Its sucksthat i have to stop taking my meds and be pregnant.. i hate that i don;t know how my man is going to handle that or i dont' know how i am going to handle it...

Hi Chel!

Hang in there kiddo.....and be glad you are almost 1/2 done...and be glad you are not an elephant who are preg for 2 years...:eek:

ODAT remember...that is all you can do.

Right that is a long time.. thanks buddy i love you hope..

My wife took anti-depressants after the first trimester with her doctor's permission ... baby turned out great.

Hey Michelle. . . . .I understand and I wish I had words of wisdom however I am as worried about you as you are. . . . .I have been pregnant but not bi-polar and pregnant.

Who took you off the medications you or your doctor. . . . . :confused:

Some stuff I found on the internet. . . .mega meta search engine hyper focus my non-medication treatment for INSOMINA. . . . .I don't have bi-polar but I swaer some times it is contagious kind of like ADD. :p


ask the experts (http://en.allexperts.com/q/Bipolar-Disorder-2192/Pregnant-Bipolar-patient.htm)

Early Conception (http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/161/4/608)

Patients who discontinue medication before pregnancy or during the first trimester and who remain well may or may not decide to restart medication later in the pregnancy. While the best option for some patients is to reintroduce medication only with early signs of relapse, other patients may opt to reinstitute medication regardless of whether relapse seems imminent. If the patient’s history includes self-harm, protracted recovery time, impaired insight, or evidence that her support system cannot tolerate another episode, pharmacological treatment may reduce overall risk to both mother and fetus.

For women who are required to or prefer to continue taking medication during the first trimester, it is important to emphasize that exposure to one psychotropic medication may be safer than exposure to multiple agents (95). The lowest effective dose of a medication must be used, and agents with the least teratogenic potential should be selected in preference to those that pose a higher risk. However, an agent known to be effective for a particular patient has already been proven useful in treating the disease, which may justify exposure to the drug for that patient. Older agents with case and cohort data are preferable, since drugs are not tested in pregnant women and assessment of the reproductive toxicity of a newer agent is often delayed for years after its introduction.

Second and Third Trimester
The periods of highest risk for teratogenicity are during the first trimester. However, other perinatal risks are related to later exposure. They include risks for minor malformations, behavioral effects, low birth weight, and preterm delivery. Given how little is known about these risks and about whether mood-stabilizing agents affect these risks, it is difficult to make recommendations. However, for a woman who is doing well, changing medication for the purpose of avoiding theoretical risks to potential offspring may place the woman’s current stability at risk and may not be the most prudent course.

Unplanned Pregnancy
A planned conception represents the ideal for women with bipolar disorder, but only about 50% of pregnancies are planned (88). In many instances, recognition of pregnancy will occur during or after the peak risk period for some agents. Discontinuation of the medication at that point may place the woman’s clinical well-being at risk and confer minimal benefit. The patient’s stability, week of pregnancy, psychotropic agent, and treatment preferences should be considered in adjusting the treatment plan. In addition, a higher dose of folic acid (3 mg/day) should be prescribed for the woman. Principles of streamlining medication and using the minimal effective dose can be useful treatment approaches in this scenario. Management strategies are summarized in Table 1. ***End Quote

~All underling mine~

The latter part of this discusses the various options apparently some of the medication may not carry such a high risk of to the unborn when taken later in the pregnancy.


The ONE site I found actually dealing with this

healthy place (http://www.healthyplace.com/communities/bipolar/women_pregnancy_2.asp)

One way to avoid such problems may be to continue medications throughout pregnancy, but physicians are faced with various teratogenic concerns. Among the mood stabilizers most traditionally cautioned during pregnancy is lithium, which has been long associated with cardiovascular malformations with first-trimester use.

Recent research, however, shows that that association is not nearly as common as many were taught to believe, Dr. Freeman said. She noted that the absolute risk of 0.05%-0.1% may be relatively high--10 to 20 times more common than with no lithium exposure in the first trimester--but the baseline is not all that high in the first place.

When it comes to other mood stabilizers, some of the lowest rates of malformations from anticonvulsants have been reported with lamotrigine, which had about a 2% rate.

The highest rate was seen with valproate, at about 6.7%. But the overall risk of malformations in newborns after exposure to anticonvulsants in pregnancy is 3.1%, and that's in line with the baseline 3%-4% rates of malformation seen in the general population, Dr. Freeman said.


Whenever pregnant patients use mood stabilizers, physicians should always make sure patients receive level II ultrasounds, which offer extra focus and measurements. And if women are taking lithium, it's especially important to recommend fetal echocardiography.

"It's noninvasive and can be done at the same time as the ultrasound, and it can really take a good look at the heart," she commented.

Use of mood stabilizers after pregnancy continues to present the risk of exposure to the infant through breast milk. Almost all of the psychotropic medications can be seen as relatively safe, but it's important to use a careful risk-benefit analysis and use extra caution with lithium, Dr. Freeman said.

"Lithium is one of the toughest medications to consider. It's no longer contraindicated by the American Academy of Pediatrics, but toxicity has been reported and caution is still recommended," she said.

In addition to medications, another important way to help women with bipolar disorder through the postpartum period is through prescribing sleep.***End Quote

~All underlinig mine!~

So insted of going into hyper -worry Cry maybe use some of the engery to read stuff.

My wife took anti-depressants after the first trimester with her doctor's permission ... baby turned out great.


I believe crybaby here is already past the first trimester . . . .she is ADD and we as an ADD family never plan our pregnancies. . not even our female cycles savvy regular behavior. . . . . that would be to NTer like!

As some one very familiar with crybaby's medication history your words of encouragement and hope are very appreciated. . . . .but her being on antidepressants were HOW we found the bi-polar. Five days into antidepressent therphy and the manic set in like a stationary tornado.

It wouldn't be so bad if our family had a history of pleasant mania. . but no that simply would not be interesting enough for those unfortunate souls who happened into family bush . . .. we seem to have only one form of mania . . . .that would be manic SUPER _ITCH form Hades :eek:

Combine that with the manic insomnia and even being hyper-active ADD won’t save you from their wrath.. crossing a maniac person in my family can be very detrimental to your health . . . .it is a temperament thing we all have when annoyed but add mania irritability oh man . . . .The best hope is to offer the manic person lots of liquids so when they go to relieve themselves of the liquid you can RUN. . . .

Hey again Chel,

Sounds like mom did her research. I guess faced with your same circumstances, after my terrible bout with mania, I would have to really talk to the doctors and consider my risks. My behavior off of meds is so bad, I don't know if I , or my family would make it through me not being medicated, the entire time.

As Tammy said, we are don't do anything half@ss in our family. Please do some reading that your mom provided, then talk to your doctor and see if there is something you can do, for your peace of mind, and so you can enjoy being preganant without all the horrible side effects of being BPD. I think the ADD might be liveable, since I have spent time with you off of your ADD meds, but the BPD is something we know is serious.

I know Lamictal is fairly new, not sure of the effects on the baby, but I knwo the side effects are minimul compared to the Effexor / Depakote.
It also works pretty quickly to get you somewhat stablized before hitting the deep end. Perhaps you can talk to the doctor and see if that is something you can take now that you are past your first trimester.

Wish I could do more, but we are here if you need us.

Love ya kiddo,
Aunt Hope

Remember Michelle as you and your OBGYN are considering medication there is another thing you must consider especially as you approach your last trimester. Not Only will you be uncomfortable due to the size of your baby when it is all over you will have rapid hormonal changes along with a new person that will totally be dependent upon you for thier complete care.

You have had Micheal I understand but when your child is born there is no going home with Mommy. So while being healthy is important now for your baby's development you must also remember when you baby is born yo must be in a metal condition to care for your child. It is my very strong suggestion to share your Bi-polar with the doctor who will be caring for you during your pregnancy. The clinic you are going to now for care presently should also be aware. A good idea while you wait to be assigned a regular specialist is to obtain your records from the health clinic and Dr. Lind so that they will be able to review your mental health history and be able to determine when a good time to re-start your medication would be.

Don't do the all to familiar family thing and down play the problems until you are in dire straights. I know we do not like to "whine" so we tend to not share our struggles until we are almost at our breaking point.

You do remember your sister how moody she was especially during her last few months and also how nervous she was when she first brought Michael home. Although you have experience in caring for Michael it is different when the baby is yours 24/7. I know David will help however David he must not be worn down to the point where he can no longer work or go to school so most of the burden for caring for the baby will probably fall on your as it has Samantha. Please bear all this in mind I know it is a lot however it is reality. I would be less than loving if I were not open and honest with you.

Chella,


DO WHAT YOUR MOMMY SAYS! Mom's are very rarely wrong!

Telling your doctor that you are Bi-polar (including your medicine history) is just as important as telling him you have diabetes, or any other medical condition.

And I totally agree with your mom about having helped with Michael.
I helped raise Justin & Renee and I thought I would be sooooo prepared when I had my own. Well on the basics yes, like chaning diapers, making bottles etc...had it down...but at the end of the day or even the next day if I had them overnight..they went HOME!!!!!!

It's totally different when you have your own. Even as much as you love Micheal and have been involved in his life...he goes home, or when you can't handle him anymore..back to Sam.

This will not be the case with you own. And having severe mood swings....just from hormonal changes are enough. Bipolar untreated can leave you unable to deal with regular daily tasks..just for yourself. Never mind a new baby who needs you every 2 hours at a minimum. Including the middle of the night, 5 am in the morning..when you want to eat, sleep, take a shower, go to the bathroom , talk on the phone, hang with your friends, spend "alone" time with you man....get what I am saying??????

The most important thing to remember about becoming a parent..
YOUR LIFE IS NO LONGER YOUR OWN.....You now belong to your child....

Please kiddo we love you and worry, do what is best for you...and the baby....tell the doctor what is going on. You are not the first Bipolar who is pregnant. They can help you...what do you have to lose by telling them? Nothing.

Love Auntie Hope :p

thanks both of you.. i am talking to dave about me not breast freeding...

thanks both of you.. i am talking to dave about me not breast freeding...
My wife also does not breast feed (for the aforementioned reasons) and our baby is still fine. In fact, she's in the 90th percentile for length and the 70th for weight. I call her "Longshanks," a nickname I purloined from Braveheart.

cool

yeah thanks..

thanks both of you.. i am talking to dave about me not breast freeding...I weaned my youngest at 6 months (as opposed to the 9 months to a year I usually nurse) to go back on my meds. Cannot tell the difference between any of my kids :). Breastmilk is free but mental health is priceless!


Hugs,

KZ

I weaned my youngest at 6 months (as opposed to the 9 months to a year I usually nurse) to go back on my meds. Cannot tell the difference between any of my kids :). Breastmilk is free but mental health is priceless!




KZ



Hugs,

Well said CF...well said....;)
Chella, listen to Auntie Linky..she is pretty smart too :p

okay i am going for a consult at.. my OBGYN on the 11 of april..