What support is realistically available for bipolar mums?

[owlborn]

I was wondering if anyone out there has been unwell with a small baby? This is all theoretical at the moment - DH and I are talking about children, but he's really worried as when I'm unwell I'm very hard work (I can get very agitated, very angry and very unpredictable) and he is scared he'll end up trying to look after me and a baby at the same time without any kind of support. We've had issues with lack of support in the past and he's ended up needing to shoulder a lot by himself.

What would happen if I was to get pregnant? Who would there be for him/us/me to turn to? How closely would I be monitored? For the last year I've not even been seeing a psychiatrist, just my GP every two months for checks.

I was monitered every weekby cpn and every month by pychiatrist. I was also given a care plan and that specified when I wanted meds introduced. There are mum and baby units for if admittance is needed if your baby is under a year.

I have had a major episode after all 3 dc but dh coped wih my mums help. But it took both of them as I was unable to look after dc and dh had to work. So my advice is in your care plan decide who will be responsible for the baby.

My sister is bi- polar and she has twins of 17 months. She was under a mental health team whilst she was pregnant, but she was fine. I'm not sure how they got involved to start with, but there def is help available. Maybe speak to your own doc or when you are pregnant ask your midwife about t

Thank you both! I know I need to get my psychiatrist available before we even start TTC - last visit I had with him I got the riot act about only getting pregnant if he had time to put me on different meds as the ones I'm on are apparently non-pregnancy friendly.