Taking lithium for bipolar while trying for a baby

[Finxx]

Help! My husband and I are trying for a baby while also going thru the IVF process. I just found out today I should NOT be taking my lithium as it causes birth defects. I just miscarried a few weeks ago, was this the cause? Should I stop my meds? I don't know what to do. Can anyone advise me pleeeease? Thank you xx

You should be working very closely with your healthcare providers. It would be highly irresponsible for anyone here to advise you in any way.

Meds may not have been the cause. I'm not on meds and have had two...

Contact you psychiatrist and request an urgent appointment to discuss medicine management during try and pregnancy.

Definitely make contact with your mental health team and discuss with them. Don't stop the lithium by yourself - work with them. Baby will need a healthy mummy too, and the MH team can help make that happen as they will know your history. :)

Thank you everyone. I tried to get an appointment with my psych but she can't see me until the end of Jan! I think things will have to go on hold for the moment to be safe. Thanks again xx

Hiya! Have you investigated aripiprazole? It's another bipolar med (also known as Ability) that's less likely to cause birth defects. It might be worth talking to the perinatal psychiatric team?

Agree perinatal psych if you can get access to it would be extremely helpful - from what I've heard they would welcome an opportunity to talk with someone like you at this stage, pre-pregnancy, to help optimise things in advance of a possible pregnancy. Rather than dealing with changing things after you get pregnant and you all having to deal with the worry of an increased risk of birth defects.

If you are starting down the route towards IVF I am surprised that your medication hasn't been discussed yet.

Very best wishes.

We're TTC #1 and I've found them incredibly supportive and helpful.

Hi everyone
I'm on lithium and I just miscarried at 11 weeks (missed miscarriage, baby was measuring 9+5). I had the ERPC operation yesterday and recovering at home.
We don't know enough to say whether lithium causes miscarriage but 2 large studies showed that it doubles or triples the risk. One study showed no connection.
I wish I had listened to my gut as I strongly believe lithium caused mine (I increased my dose at 9+3). My bipolar friend miscarried at 20 weeks (missed miscarriage); baby had died some weeks earlier. Again she was on lithium.
Do your own research - listen to your perinatal psychiatrist but look at the studies too. We sent off our baby for genetic testing so if there is a chromosomal cause we will find out. My friend who was much later on, they are doing a full autopsy to check the heart etc.
it's miserable.
I expect mine will not find a reason and at that point I will slowly taper off.
Feel like a mug. A sad mug.

Just to say my miscarriage was caused by something rare called a molar pregnancy - nothing to do with the lithium x