Babies are born every minute and we hardly give any thought to it at all. The truth of the matter is, however, that when we give birth to a healthy child we should consider ourselves very lucky considering the babies that have been born during that very same minute that are already struggling to live. Parents and parents-to-be are unaware of the many conditions that can affect the health of a newborn baby and they remain unaware until they are faced with dealing with such a condition; at which time they arm themselves with as much information as possible.

One such condition - Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension in the Newborn – or PPHN – is a condition that we should have as much information about before pregnancy is even a consideration. Unfortunately, however, such information is seemingly not making it to the parties that can most benefit from it – pregnant women and women who are considering becoming pregnant.

PPHN is a condition that affects a newborn’s ability to pump blood to their own lungs where it would ordinarily become oxygenated. Instead, the arteries of the newborn remain constricted and blood is unable to flow as it should. What can result is respiratory distress and even respiratory failure as oxygen is not flowing to and from the lungs and the entire respiratory process is compromised.

What is so important for pregnant women (and women considering pregnancy) to know ahead of time is that PPHN can be caused by the taking of Paxil® during pregnancy. Under typical circumstances, Paxil® is a safe and effective medication used to treat depression and anxiety; millions of people take it every day with no incidence. But when it comes to pregnancy, Paxil® can increase a woman’s chances of giving birth to a child with PPHN six-fold. Subsequently, it is imperative that women and their caregivers have the proper information to make educated decisions.

Popularity: 27% [?]

Share This