Should women who are affected by clinical depression during pregnancy be allowed to use anti-depressants?

That's a decision to be carefully made by a Consultant Psychiatrist. Furthermore there are antidepressants that are relatively safe to take during pregnancy and there are usually specialist teams who work with pregnant women to ensure best possible outcome for both mother and baby.

Stress can have horrific effects on an unborn baby. I know that first hand. It can lead to premature delivery which is never good. Your baby can also be born very nervous, and emotional being exposed to chemicals that a mother's body makes when she is depressed. It raises the blood pressure, you can't eat half the time or you are eating way too much. If a pregnant woman is depressed she needs medication or at the least, counseling to help her control her emotions.

I think the effects of the clinical depression on the mother's hormonal system would be far worse than the effects of the medication -- most of which have been shown to be as safe as other meds.

You're more likely to have a serious side effect with an antibiotic than you are with most meds prescribed for depression.

Women are allowed to poison their babies with alcohol and cigarettes during pregnancy, and for no other reason than that they're addicted. I think if that's allowed, then risking baby's health by taking anti-depressants because she has clinical depression and needs to function should also be allowed.

Absolutely, if the medication will not have teratogenic effects.

That is exceedingly easy to determine, via published literature.

What? OF COURSE The woman's health and mental condition should be the only factor.

What do you mean allowed? ARE YOU KIDDING?

The mothers health has to come first every single time.

No. Pregnancy does not last forever, and the potential effects of a drug on an unborn baby can have permanent effects that will stay with the child throughout life.

Women who have this is usually genetic and the child might inherit it no matter what

If it has no bad effects for the baby,then of course they should.

yes they should be able to