[treehugger727]

HI!
So my husband and I are going to try to have a baby. I know I need to come off my meds for this and I am ready for it to be a process. I was just wondering if any of you could share any positive pointers or success stories regarding this subject. I am happy but scared out of my mind at the same time. I am working on getting my nutrients in optimal order, have been exercising. I have an appointment with my pdoc today and will be addressing this with her at that time. Currently I am taking daily:
600 mg lithium
300 mg Lamictal
5 mg Abilify
Clonazepam as needed but i don't use it often (anxiety at night)

Thanks

Congratulations on your decision to have a baby! That is very exciting for sure. I didn't know I had bipolar when I was pregnant (was diagnosed as anxiety and depression) so I don't have any tips on weaning off meds as I had stopped my depression meds about a week before getting pregnant.

The only advise I have is to stay in contact with doctors. Hit all your macro nutrients, folic acid and prenatals are of course important. Find some books to read on the subject. I had my son about 20 years ago but back then the best book available in the subject was "What to Expect While You're Expecting". They might have something more up to date or better now but that book helped me so much back in the day.

Good luck to you and your upcoming family.

[*Laurie*]

Hi, How exciting for you! It sounds to me like you're aware, and doing everything you can to have a healthy, safe pregnancy. Good luck!

[MBM17]

Like ElsaMars, I didn't know I had bipolar. I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression. I went off my meds to get pregnant. It was the single worst decision I've made in my entire life. I crashed very quickly and almost ended up in the hospital due to being

Possible trigger:

suicidal, which of course would have killed me and the baby.

I really, really wanted to do right by my baby and give it the best start. For us (and this is different for every family, of course!) it was better for me to be on meds and have us both survive and for me to enjoy some of my pregnancy than to have the non-medicated alternative. Please don't rule out meds 100%.

Best of luck getting pregnant! What an exciting time of life!

[treehugger727]

Originally Posted by MBM17

Like ElsaMars, I didn't know I had bipolar. I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression. I went off my meds to get pregnant. It was the single worst decision I've made in my entire life. I crashed very quickly and almost ended up in the hospital due to being

Possible trigger:

suicidal, which of course would have killed me and the baby.

I really, really wanted to do right by my baby and give it the best start. For us (and this is different for every family, of course!) it was better for me to be on meds and have us both survive and for me to enjoy some of my pregnancy than to have the non-medicated alternative. Please don't rule out meds 100%.

Best of luck getting pregnant! What an exciting time of life!

What meds did you stay on when you were pregnant if I may ask? I have read so many different opinions and experiences on coming off the meds and pregnancy but not so much staying on them. Thanks for your reply

[MBM17]

I started back on meds around the end of my first trimester. From my records, it looks like I went on Wellbutrin. Then a few months later we added nortriptyline. I stayed on meds while breastfeeding for 8 months.
(When I was reading through the spreadsheet for that data, I was like, NO WAY! One med? That can't be right.
Apparently it really was one and then two meds. I just now picked up my current five prescriptions from the pharmacy. I can't even remember having one med.)