Study suggests that lithium taken during pregnancy can increase risk of birth defects by more than 50 per cent

Women who take lithium for bipolar disorder or severe depression during the first trimester of their pregnancy are over one and a half times more likely to have a child born with significant birth defects.

The research found that 7.4 per cent of babies that had been exposed to the medication in the first trimester are born with ‘major malformations’, which compares with 4.3 per cent of babies who were not exposed.

Senior author of the study, Professor Veerle Bergink of the Icahn School of Medicine in New York, said the medication’s effectiveness at reducing symptoms of bipolar during a woman’s pregnancy was ‘well-documented’. He went on to say that either pausing the medication to restart later on in the pregnancy or after the birth should therefore be a considered clinical decision.

He added “Women should be informed on malformation risk in first-trimester exposed infants, but also about very high relapse risks for mental illness both during pregnancy and during the postpartum period.”

Chadwick Lawrence’s team of medical negligence lawyers have years of experience in high value and complex medical negligence compensation claims and have an excellent record. The team is led by Tony May, a specialist cerebral palsy and birth injury solicitor, who has over 20 years experience in handling cases in which babies have been brain damaged or sustained other injuries as a result of medical negligence. He and his team continue to represent many cerebral palsy children and young adults in medical negligence claims. Tony also acts as the Court of Protection Deputy for many of the cerebral palsy and brain damaged clients that he has represented, so we can continue to support you after your case is settled. Tony can be contacted by email on tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk. Alternatively, please call and speak to any of Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist medical negligence Legal Aid and no win-no fee solicitors for free legal advice on the freephone number below.

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For further information, please see our cerebral palsy and birth injury website:
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