a big Oops!

Hi, this is my first time on this site... I will search through the forums for information, but I would also appreciate your answers to my question....

Have you ever become pregnant during a manic episode? Did you decide to keep the baby?

My first concern is figuring out when my mind is rational enough to make an informed decision about whether or not to have it. Secondary is the concern about how bad my moodswings will get once my body starts to change.

Thanks for your input

^ That's a good question. I've never been pregnant but I would be interested in hearing others stories on here. You would probably have to stop all the prescription drugs too, right? Just curious.

I didn't know I was bipolar at the time of my pregnancies. I had abortions and I have 3 children. It is a very important decision to make. Having a baby can/is the greatest thing in the world. but if because of x y and z you decide not to , that will have impact on you as well. Its a tough pill to swallow. I hope you make the right choice for you.

Hi there!

I know my situation is not exactly the same, but I hope this will help you.

Well, first, I am pregnant and I became pregnant pretty much at the same time period when I was diagnosed with bipolar (type 2). I'm on my last trimester now.

I always knew that if I happened to become pregnant, I would keep my baby. I'm 22, but I'm already married to the most wonderful husband you could ever had and straight from the beginning of our relationship when we started having sex I've always said that if it should happen that I became pregnant, there was no chance I would have an abortion and that he needed to know that and that he needed to accept the risk and be responsible if he wanted to have me. At that time I knew nothing of being bipolar of course... But the "rules" in our relationship have always been clear, we have used contraception, and we definitely did not plan to have a baby at such an early age both being students and all... But it happened anyway. And at the worst possible time of my life!

I wasn't diagnosed during mania (well, I haven't have full-blown mania anyway) but I was deeply depressed. I had hallucinations, I was not able to control myself, I had bad thoughts about my self, was a bit suicidal and I thought my life was in ruins. I had just started to go to the psychiatric clinic... just began to get some help. And then I noticed I was pregnant... The first thing I did was to call my doctor and ask her about my medication. I wasn't taking any of the classical drugs for bipolar and most of those are not to be used during pregnancy anyway. But the meds I was in were okay, and actually I later found out that quatiapine and especially the exact meds I am taking are one of the safest antipsychotics you could take during pregnancy. There is a change for the baby to be born a little bit less heavy than normal (but not anything radical) and it might have some withdrawal symptoms that can be taking care of by lowering my douse before I give birth. Plans for lowering the meds has been made. My main point is that there are some meds that can be taken even while in pregnant - they might not be as good as your usual stuff with dealing with bipolar, but you shouldn't be afraid either. Help can be there even during pregnancy if you need it. And of course some people decide to not take any meds with being pregnant and having bipolar, but I think it is recommended only if you are pretty stable (and obviously I wasn't as I was just recently diagnosed!) You should really talk to your doctor about your meds if you decide to continue your pregnancy (and of course otherwise too).

And during pregnancy I'm having more checks and being monitored more carefully (both in maternity clinic and in pshyciathric clinic) just to make sure everything is okay with me and the baby. It is a good thing and even though it sometimes feels people are interrupting in my life a little bit too much, it's all for a good cause and I need to accept it for the baby's sake. Having a couple of extra ultrasounds isn't bad either, it's nice to see the little fellow from time to time anyway . So in some areas it's a blessing. I've been able to see the baby's development more closely and thoroughly than most other people. There has been no problems so far, I was on ultrasound yesterday and our little boy was growing as he should be and his organs were normal and all... He was perfect <3! I think I should mention I live in Finland where this kind of public healthcare is pretty much free and there are no monetary worries for me what comes to the monitoring of my pregnancy and the health of my baby.

It is not impossible to be pregnant and have bipolar at the same time! I've even gotten so much better since January. I'm pretty stable nowadays, even though my medication is not the best (well, it helps a little to stable my mood and it helps with hallucinations and other weird stuff). And pregnancy has had very good impact in my life too! Now that there is "two of us" (well, actually three counting my husband) I do not want to end my life anymore. I live for this baby and the great future we are going to have ahead of us. I have my mood swings, but I've learned to accept them.

One thing you should also consider is your "support net". Do you have people around you that can support you with your pregnancy, mood swings and life in general? Do you have enough help with your doctors etc with your bipolar? Do you have friends and family? It's of course about the baby too. It is not impossible to be a mother and be a good one even though you have mental health problems. But you are probably going to need a little bit more support than usual. Pregnancy isn't an easy thing and the baby definitely isn't!

I think the most important thing is to think about you and your situation, and make sure - what ever decision you end up making - that you can cope with it and have help with it and be okay with it. And other people are in this world to help you - nobody can go alone - so you don't have to do it alone! Find your support net, find the people who can be there for you! And remember it is your decision to make and nobody else's! And if you are just in the beginning of your pregnancy, you should have some time still to think about it. I don't say do not hurry, but remember that there is time and you need not to be to hasty. Consider the things properly and take your time to think about it. Do not make a hasty decision that will hunt you for the rest of your life - but don't be afraid about deciding either. Think about what is best for you.

Both decisions - keeping the baby or not - can be mentally very hard and I think having bipolar (or any other mental issue) can make you a bit more vulnerable - so remember not to be alone with any decision you make! If you have a good doctor, talk to him/her about it, talk to your friend or anyone you trust enough. Let people be there for you and help you through.

My experiences:

My BFF is Bi-Polar. She has had 2 babies in the last 5 years. She could not take any meds other than the prenatals and whatnot that the doc prescribes for the babies.

I did get pregnant a long time ago. I was not diagnosed at the time, that didn't come until just a few years ago. I always knew tho that I was not 'right'. I had major episodes of mania and depression. When one cycle ended the next one started. I never had a break in between, there was no down time.

I got pregnant during a manic comedown before depression started. It was not my intention to get pregnant. My situation at the time with my husband was not good. We had very little to no money, our jobs were not secure, I was not stable at all and he and I were having major problems. We decided together to not have the baby.

Today I am torn about that decision so I encourage you to take your time and really think about this. I recently had cancer and chemo treatments. They were and still have been successful. Problem is it was ovarian and they had to remove everything. So there is no chance ever now of having a child of our own. If I had it to do over again, I most likely would not have made the same decision as I did then.

Good luck to you.

^ Sorry to hear that poisonbutterfly. *Hugs*

Hi

I have never to my knowledge been pregnant but I have had scares esp when my mood has been elevated and I think I am very lucky never to have faced this problem. What i would say is that managing BP in pregnancy can be difficult and complex and if you do decide to keep the baby then I think it would be great if you had access to a perinatal psych to help guide things as this is their area of expertise (in something which is pretty specialised). I know not everyone has access to this sort of service but if you do that would be great.

Cracked