A news story is calling attention to the fact that the antidepressant medication, Paxil, may cause birth defects, meaning pregnant women and those who plan to become pregnant should avoid taking it. (“Those who plan to become pregnant”—that statement always gives me a rueful smile. If there’s one thing I know, it’s how many pregnant women did not plan to be!)

But back to the point: the story is that Paxil may be causing heart defects. Two studies of expectant moms who took Paxil during their first trimester have shown that their babies have heart defects at as much as twice the normal rate.

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, this doesn’t yet translate into a blanket warning against Paxil. Instead, doctors ought to decide on a case-by-case basis whether to treat pregnant women with SSRIs, the group of antidepressants that includes Prozac, Zoloft, Lexapro and Paxil. (In addition to the problems with Paxil, other studies seem to indicate that exposure to any of these SSRIs late in pregnancy may be associated with short-term complications in newborns.)

But sometimes these medications are highly necessary, especially since women of reproductive-age are the segment of society most likely to experience major depressive disorders. (Why is that, exactly? It’s an interesting question, and one I’d like to know more about.) Anyway, in many cases, the benefit to the mother is thought to outweigh the risk to the fetus.

As for me, I took Prozac early to midway through my pregnancy to help me get through the depression brought on by the “crisis” and its associated stress, and thankfully, it caused no ill effects to my child. Before taking the medicine, however, I did weigh the benefits and risks with my regular doctor, obstetrician, and a therapist, and that’s what I’d recommend you do, too.

Birth defects are scary stuff, not to be taken lightly, but so is a crippling depression that could just as easily endanger your baby. If you are pregnant and suffering from depression, your job is to find the best way to help your baby and yourself at the same time, with the minimum amount of risk to either of you.