New study in Dallas shows that mothers who did not receive treatment for bipolar disorder during pregnancy had more relapse during postpartum.
The December issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry has published a study on the issue of how pregnancy and postpartum may affect mothers with bipolar disorder.
89 mothers were admitted to the research study at 24 weeks of pregnancy. These mothers were followed during pregnancy, postpartum and into the first year after birth and decided themselves when, if at all, to discontinue medication (mood stabilizers.) About 70% of the mothers experienced a mood episode during pregnancy.
The risk of recurrence was significantly higher in the mothers who discontinued treatment. Moreover, researchers found that the mothers were more likely to stop taking medication for bipolar disorder if their pregnancy was unplanned. Although there can be risks to the growing fetus in the first trimester from certain medications, researchers believe that "abruptly discontinuing medicationin an attempt to protect her baby, a woman or her physicianmay unwittingly increase the risk of relapse for mood episodes,while having little impact on the teratogenic effects of medicationexposure."
As with any medication you may be taking during pregnancy or if you are concerned about other things to avoid during pregnancy, be sure to consult with your care provider. If you are experiencing depression or bipolar disorder, seek out a practitioner who is well-educated about mental health issues, prior to discontinuing medication.
Brenda
