[awebb198488]

I suppose I should start this post by saying I have no intentions of getting pregnant anytime soon. The only thing that bothers me is that I am an only child and if I don't have children, my parents will not have any grandchildren. I think that is so unfair and that they would make awesome grandparents. My question is, has anyone gone off Lithium and become pregnant? I assume it is not safe to take it while pregnant.

[wildflowerchild25]

Lithium is definitely not safe in pregnancy. So you would have to go off of it in order to get pregnant. I'm not sure which meds if any are safe during pregnancy. That's one of my major concerns recently. My husband want another child but I am afraid that if I go off meds for ten months I could run into serious trouble. I mean I go on and off my med all the time but it's always there for when an episode hits and I inevitably decide Togo back on it. If I were pregnant I dunno what I would do. During my first pregnancy I was not diagnosed so not on any medication. I can't be sure whether my mood swings were bipolar or hormone related. I wasn't keeping track back then so I have no idea if I experienced episodes or not.

Anyway there are always a lot of factors to consider before getting pregnant and when you have BP there are just that many more. But also fwiw, I'm sure your parents would be disappointed but they would understand if you need had a child. That certainly shouldn't be a big factor - you need to want a baby for you.

[Curiosity77]

I hope to get pregnant at some point too, and i also worry about what will happen with my bipolar and stability. There are meds that are safe in pregnancy, i don't think lithium is safe, but there are other options. I'm less worried about taking meds, and more worried about what all the hormone shifts will do to my moods. I'm very hormone sensitive, with depressions around my period and when i stopped birth control pills it triggered a major episode. I don't know if i will actually get the chance to have a baby because i'm single and 37, but i still hope might happen. Where i live there is a specialized clinic for reproductive psychiatry that pcp's and regular pdocs can refer to, so i would probably go there. I wish i could adopt instead, but i will never pass the mental health screening, so i think adoption is impossible for me.

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[Victoria'smom]

Thee question is do you want a child(ren)? It looks like first generation antipsychotic as PRN is the best bet.

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by Miguel'smom

Thee question is do you want a child(ren)? It looks like first generation antipsychotic as PRN is the best bet.

My friend who is a pdoc uses Haldol in pregnant women. So far so good.

Lithium is a definite NO, especially at your dose. But I am not sure about the whole pregnancy VS first trimester only. It is worth researching.

If you decide to get pregnant, I think earlier is better than later. Say, if you are young, you will get pregnant soon, but if you wait, you might become less fertile and need to wait for many months to get pregnant, all the while being unable to take meds.

Social support, a regular schedule, exercise and the whole nine yards need to be in place before you conceive, though.

[Eliza Jane]

I took Lamictal through my recent pregnancy. It wasn't as good as my usual cocktail, but it helped me make it through. There is good research on its safety since it has been around a while and people also use it for seizures.

Best,
EJ

Adoption and surrogacy are options for people who strongly want children (and consider themselves capable of raising a child), but who are unable to go off medication in order to take a pregnancy to term. Of course, I understand that some people want a biological child, and/or have financial limitations regarding adoption and surrogacy. Still, something to consider.

[KreisZero]

I have 3 children, with my last pregnancy I was on haliperidol for my anxiety to help with my bipolar. Lamictal is usually safe after the 1st Trimester, I took herbal supplements to help my anxiety the first trimester & made it through in decent shape along with making sure that I had several options of activities that would help calm my mind, things I enjoyed. Walking also helps too.

[yagalada]

I was off meds and really stable during pregnancy. It was like the hormonal overdrive that is pregnancy helped me be stable. What got me was weaning from breastfeeding. Both times I did it (I have two boys) I went horribly manic then rode a roller coaster. This second time I haven't been able to get of the rollercoaster even though I've been dine breastfeeding for over a year and a half.