpeg.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/51913843-jpg-CROP-cq5dam_web_1280_1280_jpeg_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/51913843-jpg-CROP-cq5dam_web_1280_1280_jpeg_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/51913843-jpg-CROP-cq5dam_web_1280_1280_jpeg_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/51913843-jpg-CROP-cq5dam_web_1280_1280_jpeg_GH_content_850px.jpg 850w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/51913843-jpg-CROP-cq5dam_web_1280_1280_jpeg_GH_content_950px.jpg 950w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/51913843-jpg-CROP-cq5dam_web_1280_1280_jpeg_GH_content_1050px.jpg 1050w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/51913843-jpg-CROP-cq5dam_web_1280_1280_jpeg_GH_content_1150px.jpg 1150w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/51913843-jpg-CROP-cq5dam_web_1280_1280_jpeg_GH_content_1250px.jpg 1250w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>State.com</cite></figcaption></figure></div><p>"We urge people not to jump to conclusions about this study, which brings together findings from previous research," <a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/2017-04-20-autism-warning-pregnant-women-who-take-antidepressants-found-to-have-81-higher-chance-of-autistic-children.html" target="_blank">said Carol Povey</a>, director of the <em>National Autistic Society's Centre for Autism.</em> "It's therefore vital that no-one bases any decisions about their care on these findings alone. Any mothers-to-be who are concerned about the best treatment for depression should discuss this with their doctor."</p><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/02-newborns-dont-shed-tears.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/02-newborns-dont-shed-tears_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/02-newborns-dont-shed-tears_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/02-newborns-dont-shed-tears_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/02-newborns-dont-shed-tears_GH_content_850px.jpg 850w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/02-newborns-dont-shed-tears_GH_content_950px.jpg 950w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/02-newborns-dont-shed-tears_GH_content_1050px.jpg 1050w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/02-newborns-dont-shed-tears_GH_content_1150px.jpg 1150w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/02-newborns-dont-shed-tears_GH_content_1250px.jpg 1250w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/02-newborns-dont-shed-tears_GH_content_1350px.jpg 1350w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/02-newborns-dont-shed-tears_GH_content_1450px.jpg 1450w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/02-newborns-dont-shed-tears_GH_content_1550px.jpg 1550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/02-newborns-dont-shed-tears_GH_content_1630px.jpg 1630w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Reader's Digest</cite></figcaption></figure></div><p>Since <a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/2017-04-20-autism-warning-pregnant-women-who-take-antidepressants-found-to-have-81-higher-chance-of-autistic-children.html" target="_blank">15% of women</a> suffer from depression during pregnancy, the situation is serious for mother as well as baby. Depression can increase the risk of <a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/2017-04-20-autism-warning-pregnant-women-who-take-antidepressants-found-to-have-81-higher-chance-of-autistic-children.html" target="_blank">diabetes</a>, hypertension, and <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/antidepressants-in-pregnancy-tied-to-autism/" target="_blank">underweight babies</a>. Treatment of the mother should not be taken lightly during pregnancy, but depending on her specific needs, alternative treatments could be more beneficial. </p><p>"Depression is a serious and debilitating condition," said <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/antidepressants-in-pregnancy-tied-to-autism/" target="_blank">Anick Berard of the University of Montreal</a>. "This study is not advocating untreated depression. However, it is certainly advocating treatment of depression with something other than antidepressants during pregnancy."</p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/Toddler-Paradise.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/Toddler-Paradise_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/Toddler-Paradise_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Families</cite></figcaption></figure></div><p>As always, it's best to be informed, do your research, and talk to your doctor to find the best possible treatment plan for you and your baby. </p><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p><strong>What do you think? Leave a comment and don't forget to SHARE this important info with all the moms you know. </strong></p></div>