Bipolar Pregnancy

This one touched a nerve with me:

Do you know that UNTREATED depression/bipolar disorder has a MUCH worse effect on the fetus than the many safe medications to treat it? Have you spoke with your Dr. about switching to Wellbutrin? SAFE during pregnancy and breastfeeding, treats your issue well.

I have chronic depression, and have been through 2 pregnancies and breastfed two children while taking Wellbutrin SR. I was under the supervision of cutting-edge Doctors at UPMC, as I also participated in a study while on the meds. I heard the Doctors (on MORE that one occasion) express disbelief and disgust that other Doctors and patients were quick to assume that anti-dep meds were bad during pregnancy. Most just don't have the latest information, or the Dr.s just dont' want to have their patients on anything for fear of liability (my former OB didn't even want me to take a Tylenol!)

www.neuropsychiatryreviews.com/jun01/npr_jun01_antidepres...

Sorry about the long link. Worth a read. :)

Hi L.,
I'm a little familiar with your situation. My sister is bipolar and was on a "cocktail" of medications when she got unexpectedly pregnant. She also has epilepsy and is medicated for that as well. I believe she was on Welbutrin(sp?) as an anti depressent which she had been on for years prior to pregnancy. She slowly weined herself off the drugs during the first two months of her pregnancy and her baby was born perfectly healthy.
I just wanted to encourage you a little by telling you that things turned out just fine for her!

I have to agree with the prior post. I would be more concerned about you. Your doctor should be able to make you feel better about your meds. It is more stressful on you and the baby weaning the meds, then to stay on it. Please talk to your doc.

Hi L.,
I assume you checked out weaning off your meds with both your primary physician and the OB/GYN, right?

I was diagnosed with chronic depression and anxiety and have been on meds for over 15 years. When I got pregnant 3 years ago I was told that it was much safer for me to stay on my meds compared to any risks to my son. Obviously your meds can be changed to safer meds as well. The doctor was very concerned about what would happen to me if I stopped taking the meds and felt that was much more dangerous.

Its a similar situation so I thought I'd mention it for what its worth.

Best of luck with your baby and your teenage step-daughter (my daughter is 18)

Hi L. - I am bipolar and a mom to two children under two. I was on 150 mg of lamictal for the first six weeks of both pregnancies and stopped taking it until 36 weeks when I started my mood stablizer at a low dose. I think that starting back on my mood stablizer prior to delivery was a key in keeping myself sane postpartum. I wish that I had stayed on my medications (at least the stablizer and antidepressant) for the entire pregnancy because it was pretty rough after month 4. The drug manufacturer for your medications most likely has a drug registry that tracks the effect of your medication in pregnancies. Don't let it freak you out - it is just a good way to realistically assess risk vs. benefit. It is natural to fear that you will hurt your child by taking medications while pregnant, but realize that the risks are pretty low. Both my boys are healthy and bright - I breastfed both of them for 8 months while taking lamictal and zoloft. Do what feels right and what keeps you sane. Good luck!!

Hi, I had to respond to this post! I am 33, bi-polar and a mother of three children. I just gave birth to a baby girl on Sept. 6, 2009. I met with a high risk preg. doctor, and at his suggestion, I stayed on all medications ( Effexor, Trileptal, and Seroquil) during the whole preg. He felt that the risks where low in percentage and many women had healthy babies while on these medications, and more importantly, it would be better for me to stay on my meds!
There where no complications, the only suggestion he gave was that I take extra folic acid to counter act the meds.
good luck L.,,, stay on your meds! you need to be mentally healthy for you and your baby!

I have Bi Polar Disorder, I wasn't diagnosed until recently so I'm sorry for commenting. I have read your responses and I wanted to add that I WISH I was on meds while I was preg. I had bad dips into depression and when I had my babies I had a really bad time from hormones going nuts anyway and having hitting crazy highs and lows really quickly. I wanted to advise you to talk to your dr about putting you on safe meds instead of completely going off. At the least you might be able to go on depression meds and be watched for your depression going nuts since depression meds are not recommended for people with Bi Polar Disorder, they can make things worse. Talk to your dr before you go completely off.

Joanna
Mommy to Mara 9, Cate 7 and Olivia 5