stock photo In recent years, women have been advised to avoid medications during pregnancy and while breastfeeding their infants; yet, at the same time, some conditions pregnant women suffer such as hypertension (high blood pressure), asthma, epilepsy and depression require long-term and continued medication management. It appears as though pregnant women suffering from depression may be in a no-win situation because failure to manage depression with continued SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) medication may affect the health of both mother and child. SSRI's are designed to elevate the level of the neurotransmitter serotonin. A low level of serotonin is one of several neurochemical symptoms of depression. Low levels of serotonin can be caused by an anxiety disorder because serotonin is needed to metabolize stress hormones. read more ...