Breastfeeding mothers can feel reassured by new research that has found that taking antidepressant treatment does not negatively impact their baby’s brain development.
A recent study published in JAMA Network Open followed 97 mother–child pairs for almost two decades, all sharing the fact that the children had been exposed to SSRI antidepressants during pregnancy. The goal was to compare the cognitive abilities between children who were exposed to SSRIs through breast milk and in the womb with those whose exposure stopped at birth.
The verbal and performance IQ tests showed that exposure to SSRIs via breast milk did not result in lower IQ, as the scores were comparable with those not exposed.
To take or not to take
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are popular antidepressants prescribed for conditions like depression, anxiety, and bulimia. They work by keeping serotonin—the neurotransmitter that regulates mood—active in the brain. Normally, after serotonin carries a signal between neurons, it’s reabsorbed through a process called reuptake, but SSRIs block this process, ensuring serotonin remains available.
While SSRIs have helped many people manage their mental health, they’ve also raised an important question: Are they safe for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding? This worry leads a lot of mothers to skip medication during this time because they’re worried about how it might affect their baby’s developing brain.
The effects of maternal SSRI use during pregnancy on children’s cognitive development have been studied extensively, and most research shows little to no significant impact. However, less is known about SSRI exposure through breastfeeding.
While SSRIs can pass into breast milk, the dose is much lower than what a fetus would receive in the womb. Understanding any potential risks is important, since continuing the medication is essential for the mother’s health, and breastfeeding plays a key role in the infant’s physical and cognitive growth.
The researchers involved pregnant women who were part of a parent cohort study called MotherToBaby California, with enrollment occurring from May 8, 1989, to April 14, 2008. They collected various test data of the mother-child pairs, all of whom had prenatal exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
To explore the potential effects of postnatal exposure to SSRIs, the team divided the cohort into three groups: those who were breastfed and exposed to SSRIs through breast milk, those who were breastfed but had only prenatal exposure, and those who were not breastfed at all.
When the children reached ages 4 to 5, their cognitive abilities were assessed using standardized IQ tests. Children who were breastfed but not exposed to SSRIs after birth had an average score of 109, whereas those who were breastfed and exposed to SSRIs scored slightly lower at 106. These findings indicated that additional exposure to SSRIs via breastfeeding was not associated with lower IQ.
The researchers believe that these results, along with findings from other studies, might help put mothers at ease and encourage them to continue necessary SSRI treatment postpartum without fear of negative effects on their children.
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More information
Essi Whaites Heinonen et al, Cognitive Outcomes of Children Exposed to Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors Through Breast Milk, JAMA Network Open (2025). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.44989
Journal information:
JAMA Network Open
Key medical concepts
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
Intelligence Quotient
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