Anyone out there know of any good info out there for women with ADD who are pregnant? I obviously stopped adderall when I learned I was pregnant. I am doing well..but I would like some coping strategies.

Unfortunately I never found any really good resources for pregnant women with ADD; however, I was one of those *lucky* ones who experienced an extraordinary decrease in symptoms while I was pregnant (after I had the baby is another story altogether).

Wish there was a good book about it -- someone should write one!!

Some brain functioning (cognitive stuff like maze learning; emotional states) seems to improve during pregnancy.

Often women with, say, anxiety, notice that they BECOME calmer during various trimesters of their pregnancy.

I don't think there is any sort of RULE about What happens When, though.

--------


Since blood volume DOUBLES during pregnancy (no wonder women are so tired; pumping and making and oxygenating their lungs for all that extra blood!) -- i guess it shows how much more blood flow a baby needs, for it's growth needs. And IIRC 2/3 of their own brain is developing now.)

This suggests to me that is is Possiblly best, for baby's development, not to be on a stimulant (as it IS a blood vessel/flow constrictor). Given that, I think you are probably doing a good thing by stopping taking a Stimulant.

N.B. Unless risk of inattention (eg cooking; driving; accidents), or impulsivity (dangerous behaviour) etc, outweighs risks of medicating).


Most studies of women using amphetamines involve women abusing methamphetamine at HIGH DOSES. Hard to extrapolate.


--------------


Some people control ADD with exercise (2-3x/day). EG Hallowell & Ratey

Many Labour & Delivery and pregnancy related problems ("toxemia"/eclampsia/pre-eclampsia; High Blood Pressure; Kidney problems/HELP syndrome; Prematurity in women over 25) can be prevented with exercise, too.

My alma mater University has an exercise physiology Lab that recently has made discoveries showing that women have safer, faster, healthier, less dangerous pregnancies if they exercise regularly.


http://qnc.queensu.ca/story_loader.php?id=3ef860151fc87

-------

One runner I know of delivered her FIRST baby in just 8 hours. She went into labour while finishing a Race!



http://www.runnersweb.com/sharon.html

yes I've been thinking about what I will do when I'm pregnant. I feel as though I've been on ritalin forever (6 years) but I plan on getting pregnant in the next 5 years at some point. I would definitely agree with some of the recent posts as far as excercise even yoga may help balance out the moods, feelings, etc your feeling. I don't think there is a safe alternative at the moment but I would suggest seeing if a naturopathic doctor, if you don't already, to help you find herbs or anything natural that will fill that void. Perhaps you may even be able to get off the drugs forever (thats my goal!) Best of luck!