I totally understand your fears, now...
I was diagnosed bipolar after giving birth to my first daughter. After being told and taking precautions not to get pregnant again, here I am, almost 6 months pregnant and afraid.
That being said, my daughter provides me with strength. I am fortunate that I have a wonderful, understanding husband and great support system, all of which I think are importanat whether you have a child or not. But my daughter pushes me everyday to try and on the days when trying is not enough I have supports to help me.
Of course I worry about passing this on to one of my children but I look at it this way, my kids have upper hands that I didn't have as a child. Their first being me and my ability to help them identify and deal with, the second being the more researched and accessability to help and medication for bipolar.
Don't let your fear deter you from fufilling you dream of being a mother. Honestly, even when my symptoms and episodes are really bad, my daughter is the reason I continue to try. I may have given up long ago if it were not for her.
Quote:
Originally Posted by angelcat6
It has been on my mind for a long time now, that I am very weary to bring a child into this world knowing that he/she will have to deal with me, bipolar me, as a mother. First, my husband (to-be, if I ever find a guy who is ok with a broken person) will have to deal with me off some, if not all, of my meds while I was pregnant (scary sight and dangerous to all).Then, when raising a baby. Are you kidding me? There are days I cannot get up to make my own breakfast, and now I have to look after someone else, (the mothers out there are saying, the love for your child will help you), I don't believe a child would be good in a world where they don't know when they come home from school how I am going to act or if I will snap or be lethargic. Kids need consistency. Seems like a ideal world and too normal for me. Guess I have to settle for being an Aunt.  |