Bipolar and wanting to get pregnant?

Question

I am type 2 bipolar. I am on 100mg of Lamictal, 10mg of Lexapro, 1mg of Xanax as needed and I'm not sure how many mg's of Remeron at bedtime. I recently went off my meds for about 2-3 weeks due to loss of job, insurance, etc. I felt like I was loosing my mind when I was off these meds, I came to work everyday but I just was not myself. I went to my shrink to get scripts adn he actually said "I think u should go to hospital" due to the mania I was expirencing....On meds, I'm just fine as can be.
What is your opinion on me having a baby? Do you think I I'll make it through a pregancy? I am aware that I can not take my scripts. I am also aware that I may pass this onto my child, my mom passed it to me, I still want a child. I am a 29 y/o professional with a long term bf. Throw me you 2 cents, please.

BTW, I am gainfully employed and insured now. I lost my previous job because I live in Michigan (HA). Also, I don't want to get pregs tomorrow, about a year from now. Thanks.

Answer 1

Hi

I know how you are feeling,I am bipolar type 2 myself,got diagnosed when i was 18.I too would love a child or 2 but being single and lack confidence in finding a partner it is becoming impossible!DONT be put off having kids just because it is hereditry!When i was diagnosed noone in the family had heard of it-it was only when my mam was having similar problems they found out she had it too-So she did pass it onto me!BUT i have 2 sisters and they dont suffer with any sort of depression,So dont think just because you have a baby he/she will become bipolar too!It could skip a generation!

I cant say it wont be easy for you being pregnant and not being able to have the drugs to help you through it!But you have a long term partner and i am sure your family will help and support you throughout your pregnany until you can get back onto your medication!

I wish you all the luck and success!x

Answer 2

Go to your OB GYN doctor. Discuss this with them. As you know, bi polar isn't the end of the world when a person is properly medicated. I wouldn't let that stop me from having a child. Your OB/GYN can help you decide which medications will be safe for your baby. There are some medications you can take. If the two doctors work together, it's possible for you to get thru a pregnancy, I think. They are the experts. You probably won't do as well on different medications but you could make it thru if this is something you really want to do. There are always consequences for any action; sometimes good consequences, sometimes unpleasant ones. You know your situation and what you are willing to sacrifice.

Answer 3

I am also bipolar, but rapid cycling. Times when I've gone off my meds are like a nightmare. I also want a child, but I don't think I will survive if I stop my medication and my dose isn't even that high. If I were you I'd be concerned. Remember what you feel the baby feels. I don't think it's a good idea. I know that does nothing for your wanting a child. But since I am also in your place I know where you're coming from.

Answer 4

I agree with the posters above that recommended speaking with a health professional. Is a pregnancy out of the question, no. However, make sure that you are in a stable enough to undergo pregnancy & a child. I would talk to your doctor, but I assume one would recommend at least 6 or 9 months of being stable without hospital admitance before becoming pregnant, if not a year time span.

As you know, bipolar is treatable & controlable. You don't have HIV or a life threatning illness of a similar nature. Please just make sure that you speak enough with your doctor to prepare yourself before the pregnancy happens. Enough mothers without mental problems struggle with their emotions and post pardum depression. Get all the facts together first so you are prepared.

Good luck!

Answer 5

Giving birth to a new life is indeed a blessing which almost every woman would wish to have. How to get pregnant naturally https://tr.im/3jAcV
Enjoying the feeling of motherhood and raising a family would surely be a couple’s dream. Some get it naturally, while for some others things don’t seem to work as they desire. These reasons which stop a women from conceiving can be due to either physical reasons or truly physiological.

Answer 6

I think you need to discuss this with your doctor. He was concerned enough when you were off for a couple weeks, let alone for 10 months or more. You may need to prepare yourself first. Perhaps you can try getting off the medicine again before you are pregnant to see if you can handle it. Maybe with additional non-medicinal resources (like more frequent visits with your doctor) you can stay off the scrips for a long length of time.

I do wish you luck. I believe that there will be a way for you to be successful at becoming a mother.

Answer 7

I think you should really ask yourself if it's a really good idea to have a baby. For one thing, as you mentioned, bipolar disorder has a genetic component, so you run the risk of passing it on to your child. Not only that, but your doctor may suggest that you go completely off your meds during your pregnancy. If that happens, how would that affect your moods and day-to-day functioning? Also, you just mentioned that you lost your job and your insurance. Is it really a good idea to have a child during such an unstable situation?

Answer 8

Say to him that you cant be with someone that is able to have sex (contraception does fail, he should know that) and not be able to take on the consequences. I would say to him that for now you cant be with him, you have made a choice and its your body, you understand what hes going through, but if he can not support you, you dont want him around. Tell him at this point that he will have parental responsibilty for his child when he/she is born and he cant get out of it. Tell him that if he wants to in the future, try to work the relationship out then you will be willing - but as for now you need to consentrate on baby and your health. My partner didnt want our baby (conceived on the pill, like you took antibiotics) and I told him I wanted to keep it. He was supportive but as the pregnancy progressed he was scared and when she was born, told me he didnt want to be a dad and walked out several times. After a while he realised that he could not live without us and 2 yrs later we couldnt be happier and he is the best dad!!!! My advice to you is to be friends with him, dont argue with him, send him scan pics and phone him with results so that he knows his baby is okay. (even if he doesnt care, he cant say in the furure you never bothered). And if you can stay friends, as him to be your birth partner - let him see his child being born, I promise you, he will fall instantly in love with his baby.

Answer 9

Heriditory does not mean that every member or every child born in the family will suffer from your type of mental problem. you may have your own child but under strict supervision of your treating Psychiatrist / Gynecologist

Answer 10

WITH ALL DUE RESPECT i WOULD RECONSIDER HAVING A CHILD. UNFORTUNATELY IT SEEMS TO BE HEREDITARY AND ASK YOURSELF...DO YOU LIKE LIVING LIKE THIS? wOULD YOU WANT TO PASS THIS ON TO THE ONE PERSON WHO YOU WOULD LOVE MORE THAN ANYTHING IN YOUR WHOLE WORLD? Now is your chance to break the cycle. Being pregnant is stressful enough, but to be pregnant with your condition and not being able to control it could lead to alot of complications. Please rethink bringing a child into this world that will have to face all of the daily agonizing troubles that you do. You should know better than anyone that it's not a way to live, so don't make someone else have to live the same.