Fears that antidepressants taken by pregnant women will cause heart defects in the baby appear to be unfounded. A British study of 200 000 pairs of mothers and babies found that mothers who took the pills were no more likely to have a child with a heart defect than those who did not.Researchers at University College London found that women who were overweight had a history of alcohol and drug use, or were diabetic, were much more at risk of having a baby with a heart defect.Depressed women had more of these risk factors.Study author Irene Petersen, an epidemiologist at University College London, said: "Doctors should counsel women on other risks contributing to congenital heart anomalies in children, such as age, weight, diabetes, alcohol problems and illicit drug use."She said it was sometimes more risky for pregnant women not to be on antidepressants."I think we need to be more concerned about a woman's mental health and wellbeing during pregnancy, as well as after she has given birth. Stopping antidepressant treatment could be counterproductive."A Johannesburg mother told The Times: "I didn't want my child to suffer for the rest of its life because I couldn't manage without antidepressants for nine months."She struggled with withdrawal and said she intended going back on the medication after the birth...