Taking Paxil While Pregnant is Risky

Phoenix, AZAlena Valerio was born at 35 weeks and weighed around six pounds. Her mother was on Paxil throughout her pregnancy. When she was born the doctors detected a heart murmur that did not go away during her first month. So Alena was sent to a pediatric cardiologist who diagnosed her with pulmonary stenosis - a narrowing of the pulmonary valve.

"It's up in the air as to whether or not she will need surgery," Alena's mother, Christina Valerio says. "We have to watch her to see. One doctor told me 'It can get worse. It won't get better, but it can get worse.'"

Right now, Valerio is dealing with Alena's failure to thrive. "She hasn't grown a lot," Valerio says. "The doctors told me that her heart is not pumping hard enough to see any kind of a difference. Cognitively, she is where she should be. But we're trying to get her weight to where it should be. She weighs about 16 pounds and is 14 months old. We are having trouble making her eat."

Alena could require surgery at any time. Valerio says doctors have told her to watch for warning signs such as Alena's lips and nail beds turning blue. When Alena does have surgery, doctors will have to insert a catheter into her body through her thigh, sending a balloon in to open up the narrowed valve.

"I just want to tell women not to take Paxil when they are pregnant - don't take that chance," Valerio says. " It's not worth it."