bipolar and pregnancy

[Darling Deedee]

Hey there ladies...

I'm curious for your experience with being a Christian Bipolar woman and how it effected your pregnancy... or even if you chose not to become pregnant because of how it would effect your mental illness.

I'm single and being pregnant is a long ways off, but at 28, my maternal clock is ticking and I long to raise a child of my own.

Obviously this is something I need to take up with my pdoc, and GP... and I've spoken with my GP about it a while ago... I'm on Zyprexa, Lamictal and Tegretol, and I know that all of them would do terrible things to an infant while they're growing inside me...

Just wanted to hear some experiences - good/bad/positive/negative.

-Deedee

 

[trustinhim83]

Hi Deedee,

I am going through the same thing right now, exactly. Only, I am not currently on any meds. I need to go on some, badly, for Bipolar disorder. I am just now getting a correct diagnosis. I was told I have panic attack disorder when I was younger, and given Clonopin and Lexapro which I took for abt a year or two total before getting off it. Now, I know that the panic attacks are just a symptom of Bipolar Disorder. Bipolar runs in my family as well, so it doesn't suprise me at all to find out I have it.
Anywho, My husband and I are actually planning to try to conceive this year. I am 29...biological clock is going haywire. I am very anxious for a baby, but at the same time I need relief from the Bipolar very bad. I won't go on and on abt. my symptoms, as I'm sure you are already aware of most of them since you have it as well. I do suffer from quite a lot of mixed episodes though. To make matters worse, I also have PTSD from something traumatic that happened abt. 3 years back.
I have found that going to a therapist helps. My psychiatrist is aware that we are planning a pregnancy. I have also talked with my OBGYN abt meds. Unfortunately, a mood stabilizer is pretty much out of the question for pregnancy. My psych. has mentioned wanting to put me on Seroquel, Haldol, or Olonzapine...preferably Seroquel. I have researched the heck out of them all. My OBGYN says if I can go the first three months on nothing that would be ideal. Not sure if I can do that. The hormones during pregnancy and Bipolar can be a very bad combination, and make things go even more haywire. However, I have heard some women say they were in remission during pregnancy, med free.
I am so torn and confused right now as to what to do. I need help, but I don't want to hurt our baby. I want to be a mom so bad too. I know there are women out there who have taken some of these meds I've mentioned, during their pregnancy, and they claim their baby is healthy and fine. However, there are risks still...even if they are low. I don't know if I can take that risk. It's such a hard decision, and hard place to be in. I don't know what the RIGHT thing to do in this situation is.