Babies born to mothers who took antidepressant drugs during their late pregnancy have a higher risk of experiencing high blood pressure in the lungs and breathing difficulties, according to a new study Sun News Network reported.

Canadian researchers found that the risk of lung problems in infants is heightened when women take the antidepressants during their late pregnancy. They linked the medications to a 2.5 times increase in the risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension in infants, HealthDay reported.

"Women taking these medications in pregnancy should not panic. The risk is still quite low. It should be one of the factors you consider when you decide to use medications, but it has to be balanced with the potential problems that can occur if you don't treat depression," Sophie Grigoriadis, study author and head of the Women's Mood and Anxiety Clinic: Reproductive Transitions at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center, told HealthDay.

For the study, researchers pooled and summarized the results of seven studies. The findings suggest a small but significantly increased risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension in newborn babies. The analysis found that taking SSRIs during early pregnancy didn't lead to a significantly increased risk of the lung condition. But, when taken late in pregnancy,

However, researchers noted in the study that since women's depression during pregnancy could lead to inadequate prenatal care, unhealthy eating habits and high blood untreated, it should not be left untreated.

Dr. Ariela Frieder, who specializes in reproductive psychiatry at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City, added that depression during pregnancy could also lead to lower intelligence and behavioral problems as children grow up.

"You need to be OK during pregnancy to be OK during the postpartum period," Frieder, who was not involved in the study, told HealthDay.

Researchers said there is a risk of lung complication in about one in 500 births.

"The risk is low, but it needs to be put into context with a woman's history. Treatment choices need to be individualized," Frieder added.