Posted By: Michaela Parker
18th June 2026
3 minute read
Last month, Maternal Mental Health’s CEO, Nikki Wilson appeared on BBCs Woman’s Hour to talk about a topic rarely discussed, the use of medication for mental health during pregnancy. Appearing alongside Dr Emma Magavern from the British Pharmacological Society, Nikki shared her lived experience of taking sertraline during her second and third pregnancies.
Sertraline is a type of antidepressant drug called an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor). It is used to treat depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and panic disorder.
The conversation highlighted the stigma, shame and confusion too often felt by women and birthing people who need this medication as part of their toolkit for mental health support.
Nikki says, “In the first trimester of my second pregnancy, my PTSD symptoms were incredibly intense. Having come off the medication, I had to make a decision about whether to start taking Sertraline again as it’s definitely one of the tools which helps me.
I wasn’t given the information I needed to feel confident about that choice. What I was told was essentially: ‘There’s very limited evidence, it’s generally considered safe but best avoided in the first trimester, the decision is yours, and if you continue we’ll keep the baby in for monitoring after its born’.
That kind of uncertainty, and the way responsibility gets pushed back onto women and birthing people, is incredibly stressful at a time when you’re already vulnerable. I had to weigh up that uncertainty against the risks of my PTSD and depression escalating, and ultimately, I made the best choice I could with the limited information I was given.”
Nikki’s experience isn’t unusual. So many women and birthing people describe being given minimal information with lots of caveats and are left feeling that the safest thing is to simply avoid medication.
This UK study explored women's experiences with medication during pregnancy. It revealed feelings of restriction and anxiety due to unclear guidance. Many women reported being concerned about medication use due to fears of harming the foetus or infant. Others felt they were not adequately supported in managing their health conditions and experienced a reluctance from healthcare professionals to prescribe medications in pregnancy.
One of the issues highlighted in the British Pharmacological Society’s position statement, Medications in Pregnancy and Breastfeeding** is that, despite 80% of pregnant or breastfeeding women using at least one medication, there is not enough clinical research into the risks and benefits.
British Psychological Society are calling for this to change. They advocate for a planned, evidence‑layered approach where pregnant women and birthing people are better included in clinical research deliberately and safely, using modelling, regulation, and real‑world data to minimise risk while improving evidence. They argue that this would considerably improve the evidence base so that clinicians and patients could make better informed choices.
In case of Sertraline and other SSRI’s, there also needs to be better training for clinicians on the existing evidence base. The Best Use of Medications in Pregnancy (BUMPS) website, created by UKTIS, is a reputable source of information on the known risks and benefits of different medications. They state on their website that “SSRIs are commonly taken during pregnancy without any problem.” Also, that it’s “very important that mental health conditions are treated” during pregnancy and postnatally. You can find information on BUMPS for common SSRI medications including: Sertraline (click here), Citalopram (click here), Eescitalopram (see here) and Fluoxetine (click here),
At the Maternal Mental Health Alliance, our position is clear: excellent perinatal mental healthcare must include access to pharmacological treatments when they are the right option for someone. Medication isn’t the only answer, but it is an important part of evidence-based care for many women and birthing people.
Good care means giving people balanced, up-to-date information that considers the whole picture: not only what might happen if someone takes a medication, but also what could happen if they don’t. A woman’s mental health is just as important as her physical health, yet it is often overlooked or treated as secondary when discussing medication in pregnancy.
Sadly, there is still a lot of stigma and shame around taking medication during pregnancy even when it is the safest and healthiest choice. We need to move past the idea that choosing medication is somehow a failure. It’s not. For many, it is an informed, responsible, compassionate decision for themselves and their baby.
Ultimately, every woman and birthing person deserves to make decisions about their mental and physical health without fear, judgement, or misinformation. Whether someone takes medication or not, what matters is that they are supported, listened to, and given evidence-based options that respect their autonomy and protect their wellbeing.
Important note: Stopping mental health medications can increase the risk of relapse and stopping suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms. Women and birthing people should not stop taking mental health medication without first speaking to their midwife, GP or specialist.
* The British Pharmacological Society Position Statement: Medications in Pregnancy and Breastfeeding (March 2026)
