“Doctors address depression in pregnancy - Chicago Tribune” plus 4 more

Doctors address depression in pregnancy - Chicago Tribune
Mom & Baby Mobile Health Centers Have Become Primary Care Providers ... - Earthtimes
Qld abortion law re-write 'cowardly' - Brisbane Times
Pregnant women should take extra steps to ward off swine flu - Earthtimes
Qld to change code over abortion drugs - ninemsn

Doctors address depression in pregnancy - Chicago Tribune

Posted: 23 Aug 2009 08:57 PM PDT

For the nearly 1 in 4 women who experience symptoms of depression during pregnancy, physicians on the front lines long have had little more than a prescription for antidepressants and a massive dose of uncertainty to offer.

The result: At last count, roughly 13 percent of pregnant U.S. women took antidepressant medications at some point in their pregnancy, often with little to guide them in weighing the risks the drugs may pose to their babies against the misery and dangers of untreated depression.

In a bid to resolve that conundrum, two leading physicians' groups on Friday issued the first guidelines for the treatment of depression in pregnancy.

The document, hammered out by the American Psychiatric Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, asserts that for women with serious, recurring depression or suicidal inclinations, the dangers of undertreatment may well outweigh the risks that antidepressants may pose to a developing fetus. The guidelines also stress that "talk therapy" alone may be best and should be offered.

The guidelines summarize a growing body of evidence suggesting antidepressant use during pregnancy poses some risks to a baby, especially in the first weeks of life. Babies exposed to antidepressants while in the womb are slightly more likely to be underweight at birth.

But the guidelines also focus on a danger to babies long ignored: that of having a mother with severe depression. Many studies suggest depression in a mother-to-be can result in poorer nutrition and prenatal care, earlier birth and a risk the child will also develop depression.

mhealy@tribune.com

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Mom & Baby Mobile Health Centers Have Become Primary Care Providers ... - Earthtimes

Posted: 23 Aug 2009 08:57 PM PDT

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Qld abortion law re-write 'cowardly' - Brisbane Times

Posted: 23 Aug 2009 07:10 PM PDT

Pro-choice advocates have slammed the State Government's move to rewrite part of its contentious law on abortion without decriminalising the practice as "cowardly".

Health Minister Paul Lucas said on Saturday a section of the state's Criminal Code, which affords doctors the opportunity to sidestep a statutory ban on abortion, would be widened to cover the authorised use of abortion pills, including RU486.

His move followed a decision by obstetricians at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (RBWH) to down tools, amid fears practitioners could be charged for prescribing labour-inducing drugs.

The protest came after the arrest of a 19-year-old Cairns woman in April this year, who was charged with causing her own miscarriage by using the abortion pill misoprostol, which she allegedly smuggled into Australia from overseas.

The woman and her 21-year-old boyfriend, who is facing similar charges, are believed to be the first Queensland couple to be charged with the offence in more than 50 years. They are each facing seven years' jail as a result.

Doctors at the RBWH carry out about 80 medical abortions a year, mainly due to late-term pregnancy complications.

Elective abortions can only be legally carried out in the first trimester of pregnancy and usually take place in private clinics.

Although the Queensland Government has moved to clarify laws concerning medical abortions, legal ambiguity surrounding the practice in general would remain, Pro Choice Queensland spokesperson Kate Marsh said.

"This move is cowardly and does nothing to address the central issue in the abortion debate in Queensland," she said.

"This is a way for the health minister and the government to claim they have addressed the issue of abortion law reform, without doing anything to actually address it.

"It is a cop out by Paul Lucas and needs to be recognised as such."

Ms Marsh called on Premier Anna Bligh to show her "mettle on this issue".

"Does she believe women who seek abortion are criminals? If she does not believe that, but does not act to change the law, how does she think the women of Queensland will view that?"

"That is outrageous, it is pathetic and this is not an issue which will be swept under the carpet any longer."

Victoria and the ACT have decriminalised abortion.

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Pregnant women should take extra steps to ward off swine flu - Earthtimes

Posted: 23 Aug 2009 08:07 PM PDT

Article : Pregnant women should take extra steps to ward off swine flu
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Qld to change code over abortion drugs - ninemsn

Posted: 23 Aug 2009 10:09 PM PDT

Queensland will move to give doctors greater certainty around performing abortions.

The Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital last week stopped performing drug-induced abortions after receiving legal advice on the case of a young Cairns couple who were charged after using a smuggled pill to abort a foetus.

It also sought advice on Section 282 of the Criminal Code, which provides "a defence for medical practitioners performing any surgical procedures performed with care and skill", but does not specifically refer to abortion.

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh on Monday announced cabinet had resolved to amend Section 282 of the Criminal Code to ensure any medical practitioner prescribing medication have the same protection they currently have in relation to performing surgery.

The change will protect medicos prescribing abortion drugs, as well as those prescribing drugs for chemotherapy or mental illness, Ms Bligh said.

The amendment would be introduced to parliament as soon as possible.

Ms Bligh said she didn't believe there would be sufficient support in parliament to change abortion laws generally.

"A matter like that could only be done by way of a private member's bill and subject to a conscience vote on all sides of the parliament and frankly I see no benefit to anybody bringing forward a bill that I think most commentators would agree would have no chance of success," she told reporters in Brisbane.

"The amendments that are proposed by cabinet this morning would not be subject to a conscience vote because they do not apply exclusively to the termination of pregnancy."