[emily_godzilla]

I just wondered if there was anyone else out there who has bipolar I disorder and decided to have children? I have been with my boyfriend for nine years we live together. The only reason we have not get married is that then my medicare insurance may stop. We have been trying to get pregnant for over a year with no luck. I am not sure if I can even have children I was told I have a micro andenoma and also have an ovarian cyst in each ovary. But if we did manage to get pregnant my pysch. Doc says I would have to stop all my bipolar meds and just have electro shock treatments if needed during the pregnancy. Has anyone else stopped their pysch meds during a pregnancy? Is it wrong to want to have children despite having bipolar disorder? I have been stable on these meds for the last two years. I have not had an episode since summer of 2007. But my bipolar is very severe I have a history of pyschotic manias. Any advice would help. A new gyn I started seeing says I may need surgery on my right ovarian cyst because it is 5 cm. She also suggested I make an appointment with an all women's hospital and their infertility clinic. My boyfriends insurance would not pay for him to be seen so I would be the only one who could go.

[give2me1lemons]

My one friend's mother is bipolar. I'm not sure what type she has or what she did during the pregnancy, but I'm glad my friend exists. Then my Italian teacher was bipolar. He had three children, but then he obviously wouldn't have had to worry about going off his medications. I'm not that familiar with the disorder, but I think that if you want children, you should go for it. There's always adoption if you think the risk is too much. I can't imagine electric shock, let alone of a pregnant woman.

As a side note, my friend has had to deal with a lot because of her mother's disorder. However, that is because her mom doesn't always take her meds. If her mother would stay on them, I don't see why there would be an issue. She's a great mother and person besides.

[Oneoffew]

It's the hormones that are released from the pills that are preventing you from having a baby. Your doctor is right, you can't take the pills and expect to have a baby as well. However, you have to realize that getting pregnant will also release other emotions and things you haven't encountered before. It's a dare, but if you really want a family, then I would think it would be worth it.