[cmc3663]

Any ladies here who have been pregnant and took medication to control bipolar symptoms? I've got a couple appointments in the coming weeks but I'm just trying to figure out what to expect. Thanks for your input!

[Hashi/bipolar mom]

Originally Posted by cmc3663

Any ladies here who have been pregnant and took medication to control bipolar symptoms? I've got a couple appointments in the coming weeks but I'm just trying to figure out what to expect. Thanks for your input!

I didn't take any bipolar meds (only diagnosed in June) but I was put on Paxil and occasional Xanax the last few months of my pregnancy over a decade ago. I had pre-partum depression and SEVERE anxiety. I actually lost 17lbs during pregnancy due to it. We really had no choice at the time to do meds. It was better to take the gamble than for the baby to be in more stress due to my issues. The good thing was I wasn't on them during the first 20 weeks when all the brain development was happening. Now, saying all of that, my son stayed in the NICU for about 3 days due to withdrawals from the Paxil. I had just had him and we noticed 24 hours later that he was having labored breathing and they took him and ran tons of tests and figured that it was him detoxing off of it. Talk about severe guilt on my part but all the doctors and my husband kept telling me that I had no choice.

I wish you much luck! Hugs!

[raspberrytorte]

I took sertraline during my entire pregnancy. 25mg a night. She was fine when she was born. Good luck!

[cmc3663]

Thank you so much for your reply! I am worried about the withdrawals after LOs birth too. I just don't know what else to do. I'm scared about breastfeeding. But I know that I may have to forgo it this time and do formula because the postpartum period is so scary unmediated.

[raspberrytorte]

My daughter didn't have any withdrawal after she was born. So your little one may not have any problems.

[cmc3663]

Previously I was on 200 mg of Zoloft

[raspberrytorte]

That admittedly is kind of a high dose.

But my ob/gyn told me that she's never delivered any babies that had problems from sertraline/zoloft.

[cmc3663]

Perhaps I could get by with a lower dose. I'm sure my pdoc will let me know what to do. Thanks for mentioning what your doctor said about Zoloft raspberrytorte, that admittedly makes me feel better!

[aces79]

I took Prozac throughout my last pregnancy. My son had no problems. Before taking it I spoke with my OB and my pediatrician about it. They both told me that not taking it could cause me to have severe post partum depression. They also said taking it would cause no problems with my baby.

[cashart10]

I took several meds during my last pregnancy. I got pregnant shortly after a psychotic break and was told that taking no meds during pregnancy was not an option. I went to a pdoc who was renowned for her work with women during pregnancy and post partum. I was so severely unwell during my pregnancy that I started Lithium (Litium is class D because it can cause heart problems in the infant...we started late 2nd trimester when the heart was fully developed). I also took Lamictal and Abilify (both class c, I think) during the entirety of my pregnancy. There were no issues with my baby related (or unrelated) to the medicine. I was not able to nurse though. I nursed my first two babies past 1 year so that was heartbreaking but it was the best I could do with what I had.

[cmc3663]

Originally Posted by cashart10

I took several meds during my last pregnancy. I got pregnant shortly after a psychotic break and was told that taking no meds during pregnancy was not an option. I went to a pdoc who was renowned for her work with women during pregnancy and post partum. I was so severely unwell during my pregnancy that I started Lithium (Litium is class D because it can cause heart problems in the infant...we started late 2nd trimester when the heart was fully developed). I also took Lamictal and Abilify (both class c, I think) during the entirety of my pregnancy. There were no issues with my baby related (or unrelated) to the medicine. I was not able to nurse though. I nursed my first two babies past 1 year so that was heartbreaking but it was the best I could do with what I had.

I really want to breastfeed this baby too and I am concerned about not being able to. I know that's a possibility though. I breastfed my last over a year as well. Post parting depression is awful though and it's made me suicidal the past two times. I know I need to do something different this time.