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[broknashleydoll]

ok i feel a little exposed asking this but do any of you have mental health problems that are maybe exacerbated by pregnancy. i dont take meds, not that i could while pregnant. but im bipolar and im worried that the imbalance i have normally is going to be worse with the hormonal stuff on top of that.

Comments

[magikaldragon]

i am bipolar as well and jumped off my meds as soon as i found out i was pregnant... its been a struggle but over all hasn't been too bad as far as my mood swings... the only person who seemed to notice them was my husband... but that's only cause he's with me the most out of everyone...

now that i'm nearing the end (almost 36w) i have been having a lot of problems with the pregnancy... its taking its toll on me...

i am to start zoloft the day i deliver to combat PPD though... so i am hoping it will work out...

[team_nicole]

I always jumped off of meds as soon as I found out I was pregnant. Only difference for me this time is that I will start something right before I have my csection- because my husband and I have realized with my pregnancys I have severe post partum depression- and then my bipolar swings in terribly.

[feelingfroggy80]

out of couriousity (sp) wouldn't you start meds right after delivery so that baby will not have any withdrawls? I know each OB is different as are meds. I was told to go off Zoloft 1-2 weeks before my section so that the baby doesn't go through withdrawls.Which btw aren't bad, you would just have a crankier baby for a week or so. But DD had Colic and Reflux so I would rather not chance having another with withdrawls and what DD had. They will start me back on Zoloft the day I deliver or the following day to combat ppd. Good luck!

[asharose]

I was quite worried about how I would become once I was pregnant too! All my life I have been struggling with extreme anxiety, bouts of depression, and all sorts of mood swings related to BPD. And I had been rapidly worsening too. I finally agreed to start taking medication last summer, and had been on the meds a few months, finally starting to feel a bit more stable and less withdrawn, when I became pregnant.

I was really worried about how I would decline during pregnancy, having to drop the meds cold-turkey too, but surprisingly I've never felt better. I'm much calmer, more even moods. I've had a lot of people comment on how this pregnancy is really doing amazing things for me too!

One of my friends who also suffers from mental illness surmises that perhaps the pregnancy hormones help tame anxiety in some, as she always felt her best when she was pregnant too.

[uppity_heathen]

I am bipolar. I have never taken meds. I felt much better while pregnant and still feel better 4.5 months PP.

I stopped smoking, drinking, and eating food with additives and I started taking b12 and omega 3 supplements and I feel better than I ever have in my life.

[nimble_nymph]

I'm also bipolar (ii) I find that the best way of handling it without meds is to be really proactivly self aware. Keep a journal that just sums up how you were feeling every day and have someone you trust check it out once a week, or every two weeks. This has to be someone that you trust 100% who is objective. The goal is to keep track of how long you are any one side of your mood spectrum. If you are down for a long time, it's time to go see someone about it.

[sandi1743]

someone that we know liked being pregnant as he bi-polar was so much better while she was and she was not on the meds. for each person it can be different.