Pregnant and Bi-polar, HELP!!!

Hi, I just registered and I am hoping to get some help. I am now pregnant with my second child. My son turned one on June 15th, less than a month ago. My first pregnancy was wonderful, a breeze. I am now having terrible panic attacks, spurts of depressive crying 2-3 times a day, I am not ready to be pregnant again. I have been diagnosed with bi-polar, I also have fibromyalgia which is much worse this time. I was wondering if any one knoew of medications that are safe during pregnancy so I can talk to my doctor. I am only 4 weeks pregnant and I am having such bad panic attacks I can hardly breath. So, if anyone has gone through this or knows anyone who has gone through with or without meds, please respond. Any help, helps. Thanks

hm, i don't think depakote is for mommies...

SM, I am the wife of a BP, and it sounds like on the med front you are getting lots of great input. I want to address the fibromyalgic pregnancy. I too have fibromyalgia and in my first pregnancy had a HORRIBLE time, with my second pregnancy I had a much easier time...and that was with TWINS! You also shared you don't really feel ready to be pregnant again....I sort of understand that also because, with my first...although we agreed to try, my doctors had told me it would most likely take help to get me pregnant as I also have endometriosis. So...they anticipated on letting me try on our own for 6 -12 months and then would step in. They told us when to try so we did (12th & 14th day after the start of my period) but we didn't really take it seriously given what they had said....then.....BBOOOOMMMMMM.....FIRST time out of the gate PREGNANT! We knew in 3 days!!!!!!!!!!! I was already sick, already swelling breasts....UNBELIEVABLE. Then total SICK set in both physically and emotionally for quite a while. I didn't feel ready. I had it in my head a year and a half from then...I saw this time as my prep time to wrap my head around it all and get ready for the emotional shift to motherhood....I NEVER thought I would get pregnant THAT fast. But I did. And while I suddenly felt cheated out of this time I had anticipated and was now yearning for....I was violently puking 12 times a day, on fluid IV treatments that made me puke more...and in CONSTANT pain with the fibro (which I didn't know I had yet) and the braxton hicks contractions starting at 2 months that occurred daily. I was NOT a happy bunny...and then I felt worse because NONE of this fit my picture of how I would feel when this amazing blessing happened in my life...which caused me to then feel even MORE upset.....the spiral kept going and going and going...

So...as you can see, while I did not have the compounding issue of BP...I do get it. So here is my input for you on the emotional side about not feeling ready....Allow that to be okay, you will eventually catch up to the events and all will be fine, but if you fight the truth of those momentary feelings it gives them MORE power and it lasts longer and feels more intense. So just let it be okay that for today...you don't feel ready...because it IS okay. It doesn't change the fact that you are, and if you give yourself space, emotionally you will eventually catch up and you will accept and probably celebrate it in time. And as for the physical side of it, the best advise I can give you is REST. Get some help if you can for your one year old and just give your body the rest it craves. If you can afford to get someone to help around the house for a few hours a day or a few days a week - then get them. Work to stretch your joints gently, get a massage (one designed for pregnancy of course) and do the techniques that can help alleviate pain naturally...I found total rest one of the most essential things for me. Plus, by also accepting and not fighting your emotions...you will allow your body to hold itself less tensely and in turn, that will help to lesson the discomfort from the pregnancy to.

Be gentle with yourself right now, and try and be gentle with others too. It is OKAY to need extra help right now. Get the support from wherever you can.

Good luck to you, I hope some of that helps...LFW

Ok, I'm back. So I had my first child last August. I did pretty well in my first pregnancy. I had been stable on a great combination of medicines for two years; I have been bipolar for a very long time and it took several years to find the right combination of meds that worked for me. Anyway, I immediately went off the Tegretol and Seroquil because the Tegretol can cause birth defects in the first trimester. I stayed off the Tegretol through the entire pregnancy but had to go back on the Seroquil in the second trimester because I started having panic/anxiety attacks really bad like you. I also took Ativan for the attacks when needed and that helped too. I couldn't take the Ativan all of the time because the baby could get addicted to it and it can cause cleft palate. So I only took it when I felt like an attack was on the way. I did experience highs and lots of lows but was able to make it through with the help of the Seroquel. Then five months after having my first child I found out that I was pregnant again. I wasn't even really that stable yet; I went back on the Tegretol and stayed on the Seroquel but with my hormones still fluctuating I had a hard time getting stable. So off of the Tegretol I went immediately again. I remained on the Seroquel but at a lower dosage. The panic attacks started a lot sooner this time, at eight weeks, so I take the Ativan as needed again. However, I am diabetic as well as bipolar II and the fact that I got pregnant before my body had fully healed I started having problems very early on. The mania we got under control with the Seroquel pretty much but the depression was debilitating! I would cry and cry and cry and be so depressed that I could not function to even take care of my daughter. Of course, I couldn't go back on the Tegretol yet and nothing else seemed to work for me either at the time. So I suffered through until May when I was well into my second trimester and my ob and pdoc agreed that the baby was far enough along now that the Tegretol would not hurt him (I'm having a boy). So back on the Tegretol I went but at a low dose and it is spread out three times a day so that my baby gets low dosages at a time because I was still worried myself. Now I am much better. I don't suffer from the depression as bad; I still have down days but I can function now and take care of myself and my daughter. Without the meds, I couldn't make it. Yes, there are risks but if you talk it over with your docs and do research you find that there are a lot of meds that you can take. I can't take antidepressants because I am a rapid cycler. But like some of the people here pointed out, you have to take care of yourself to be able to take care of your babies. I am 26 weeks now but I am having other complications such as contractions and cramps, my cervix is thinning early so I am at risk of delivering early. I am pretty much on bed rest and can't do a thing even cook. My mom is here to help me. Thank goodness I went back on my meds or I really couldn't cope right now with all of this. Like I said, I still have some down days but I function just fine. I cry sometimes but I take my Ativan and calm down and go on. I rarely have a manic day anymore too.

You can do this! I didn't think that I could do it either but with help from here and family and my docs, I am making it alright. You have to take care of yourself. Sometimes I worry that all the upset and stuff early has caused me to have complications but my docs say that is not the case. I still wonder though. So you really need to talk with your doctors and find out what meds you can take. Yes, there may be risks but some are just so small that it is worth it if it helps you through this. Trust me on this!!

Keep us updated and welcome!!! You will find lots of support here; I know that I have and really appreciate it. We are always here. My email address is available just click on the envelope if you need me plus I check here daily and post often. Talk with your doctors!! Do your research!! You can make it. I am here for you too.

Missflip