Depression during pregnancy

I wrote a research paper on depression during pregnancy for an English class. This topict is something that I hold close to heart because I suffered from a severe depression while I was pregnant with my son. Depression during pregnancy is somewhat of a taboo and most of the time the mom doesn't feel like her feelings are valid while she is pregnant. I took antidepressants while I was pregnant and there is a stigma attached to taking anything that can negatively affect the fetus. But my son and I are both happy and healthy today, and managing my depression has everything to do with that. While researching antidepressant use during pregnancy I learned that untreated depression during pregnancy can lead to preterm birth and greatly increases the risk of developing postpartum depression. Recent studies have shown that postpartum depression negatively affects the infant's cognitive, emotional, and social development. The side effects of antidepressant use during pregnancy are serious but extremely rare. I am in no way an expert on this topic but my experience with antidepressants during pregnancy and postpartum has been a positive one. If you or someone you know is suffering from depression during pregnancy or otherwise please reach out to a health care professional, support and treatment are available.