My friend is bi-polar and was just told not to have children. has anyone heard of this? it's because the meds

Question

her and her hubby are crushed, if anyone knows of someone who has this please any advice for her would be great!

Answer 1

As has been stated many of the medications that treat bi-polar disorder can likely be harmful to a developing fetus.

That's not saying people who have mental illness don't have kids, likely they go off the medication while they are pregnant.

The doctors however may be concerned about her mental stability if she were to stop taking her meds. Pregnancy is a hormonal and emotional time for anyone, and if you have other issues that you need meds for but can't take, that adds to the stress and can cause bad situations to arise.

I think she should seek a second opinion. Even if the doctors are concerned about her stopping meds, maybe she can receive extra therapy/counseling to help her get through the pregnancy without meds, and then once the baby is born she can resume them.

Good Luck to your friend I hope it turns out okay for her.

Answer 2

Most of the time, people are not advised to get pregnant while on the medications. Most of them can cause serious birth defects.

Most doctors will not advise someone with bi-polar to quit taking their medications. So they advise them not to have children at all. There are medications that can be taken while pregnant.

Also, they are finding more and more that mental illness is a genetic issue. There is an increased chance that someone with bi-polar will have children with mental health issues.

Children are never a choice to be taken lightly. Your friend needs to think har and get the advice of her OB-GYN as well as her psychiatrist before deciding to conceive.

Answer 3

I have never heard of that and I am bipolar. I would say there is severe worry over her developing issues during or after pregnancy. I'm thinking it along the lines of what they told Andea Yates( not saying your friend is psyhco). Plus yes meds could cause issues for unborn baby. I would get a 2nd opinion though.

Answer 4

i have it and its because of the need of heavy meds. she needs to talk to her doctor once shes more stable. they may allow it in a few months

depends on how bad it is. bi polar people have very very limited patience, plus the highs and lows can be very severe.

i am allowed to get pregnant only because i am controlled with out meds currently. i have gone through counseling to get to this point. she should look into that as well

Answer 5

you have to go off all meds which means that between no meds and hormones your husband will have to be patient,. i liked to throw things ha ha... anyway my kids are 22 24 they are fine and mentally healthy, so i say go for it, its your body don't let any one tell you what to do with your body. if your moods start shifting i took a puff of a, err if you don't do that find something natural st johns worked for me. children made me the happiest in my life when they were little and now my grandson is 16 months old and he is fine good luck