According to a report published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, mothers who take antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), especially during the first trimester of their pregnancy, have an increased chance of having a child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASDs).
"The prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) has increased over recent years," claim the authors of the report. "Use of antidepressant medications during pregnancy also shows a secular increase in recent decades, prompting concerns that prenatal exposure may contribute to increased risk of ASD."
Mothers of children with ASD were found to be twice as likely to have been prescribed at least one antidepressant in the year prior to giving birth than those not taking antidepressants.
Interestingly, no association was made between the risk of ASD and the mother having a history of depression or any mental health disorder for the year prior to delivery.
"Although the number of children exposed prenatally to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in this population was low, results suggest that exposure, especially during the first trimester, may modestly increase the risk of ASD," concluded the authors.
Victoria Beckham finally has a little girl to dress up, while actress Kate Hudson is surprised to give birth to a boy.
This weekend Hudson and fiancé, Muse front man Matthew Bellamy, welcomed a baby boy. It turned out 32-year-old Hudson's hunch about her baby's sex was off.
This is Bellamy’s first child, but Hudson already has a 7½-year-old son, Ryder Russell, with her ex-husband, Black Crowes singer Chris Robinson.
For the Beckhams, news of a baby girl was welcome.
The 37-year-old pop star-turned-fashion designer formerly known as "Posh Spice" and her soccer star hottie, David Beckham, already have three sons – Brooklyn, 12, Romeo, 8½, and Cruz, 6½.
“Obviously, having three boys, you kind of expect another one, so finding out a little girl is in there is surprising, but obviously, we are over the moon,” said 36-year-old David when the news was announced.
No chance of this little girl wearing blue hand-me-downs, then.
Image Credit: Alex J. Berliner/abimages via AP Images
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They're not your typical mug shots, but three California moms were the subject of a dodgy Ponzi scheme. PTA members one and all, they swindled millions from fellow parents at Armstrong Elementary School in the town of Diamond Bar.
Maricela Barajas, 41, Juliana Celeste Menefee, 50, and Eva Perez, 51, were charged with 22 felony counts each -- grand theft of personal property and securities fraud -- and could face a prison term of up to 12 years.
The notorious "mompreneurs" convinced parents at PTA meetings and other school functions to hand over their savings. Some took out second mortgages to invest in the scheme. In return, the women promised a massive return on the investments, which of course disintegrated as soon as people started asking for payments.
It's estimated that the women collected around $14 million, about $2.5 million of which was spent on trips and luxury items, before they were apprehended.
"They tried to get my wife to invest in the beginning of this scam and I said no," said the husband of one of the women targeted by the moms, 'I looked like a jerk to many of the people that knew and invested with Eva. I stood my ground and told my wife to have nothing to do with them and that in time they will be caught if they are doing wrong. It just didn't make sense that you can double your money in such a short time. These females used God and gifts to befriend you."
Beware those PTA meetings, folks.
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