A new study released on May 7th by the Auckland City Hospital in New Zealand demonstrates that the common prescription diabetes drug metformin is just as effective in treating gestational diabetes as insulin alone.

The 363 women who received metformin during the course of the study experienced the same side effects as the 370 women who received insulin injections.

Of the women who received metformin, 77 percent said that they would continue to use the drug if they had developed gestational diabetes in another pregnancy.  Of those 77 percent, about 46 needed additional supplemental insulin at some point during the pregnancy.

Of the women who received only insulin shots, 27 percent said that they would continue to use only insulin if they developed subsequent gestational diabetes.

Despite the positive results of this study, the researchers assert that more research needs to be done in order to fully understand the possible side effects of metformin. Doctors need to treat their patients with caution.

Gestational diabetes is a serious condition that affects 20 percent of pregnant women. It can result in serious risks to both the baby and the mother. If not treated properly, gestational diabetes can result in premature labor and birth injuries, which can develop into serious disabilities as the baby grows.

Birth injury attorneys are working on cases in which children have developed cerebral palsy and other serious conditions due to medical negligence.

A new study that was presented at the annual American Psychiatric Association meeting links antidepressants with pregnancy related risks including premature birth and birth defects.

The antidepressants that are known to cause serious risks include a specific class of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These types of antidepressants include Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa and Laxapro. SSRIs work by controlling serotonin levels in the brain through affecting a chemical neurotransmitter.

The new study focused on 200 pregnant women, with half suffering from depression. Half of the women that suffer from depression took SSRIs throughout their pregnancies. Of the women who took SSRI’s, about 23 percent gave birth prematurely. Of the women that did not have depression, only 6 percent gave birth prematurely.

Premature birth can lead to serious birth injuries that can result in permanent disability such as cerebral palsy.

Preterm birth is not the only major risk associated with SSRIs. The Food and Drug Administration has issued repeated warnings about Paxil’s use during pregnancy, citing the high risk of heart related birth defects. In addition, withdrawal symptoms have been noticed in babies who are born to mother’s taking SSRI’s during the third trimester.

Birth defect attorneys are working on cases in which serious injury has resulted due to the negligence of a doctor or medical staff.

A recent study conducted by Kaiser Permanente shows that the number of women with type 1 and type 2 diabetes has doubled between 1999 and 2005. Diabetes is a serious disease which can have a dangerous impact on pregnancy.

The study shows that in 1999 the 0.81 percent out of 100 women had a preexisting form of diabetes while pregnant. In 2005, the amount of women with preexisting diabetes jumped to 1.82 per 100 births.

The researchers that conducted the study claim that the rise in diabetes is linked with the rise in obesity. Both obesity and diabetes can lead to serious conditions during pregnancy, leaving the child more susceptible to birth injuries.

Diabetes increases the risk of miscarriage, still birth, birth defects and difficult deliveries. It is very important that a doctor monitors pregnant women with diabetes.

Birth injury attorneys are working on cases in which doctors and hospitals have failed to properly monitor and care for pregnant women with diabetes, resulting in serious birth trauma.