Pregnancy & Bipolar Disorder

Millions of Americans suffer from bipolar disorder, a mental condition brought on by chemical imbalances. While managing the condition can be relatively easy, many female patients worry that becoming pregnant may exacerbate the condition's symptoms and severity.

What Is Bipolar Disorder?

• Bipolar disorder is a condition caused by chemical imbalances in the brain. This condition presents with frequent mood swings and intense emotions. In addition, it can cause depression, loss of appetite, antisocial behavior and can even lead to death in patients who experience suicidal tendencies.

Bipolar Disorder and Pregnancy

• Bipolar disorder generally emerges when patients are young adults, and thus women of childbearing age are often at risk for developing the disorder. In addition, women who suffer from bipolar disorder are seven times more likely to be hospitalized during their pregnancy and two times more likely to suffer from a recurrent episode.

Managing Bipolar Disorder While Pregnant

• With careful planning, women who suffer from bipolar disorder can manage their illness to minimize the severity of symptoms and reduce the risk of damage to the fetus. Experts recommend that pregnant patients avoid sudden changes in their medication, as this may increase the risk of damage to the fetus and the possibility of relapse of the illness before the child is born.

Preferred Medication for Bipolar Patients

• Female patients who suffer from bipolar disorder and are pregnant are advised to take certain medications and to avoid others, so as to reduce the risk of damage to the fetus. Lithium and other first-generation antipsychotics, including Thorazine and Haldol, are recommended because their effect on the fetus is consistently minimal. Anticonvulsants, including Depakota and Tegretol, have proven to contribute to fetus damage, which results in birth defects (Healthy Place). In addition, patients who take only one mood-stabilizing medication are at a lower risk of damage to their fetus than patients who take multiple medications.

Benefits of Lithium Treatment

• Many women also choose to manage their bipolar disorder using lithium, which has fewer risks to the developing fetus than traditional medications. While on Lithium, however, it is essential that patients drink plenty of water so as to prevent lithium toxicity, which can affect the patient and fetus. In addition, patients should monitor their lithium levels closely, particularly during delivery of the child and immediately after giving birth. This helps to prevent relapse in the mother and lithium toxicity in the infant.