Bipolar & pregnancy

[Petalouda]

Hello,

I'm after your advice and experience for a friend. I hope you can help.

One of my 2 best friends in the world has bipolar, she was diagnosed about 15 years ago when she was a teenager. She's been very stable for most of that time, but in the last 2 years she's had a couple of big episodes, coinciding with relationship breakdown, and then the emotional/hormonal upsets that come with every fledgling relationship since.

I'm currently expecting my first baby, and I know she would so love to find herself in the same position. However, we don't know if this would even be possible with the bipolar.

I'd be so grateful if anyone could share their experiences of starting a family whilst living with bipolar. I think some positivity might really help her.

As far as I know, she's usually on Lithium, with other medication only when she needs it.

Thanks,

I am bipolar and have had two children. I stopped the lithium while pregnant and was closely monitored by my GP, I have not had any major episodes for over ten years before I got pregnant; I always was more to the depressive than manic side. I went back on it after breastfeeding for three months with the first, as I got PND, the lack of sleep triggered it, so I BF for 6 weeks with my second and went straight back on the lithium and no PND.

So it is possible, but everyone is different, she should discuss this with her GP and whoever else she is in contact with.

HI I was recently diagnosed but I have been suffering for 10 years. I had a two year manic episode when I was 13 followed by a two year depression and then I accidently fell pg when 17 and going manic. However my body does something strange when pg or bf I am stable a few people with bipolor feel this way. So she may find she remains stable while pg and bf. My mood swings returned after both children once my periods returned and when they returned after DC2 I was admitted and diagnosed. But I have had 5 years of relative stability thanks to pg and bf where before I was pg I was constantly on a episode(without meds). I have also been wondering if given my history of being more stable while pg if I would be ok to have another baby without medication I mean as it makes me more stabile I see no reason why not.

Thanks for your stories, I guess we won't know until she's in that position. I was hoping for nice stories like yours, crawling, to help take the 'pressure' off!

She's 30 this year, and there's an audible ticking around many of my friends trying to get partners & houses lined up before we hit the 35-fertility-cliff! I certainly know my ovaries were deafening a few months ago!

Thanks again.

I hope things work out well for your friend.

I hope so too! Although it's a long time to wait to judge a lifetime!

But in the short term, I'm waiting for a call from her to find out what the doc said today (she's had a wibble), and then see how she goes this week.

What a beast this thing is.