I just started the meds a month ago and now I stopped. I'm not too worried about it though. I don't work so I don't have that added stress. I'm just concerned about my home obligations being kept up with.
This wasn't a planned pregnancy. It's accturally a R&R baby. My husband was just home for his R&R from Iraq. So I haven't got a call from him since he left the states. So now I get to tell him over the phone the news.

I wanted to see how many other woman out there are going through pregnancy with ADD/HD. I'd love to share the support together.:)

I think I defintly have an advantage this pregnancy because I am more aware of the tendecies I have. I have more awareness this time. So I think that will make things a little clearer in some way.

Congrats and welcome! I'm not pregnant, but I do have 3 kids. I really wish I would have know that I was ADD before having children, but you live and learn! I'm sure you'll get some great advice on here from other parents. Good luck!

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l23/dazzlejunction/greetings/new-baby/congrats-on-preg.gif

Congratulations!!!!!

Raising children is hard work but worth every moment. Only advice I can give you is don't stress yourself out trying to be perfect. Children need love, acceptance and lots of affection. Nothing you can't do. :)

congrats, i have a 3 year old and we are trying for another. im sure you will be fine! the only thing you may have trouble with is house work.

im a little worried because i take supplements to help my add, but now i won't be a able to take them. last time i didn't work and this time my job can be stressful...

good luck telling your husband.

Congratulations jeddings! :)

There is a saying, that applies to many women, not just ADDers...
"The brain comes out with the placenta."

There's no way to tell if your ADD challenges will be worse, or are similar to what many pregnant/new mommies go through when it comes to memory, attention span, focus, organization, etc.

All your focus will be on your baby. As it should be. To hell with the house. Unless you have help the only one with clean clothes will be the child; you will have clean clothes only if s/he spits, pees or poops on them. Which will be on a regular basis, so you might be ok in that department. Ironing...out. Dusting...out. Mopped floors...out.

Home obligations? If it's still standing and the health department hasn't condemned it, count yourself blessed.

During pregnancy...you will go through a nesting phase...which is actually great. I hyperfocused on my pregnancy, labor and getting the baby accessories. There was plenty to do, but I could flip flop and put it down when I got bored with it. I had a fantastic birth (all 3 times) because I read so much, and talked so long with my midwife.

As I got closer to the due date...I vacuumed. I don't know why, but I needed my carpet to be vacuumed before the baby came. A must. Everything else...well, it's much worse now.

No matter what, enjoy this. Even the discomfort, the irritations, just welcome it all. Ankles get swollen and the floors aren't done? Your ankles are more important. When people say, "do you need anything?" Say "Yes"!

"I'm really having trouble getting the floors mopped, can you help with that?"
"The bathroom smells like my husband is home, can you give me a hand?"
"Yes, I'd love some left-over lasagna, I haven't cooked a decent meal for myself in weeks."

Be spoiled now, because when the second one comes along no one gives you a hand anymore...they let you do it yourself. You'd think that wouldn't be the case, but it's true. Evidently the first is practice, the second one we've got a handle on. From experience, this is true only to a point.

I'm sure the Moms here, (and your family, friends and perfect strangers at the store), are happy to pass on their wisdom, take it all with a grain of salt. Ask 5 moms how to do something and you'll get 7 different answers. Then you go with your gut. ;)

I'm sure the Moms here, (and your family, friends and perfect strangers at the store), are happy to pass on their wisdom, take it all with a grain of salt. Ask 5 moms how to do something and you'll get 7 different answers. Then you go with your gut. ;)[/quote]

SO TRUE, Eyeforgot! Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, will have advice (or as I like to sometimes call it, a**vice) for you. I have 2 kids and both pregnancies were hard...I didn't know then I have ADHD and I'm not so sure knowing would have made it any easier for me. I found that educating myself on pregnancy and labor really made me feel better. Less stressed out about it all around and able to better focus on and ask questions about the things I was concerned/curious about.

I have to agree with Eyeforgot about the whole housework thing. It needs to take a backseat to you, your health, comfort and happiness right now. Things will get done....just not often and certainly not quickly! Thankfully I am blessed with great friends and family that really helped a lot with cooking and cleaning. Maybe there is a childless friend nearby that you can pay a small sum of money to or offer a good dinner to every 2 weeks or so to come clean for you...

Congratulations and good luck!!

Summer

It's so funny that you posted because I was just thinking, "I haven't posted on the forums lately -- my medicine was working so well -- now I'm pregnant (9 weeks) and all of the sudden my brain has melted!!"

It is such a trip. I am a teacher and I am desperately trying to give the illusion to my kids that I teach that I have my stuff together. Little do they know all I want to do is crawl in the corner, eat ice cream, and take a nap!!!

Congratulations amiegrace. :)

I guess you'll need acting classes in addition to naps and a maid. lol

Congratulations !!!!!
I had a baby many years ago, there is some guy playing guitar in his room now I guess that's my son!
I knew nothing about ADD until last year so it's really hard to say.
I remember being incredibly focused when I was pregnant. and emotional at the same time .I had beautiful dreams. But aftewards it was add disaster. I was fine taking care of the baby but I really couldn't do much else that was useful.
you should seriously consider breastfeeding, I can't imagine trying to prepare a bottle in the middle of the night.

you should seriously consider breastfeeding, I can't imagine trying to prepare a bottle in the middle of the night.


Breastfeeding ALL THE WAY!!.....it is the most ADD friendly way to go. With a bottle not only do you have to get up in the middle of the night, but you also have to take lots of bottles, milk powder, hot water etc with you....and make sure those bottles are sterilized properly - nightmare for someone with ADD! I found a selective "earth mother/attachment parenting" style was the most add friendly. I solely breastfed (and continued breastfeeding until 3 years old), baby slept beside me,I didn`t offer food until 6 months　(and then encouraged her to eat with her fingers), and wore my baby in a front carrier while she was small....

The only things I had to carry with me were nappies (disposable) and spare clothes.....and I actually forgot nappies a couple of times (did you know you can fashion a temporary nappy with a maxi pad?).....I had baby on front and backpack on back and was good to go.

The lack of external structure almost did my head in.....but once I made up a structure to my week with a couple of playgroups I found it easier. I also made time to get out of the house....even if it was just to go to a　cafe and people watch. I found flylady (www.flylady.net (http://www.flylady.net)) at that time which was wonderful - it really helped to develop a morning routine (an eye opener for me!)

I was terrified before I had my little one...I had no experience with babies and I was very negative about all the stupid things i did.
I read something that said "all babies need is someone who is passionately interested in them" - I thought "I can do that!" ......and you know what - my daughter is happy and well loved (and generally pretty clean and well fed.....though she has been dressed in some strange outfits)

Thanks so much for all the support. I'm kinda getting used to the idea a little more now and am acturally excited for the pregnancy and the birth. This is accturally my fourth. Gasp! I can't believe I'm going to be a mom of four! My youngest is three, so it's been a little while since my last pregnancy. But it seems like each one is the first time all over again. But this time I am considering a home birth. I just need to see what my insurance will cover.

Psychokitty- I think that is really awesome that you nursed your daughter til she was three. I am at the time trying to wean my three year old. She's only nursing at night now and some nights will fall asleep on her own. I'm very pasionate about breastfeeding. Breastfeeding was the reason I waited so long to start ADD meds. ANd now go figure as soon as I have my DD weaned enough so I can take the meds and I get pregnant again and have to stop them already.

Speaking of the ADHD meds. I was kinda concerned that I took them for two weeks before I found out I was pregnant and am a little worried about harm to the pregnancy. I wonder if I should be concerened. I intend to bring this up when I start getting seen for OB care.

I'm looking into nutritional ways to promote mental clarity and memory during my pregnancy. SOmething that is safe for me. I can't tolerate ginko biloba. I started taking flax oil, folic acid, B-12. ANything else that may be beneficial?

I thought it was your first, but it's your fourth! Good on you...I stopped at three. I'm tired. lol

My 3rd baby was a home birth. The pre-natal exams with my midwife were covered, but I had to pay her out of pocket for the actual birth. She was $1500, if memory serves me correctly, and worth every penny.

Before taking the supplements, I would ask your midwife about any herbs, etc that shouldn't be taken. You probably know all that, I'm actually saying this for future posters' information. lol

How did your homebirth compare with the other two. I'm presumming the other two were hospital births?

I'm really wanting the home birth or birth center. I'm just really worried if it's a home birth and I needed a last mninute c-section (god willing I won't). I'm just worried there would be danger in not getting to the hospital quickly enough.

I really don't want the hospital this time though. I don't want all the exams, poking and proding, the bright lights, montiors and what not.

I"m really wondering if my husband will be back from Iraq in enough time. Luckily I have a friend that is a doula that will be there for me.

Plenty of time to think about all this though I guess. I think I'm only a little over two weeks since conception.

Question, do you count 40 weeks from last period or 40 weeks from conception?

Breastfeeding ALL THE WAY!!.....it is the most ADD friendly way to go.

Couldn't meds interfere with breast milk?

Couldn't meds interfere with breast milk?
yes def. I won;t bbe able to be back on meds until afyer I weaned the new baby. I think the meds would be too risky ecspecially for a newborn.

40 weeks from the first day of your last menstrual period, unless you chart and you know what day you ovulated, in which case you would count back 14 days from the day you ovulated.

Hey, is nursing forever an ADD thing?? I nursed mine until she was over three and only quit because my job was so demanding and I was depressed and had to go back on medicine. I am looking forward to nursing again, I just wish my boobs didn't hurt so bad right now while I'm gestating! They are killing me!!

nursing an ADD thing? interesting. I nursed for 9 months only, many years ago. do you remember feeling particularly calm?
well ADD and us aside of course the most important is, it's very good for the baby!

40 weeks from the first day of your last menstrual period, unless you chart and you know what day you ovulated, in which case you would count back 14 days from the day you ovulated.

Hey, is nursing forever an ADD thing?? I nursed mine until she was over three and only quit because my job was so demanding and I was depressed and had to go back on medicine. I am looking forward to nursing again, I just wish my boobs didn't hurt so bad right now while I'm gestating! They are killing me!!
You know it could be that the hormoe released while having let down makes ADD people more happier or something. I know that the hormone also helps prevent postpartum depression. Maybe it helps ADD people with clarity or something.

Im not pregnant but wondered about this for when I am one day (congratulations btw!)

Given that many of us add/adhd women have pretty bad moods off meds, and then adding to that the stress of pregnancy and the raging hormones. I wonder how much of a strain it is on the mother and the relationship?

Can those who have been there say how it was for them and how they and their partner coped? In particular I get a LOT of anger and negativity off meds (thought I was depressed b4 diagnosis) Im worried that one day when I have kids that could get really bad, like so bad by the time i give birth Im a divorcee. LOL

Is there anything that can be taken thru pregnancy? Im assuming dex and ritalin are out of the question - what about herbs/vitamins?

Also did any ladies here who have had kids, shorten/not breastfeed so they could go back on meds? Im wondering if Id be a better mother on my meds with formula and not a total *****, than off them and breastfeeding and off them. Id probably try and breastfeed for a few days only as thats when you pass immunity to the child, then get them on formula and me on my meds

would be interested in what ppl have had happen with that? especially given post natal depression and all that stuff that can happen on top of the adhd.

"Speaking of the ADHD meds. I was kinda concerned that I took them for two weeks before I found out I was pregnant and am a little worried about harm to the pregnancy. I wonder if I should be concerened. I intend to bring this up when I start getting seen for OB care."

Not a Dr or anything but used to study med lab science...

Anything like that that you take in the very early weeks of a pregnancy (before you know) I was told will normally either cause no harm at all (at that stage the embryo is a small ball of cells, it isnt implanted and isnt really sharing your blood and what you eat/take). So it doesnt ingest any chemicals you do at that early stage.

Any damage from meds, drugs or alcohol that early are not the baby getting them in its system but the drugs or alcohol adversly affecting you so much that you miscarry.

In other words if you drink, take meds in the first 2 weeks and you later find out you are preg, if the baby is still there its extremely unlikely what you did has effected it. So you really dont need to worry if you were only on meds for the first 2 weeks after conception.

Its once the embryo implants and starts getting its nutritiion directly from you that what you eat or drink is going to affect the baby as I will get a megadose of whatever is in your bloodstream. Esp in first 3 months, after implantation, when much of the babys cells are not only growing and multiplying, but differentiating into the differnt organs and tissues that a whole person has.

[quote=kimmyh51;674026]Also did any ladies here who have had kids, shorten/not breastfeed so they could go back on meds? Im wondering if Id be a better mother on my meds with formula and not a total *****, than off them and breastfeeding and off them. Id probably try and breastfeed for a few days only as thats when you pass immunity to the child, then get them on formula and me on my meds
quote]
I am totally for breastfeeding but if a mom needs ro be on meds to be more functionable and hence be a better mom to a new baby then it's def better to supplement with formula.
For me personally it will much benefit me emotionally if I don't take ADD meds and breastfeed. I can handle being a little scaterbrained. But I can't handle not nursing my baby. But that's just me.
I can totally understand someone else not breastfeeding so they can safely take their meds without any thing being passed ro baby. I acturally started encouraging my DD to wean so I'd be able to start meds. Now go figure, after taking the meds for one month I am pregnant and have to stop the meds already. I guess god had other plans for me right now.

Most medications are more dangerous for the baby while you are pregnant than when you are nursing. Also, there may be a way to do both breastfeeding and formula feeding after your milk supply is established. For example, since many ADD meds are shortacting, you might be able to feed pumped milk or formula feed during the hours the medicine is active and resume breastfeeding after the medication has metabolized out of your system.

For those of you that are wanting to get pregnant or who aren't actively avoiding pregnancy carefully, I would suggest getting a book like Taking Charge of Your Fertility and charting so that you know asap if you are pregnant, so that you can go off your meds as quickly as possible. I was taking three medications (Lamictal, Wellbutrin, and Ritalin) and since I was basically aware of when my baby implanted, I was off the meds within that first window so there is very little chance that s/he was affected by it. It really is most important to avoid meds during that first three months while baby's organs are forming.

And don't forget your B complex, especially your folic acid!!

Does anyone know what the chances are of a child inheriting ADHD are??

Pretty darn good, LOL, just kidding.

One statistic I found was that if one parent has clinically significant ADHD, the child is 20-54% likely to exhibit ADHD traits. But since ADHD is more of a cluster of traits, it may be more likely that one's child will exhibit some of those traits, for example, in a milder form, if the other spouse is not ADHD. If both parents have clinically significant ADHD, there's a good chance that the child will display a similar cluster of traits.

Also, Here's an article I found on line that may shed a little light:

WASHINGTON MD -- June 16, 1997 -- A study of twins suggests that Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has a very strong tendency to run in families -- not only as a clinical disorder but also as a personality trait. The new research appears in the June issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Heritability for ADHD -- meaning that if one twin has it, the other will too -- ranges from 75 to 91 percent, depending on the definition of ADHD used. The results also suggest that ADHD is less a distinct disorder that is either present or absent than the extreme of a trait that varies genetically throughout the population.

The study analyzed data on 1,938 Australian families with twins and other children aged four to 12-years-old. When at least one twin had ADHD, there was a 91 percent chance that the other identical twin would have it as well. In contrast, the growing up in the same environment had a relatively small effect on the heritability of ADHD, estimated at only 13 percent. The research was led by Dr. Florence Levy of the University of New South Wales, Australia.

Heritability for ADHD was much higher than estimated for other types of behavior disorders that run in families. This was so for not only children who actually had ADHD, but also for those who had a tendency or trait toward ADHD but didn't have enough symptoms for a clinical diagnosis.

That finding suggests that children with ADHD are not so much a group with a specific disorder but the extreme end of a group with a trait toward ADHD. Heritability for the trait toward ADHD was estimated at 75 percent.

Correlations were somewhat higher for twins than for other siblings, suggesting that part of the heritability of ADHD may be specific to twins. There was no difference in heritability between identical versus nonidentical twins, however.

The findings have important implications for the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD, Standard diagnostic approaches rely heavily on the number of ADHD symptoms present -- for example, children with eight symptoms would be diagnosed as having ADHD, whereas using DSM-III-R those with seven might not. ADHD may be less a distinct disorder than a deviation from an acceptable norm, the findings suggest.

The results may also influence treatment decisions. More flexible drug treatment schedules may be called for, depending on the person's level of symptoms and his or her situation.

There is growing interest in the genetic contribution to ADHD, especially since recent reports linking ADHD to certain specific genes. At least three different genes have been implicated so far, however, so the genetics of ADHD remains unclear.

Further research is needed to clarify the genetic contribution to ADHD, preferably studies in which children are followed up over time. The results would tell much about how the gene or genes responsible for ADHD manifest themselves from childhood through adulthood.

Well, at least I'll know what to look out for when the time comes! Thanks for posting that!:D

I was surprised at how well I functioned both in pregnancy and while nursing (which I'm still doing) without medication. I do take progesterone which alleviates some of my PMS (which otherwise exacerbates my ADD)- and I actually took it during 1st trimester and from about my 2nd period after the baby; but that is just something that works for me...
I believe that nursing helps keep my mood even and more positive. Pregnancy DEFINITELY kept me on a more even keel; even though my mood was kind of goofy sometimes (crying at animal movies etc)- it wasn't disruptive. And my husband actually had an easier time dealing w/ my mood because he had something positive to pin it on, I think! But again, it was so much more even I think, I felt more resilient. So I like to say, my executive function was not so good at all but I didn't get worked up about it like I normally had; I could stay mellow about it. And then delegate all bill-paying to my husband.
What has been SO important has been to have a lot of social contact with other moms (this is since I've had a baby!; it helped to research places I could go with baby and write them down while I was pregnant; it also helps to get outside a lot- and BEFORE baby, I got to know a counselor by seeing her several times during my pregnancy so that I knew someone was ready to help support me who I could trust, if I did have difficulties with mood or my ADHD postpartum (or during pregnancy).
And finally, it helped to know that whatever keeps mama healthy is best for baby! I don't mean taking meds you shouldn't; I mean taking the right meds or weaning or whatever. AND know that there are anti-depressants you can take while pregnant and while nursing.

Enjoy pregnancy.. and most importantly, enjoy baby!

I almost forgot! here's a great resource while nursing:
LactMed (http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT)

It's the National Institutes of Health database on medications and nursing.

This is pretty much why I logged on today. I guess I'm the odd one out that is having extreme rage and frustration while pregnant.

I tried breastfeeding last time and not even going to try this time. You have to get up usually to change a diaper anyways, so while youre up go ahead and do a bottle. It was easier for me vs. the added sleep deprivation breastfeeding gives you.

I guess I'm the odd one out that is having extreme rage and frustration while pregnant.

I tried breastfeeding last time and not even going to try this time. You have to get up usually to change a diaper anyways, so while youre up go ahead and do a bottle. It was easier for me vs. the added sleep deprivation breastfeeding gives you.

Remember, if you need medication (not stimulants, but things like antidepressants) while pregnant, there are some that some doctors prescribe.
And as for both that- and breastfeeding- taking care of mama is #1!
you might think about that people say each kid is a totally different experience (even hormonally/mood) sometimes. For SOME mamas, that means they try breastfeeding even if it sucked the 1st time; but do what is best for you and babe!

Kimmy,

My first pregnancy I was very happy and even-keeled -- this one is a different story. I am under more stress, but my hormones are just different. I get angry at the drop of a dime and am much more snappish and impulsive than with my first pregnancy, or really just with regular PMS.

Serotonin deficiency, especially at this time of year, can make a big difference. May I suggest, if you are concerned about your rage, going to see your doctor? There are serotonin agents like Prozac that can be used safely throughout pregnancy as well as after to prevent postpartum depression. I have considered it myself now that I am almost out of my first trimester, when medications tend to have a greater affect. It's not worth being miserable if it can be helped.

I'm not depressed. I'm acting the exact same way I did before ADD meds. I'm borderline gestational diabetes. I think that's where half of the rage comes from. I'm due in a month and just hoping when the baby comes out I can go back on adderall and be normal again. Thanks though :) And fall/winter is my favorite time, I don't have seasonal depression for sure; besides the fact I'm in GA and it's like 70 degrees out.

i have a 6 month old and it wasnt a planned pregnancy. i felt amazing my whole pregnancy! i stopped breastfeeding at 3 months and about 2 weeks after that, my symptoms have returned! so hopefully you can look forward to some sanity! congrats!