A new study finds that the children of women who take antidepressants while pregnant may have delayed development and specifically are slower to reach developmental milestones.

Focusing on developmental data on more than 80,000 babies born in Denmark, researchers found that children whose mothers took antidepressants during their second or third trimesters sat up without support later and walked later than children whose mothers did not take medication. Published in the March issue of Pediatrics, researchers noted that by 19 months, motor skills for the most part evened out in both groups.  So, should expecting moms stop taking depression medications while pregnant? Not necessarily, say experts.

“For the most part, we feel it’s important for women to be adequately treated for depression during pregnancy,” said Dr. Diane Ashton, deputy medical director of the March of Dimes and an OB/GYN. “Depending on the severity of the symptoms, you may not have a choice. If the mother is depressed or suicidal to the point of hurting herself, she needs treatment.”