A study conducted in the United States found that exposure to antidepressants during fetal life does not cause developmental delays in infants. This is despite concerns that antidepressant use during pregnancy may affect infant growth and development. Certain antidepressants, such as selective 5-hydroxytryptamine reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, including fluoxetine and citalopram, are known to be associated with preterm labor and low birth weight. But there were no studies on their effects on infant growth. The researchers followed 97 pregnant women without depression, 46 pregnant women taking antidepressants and 31 pregnant women who were depressed but not taking medication. The children were measured and weighed four times up to one year of age. As a result, 20 percent of pregnancies in pregnant women taking SSRIs were delivered prematurely (before 37 weeks of gestation) compared to 10 percent in non-medicated and 5 percent in pregnant women without depression, consistent with previous studies. However, there was no correlation between whether or not one was depressed or taking SSRIs with lower body weight, shorter length, or smaller head size at two weeks, three months, six months, and one year after the child’s birth.