If you have a history of depression and take an antidepressant, finding out you are pregnant often brings an immediate question: should I stop? A new study from Kaiser Permanente Northern California, published online July 31, 2026, in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, adds evidence to that decision. People who stopped their antidepressant during pregnancy were more likely to develop postpartum depression than those who kept taking it.
What the Researchers Studied
The team looked at 6,552 patients with depression who had a live birth between 2010 and 2019 and had been taking an antidepressant in the year before pregnancy. People with bipolar disorder, psychotic disorders or active substance use disorders were excluded.
Based on pharmacy records, patients were grouped by what happened during pregnancy:
- Continued their antidepressant: 2,216
- Stopped and then restarted: 1,258
- Stopped: 3,078
Postpartum depression was defined as a diagnosis or a PHQ-9 score of 10 or higher within a year after delivery.
What They Found
- Overall, 37.7% developed postpartum depression, a reminder of how high the risk is for anyone with a history of depression.
- Compared with continuing, stopping or pausing the antidepressant was linked to about a 14% higher risk of postpartum depression.
- For severe postpartum depression, stopping was linked to about a 33% higher risk.
- Symptoms during pregnancy mattered a great deal. About half of patients had at least mild symptoms at their first pregnancy depression screening, and they had a higher risk overall.
- The highest risk was in people who had symptoms and stopped their medication: 2.72 times the risk of those who continued and had few or no symptoms.
- The results did not differ significantly by race, ethnicity or age.
The authors concluded that antidepressants during pregnancy may help prevent postpartum depression in people with past depressive disorders, and that depression symptoms during pregnancy can help guide the decision.
What the Study Cannot Tell Us
- It does not prove that continuing prevents postpartum depression. This was an observational study, not a randomized trial. People who stopped may have differed in ways the records did not capture.
- Pharmacy fills are not the same as taking the medication. Someone could fill a prescription and not take it, or stop without the record showing it right away.
- It comes from one health system in Northern California, which may not reflect everyone’s care.
- The study looked at postpartum depression, not at effects on the baby. For what is known about that, see antidepressants during pregnancy.
How This Fits With What Experts Already Recommend
The findings line up with long-standing guidance. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists advises against stopping mental health medication just because of pregnancy, and recommends making the decision with your prescriber by weighing the risks of untreated depression against the risks of medication. A separate review published in JAMA Psychiatry in August 2026 describes treating depression in pregnancy as a priority for the health of both mother and baby. See what the largest review shows about autism and ADHD.
The study also highlights something often missed: how you are feeling during pregnancy matters. If you have stopped your medication and symptoms are returning, that is important information to share quickly.
What to Do If You Are Pregnant and Taking an Antidepressant
- Don’t stop suddenly on your own. Stopping abruptly can cause withdrawal symptoms and a return of depression.
- Talk with your prescriber and your ob-gyn or midwife about your history, how severe past episodes were and how you are doing now.
- Ask to be screened for depression during pregnancy and after birth, and ask for a plan if symptoms show up.
- Look up your specific medication: Zoloft, Lexapro, Prozac or Wellbutrin.
- Consider therapy as well, whether or not you continue medication. Many people use both.
Find a perinatal mental health therapist
Call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262), free and available 24 hours a day. If you have thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988.
Sources
- Ridout KK, Eswarappa C, Alavi M, Peterman K, Harris B, Avalos LA, Ridout SJ. “Antidepressant continuation in pregnancy and postpartum depression risk across racial and ethnic groups.” American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Published online July 31, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2026.07.031.
- Wisner KL, Oberlander TF, Osborne LM, Huybrechts KF. “Depression and SSRI Treatment During Pregnancy – Prioritizing Maternal Mental Health.” JAMA Psychiatry. Published online August 12, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2026.2405.