Bipolar and Pregnancy
Bipolar disorder, sometimes still referred to as manic depression, is a mental disorder marked by alternating periods of elation and depression. Not only does it cause serious shifts in mood, energy, thinking and behaviour, the cycles of the disorder can last for days, weeks or months at a time. Bipolar disorders also have major adverse social and economic effects that often interfere with a person’s ability to work and function normally. For women, bipolar and pregnancy presents an even more challenging endeavour.
Are Bipolar and Pregnancy Compatible?
Although bipolar and pregnancy is not an ideal pregnancy, bipolar women can still have a healthy pregnancy. However, women who are bipolar and pregnant are faced with some …show more content…
Your healthcare professional may suggest gradually stopping or changing medications. Another option might include continuing the medication, along with regular testing to ensure the health of the baby. What is not an option is discontinuing your medication before consulting your doctor, as this will cause more harm than good. The following information should help you reach an informed decision in conjunction with your doctor for the best possible outcome.
Mood Stabilizers: Taking multiple anticonvulsants poses a higher risk to your fetus than taking just one. Although rare, lithium poses a risk for a certain kind of heart defect, and unless the benefits outweigh the risks, lithium is sometimes not recommended during the first trimester of pregnancy. However, when lithium is continued after delivery, it can reduce the rate of relapse from 50%, down to 10%, and lithium may be a better choice for you than other mood stabilizers. You can help reduce the risks from lithium by:
• Limiting your salt intake to prevent lithium toxicity.
• Staying hydrated.
• Monitoring thyroid hormone levels and kidney function in infants that are breastfeeding.
• Monitoring lithium levels in both you and your child, (medical experts suggest every 6 - 8
Bipolar disorder, sometimes still referred to as manic depression, is a mental disorder marked by alternating periods of elation and depression. Not only does it cause serious shifts in mood, energy, thinking and behaviour, the cycles of the disorder can last for days, weeks or months at a time. Bipolar disorders also have major adverse social and economic effects that often interfere with a person’s ability to work and function normally. For women, bipolar and pregnancy presents an even more challenging endeavour.
Are Bipolar and Pregnancy Compatible?
Although bipolar and pregnancy is not an ideal pregnancy, bipolar women can still have a healthy pregnancy. However, women who are bipolar and pregnant are faced with some …show more content…
Your healthcare professional may suggest gradually stopping or changing medications. Another option might include continuing the medication, along with regular testing to ensure the health of the baby. What is not an option is discontinuing your medication before consulting your doctor, as this will cause more harm than good. The following information should help you reach an informed decision in conjunction with your doctor for the best possible outcome.
Mood Stabilizers: Taking multiple anticonvulsants poses a higher risk to your fetus than taking just one. Although rare, lithium poses a risk for a certain kind of heart defect, and unless the benefits outweigh the risks, lithium is sometimes not recommended during the first trimester of pregnancy. However, when lithium is continued after delivery, it can reduce the rate of relapse from 50%, down to 10%, and lithium may be a better choice for you than other mood stabilizers. You can help reduce the risks from lithium by:
• Limiting your salt intake to prevent lithium toxicity.
• Staying hydrated.
• Monitoring thyroid hormone levels and kidney function in infants that are breastfeeding.
• Monitoring lithium levels in both you and your child, (medical experts suggest every 6 - 8