Any bipolar TTCers out there?

[CrawlingInMySkin]

Hi recently diagnosed bipolar but I have been suffering since I was a teenager, I am not on meds ATM because I was only recently diagnosed and I am trying to get over my fears of taking meds so here I am to either put a fear to rest or accept and move on. I dont have episodes frequently (roughly every other year) but I have very bad pychchotic episodes that last a while when they do come so I am stable 90% of the time and I have a good family support network but my episodes usually require hospitalization.

One of my fears is that I want another baby but if I go on meds I know they may harm the baby and I am frightened if I go off meds to have another baby I am going to be watched so closely the stress will make me have a episode. So any bipolar TTCERS may I ask you two questions do you take meds while TTC? If not how closely are you monitered? I know this probably seems trivial to be worried over this when my health is at risk but I just like to know exactly where I stand and then I find it easier to do something so I just want to know whether having another baby is something I will be able to do or not?

Hi, just thought I'd reply because my sister was diagnosed bipolar as a teenager, she is a rapid cycler and had a baby a year ago. She stayed on some of her meds throughout the pregnancy on the advice of her medical team.

Do you have a CPN? You really need to discuss this with your CPN and have a meeting with your psychiatrist. In my sister's case, they were really supportive and had regular reviews, they could see that she was doing everything to keep herself well and, despite warnings that she would be likely to be hospitalised during her pregnancy, she was not (despite an extremely stressful and difficult pregnancy).

Hope that is a bit helpful - she is proof that if you plan well and work with the professionals you can do it. I hope it works out for you

Hi thanks both it makes me feel better to know I can still have a baby, I was not planning on trying yet so I will look it all up and see how things go