[franz kafka]

My wife and I are starting to go through the steps of having a baby. Anyone here with kids have some advice? I am assuming it will be a higher risk pregnancy. If possible I want to stay on Clozapine.

[*Beth*]

Hi franz kafka, I'm thinking that yes, it would be a higher-risk pregnancy. I've read a little bit of information online. Actually, from what I've read a low dose of Clozapine can be taken during pregnancy. The biggest danger is that the Clozapine can induce gestational diabetes.

I was not on any meds during my first 2 pregnancies (in my 20's). The pregnancies were normal and healthy.

I was on meds during my 3rd pregnancy. Sadly, I lost the baby at the beginning of the 4th month. Meds were not necessarily the reason for miscarriage, however.

[~Christina]

As far as pregnancy and psych meds go you really need an OB and Pdoc that will be in close contact to plan out the safest way to treat as the pregnancy goes along.

Any good Pdoc and Ob will always recommend a person make Med changes and find stability before even active trying for a baby. Yes that often takes a few months or longer to get ironed out. Some meds are okay at different stages of the pregnancy versus other times.

You want to lessen as much as humanly possible the numerous risks to a babies development pro actively.

[sarahsweets]

What they call "the baby blues" for a normal person can be 10x worse for us.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by sarahsweets

What they call "the baby blues" for a normal person can be 10x worse for us.

Oh, so true.

[Pookyl]

You definitely need your pdoc and obstetrician working closely with each other and you to get through pregnancy etc. Be prepared to have a pregnancy that has a lot of medical intervention.

[FluffyDinosaur]

Originally Posted by sarahsweets

What they call "the baby blues" for a normal person can be 10x worse for us.

That's been my experience as well. Also, I would highly recommend learning as much as you can about how to help babies sleep through the night. I hear there are some babies out there that sleep well after a few months, but my first didn't sleep through a single night for the first three years. It was hell. I was alternating between depressed and dysphoric episodes for pretty much the whole time.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by FluffyDinosaur

That's been my experience as well. Also, I would highly recommend learning as much as you can about how to help babies sleep through the night. I hear there are some babies out there that sleep well after a few months, but my first didn't sleep through a single night for the first three years. It was hell. I was alternating between depressed and dysphoric episodes for pretty much the whole time.

My first baby, my daughter, slept through her first night right at 13 months. I adored her, and I don't think it affected her, but I was horribly depressed, mostly due to utter exhaustion.