How do people with bipolar disorder navigate pregnancy?
I have bipolar 1. I want to marry and have children, but I'm scared of
1. Whether my psychiatrist will agree to change or take me off my meds while trying/pregnant. I'm on lithium and ziprasidone (geodon). Both cause harm to the fetus. My psychiatrist never agrees with me whenever I point out the side effects of my medications. She always says my symptoms must be due to something else. I think she may have the same response when I tell her I want to go off my meds to have a kid.
2. Postpartum psychosis
3. How to avoid sleep loss while taking care of a baby. For me, sleep loss inevitably leads to a manic episode
I'm still figuring out if having bipolar disorder is a good enough reason to not have kids even if you really want them. If it's really bad then I'd have to change my priorities and marry someone who doesn't want kids either or already has kids and doesn't want any more.
Is there anyone out there who's had a bipolar diagnosis before having kids and it turned out alright? I'd really like to know.
If someone is child free by choice because of bipolar I would also like to know about it.
Thank you. #Pregnancy #baby #Child #Parenting