As featured on KFF News, Heidi DiLorenzo was preparing to welcome her second child, and her biggest concern wasn’t taking Zoloft. The Birmingham attorney had relied on the medication for years to manage anxiety, continuing it through both pregnancies. After giving birth in September, an increased dose helped her recover from postpartum depression. “I wouldn’t be as good of a mom without it,” she said.
DiLorenzo’s experience reflects a broader reality: roughly 1 in 5 U.S. women experience depression or anxiety during or after pregnancy, yet only half receive adequate treatment. Just 5% use selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), according to Kay Roussos-Ross, who leads the perinatal mood disorders program at the University of Florida.
That treatment gap may widen following a July FDA panel discussion that raised alarms about SSRIs during pregnancy. Although the meeting did not produce official guidance, several panelists linked the drugs to autism, congenital birth defects, and ASD (autism spectrum disorder); these are claims that major medical groups, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), called “unsubstantiated.” The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine said it was “alarmed” by the misinformation.
Experts stress that antidepressants remain a critical tool. Mental health conditions, including suicide and overdose, are the leading cause of maternal death in the U.S., ACOG notes. Long-term studies have not shown harm to children exposed to SSRIs in utero, said Christena Raines, a nurse practitioner and perinatal psychiatry specialist.
Still, stigma and fear persist. Dorothy DeGuzman, a California physician, worries the panel’s remarks will discourage patients already hesitant to take medication. The issue disproportionately affects Black and Latina mothers, who face higher rates of depression but lower access to treatment due to systemic barriers.
Roussos-Ross emphasized that stopping medication during pregnancy can increase relapse risk fivefold, raising chances of preterm birth, substance misuse, and maternal suicide. “Treating mental illness in pregnancy is not a luxury—it’s a necessity,” she said.
As debate continues, clinicians urge evidence-based decisions. For many mothers, like DiLorenzo, SSRIs are not about convenience.
They’re lifesaving.
