This article is about my experience with behaviour altering medications and pregnancy. It is not in any way shape or form intended to influence readers to do as I have done, rather to share my experience and help mothers to make an informed decision.

Many people

suffer from some kind of behavioural or mood disorder throughout their lives. For some, it is episodic and linked to a particular event or trauma i.e.: depression following the death of a loved one, and for others, like me, it is an ongoing condition that needs continual treatment.

It took approximately 5 years of experimentation by my medical professionals to find the right combination of medications for me. When I am correctly medicated and receiving the appropriate therapy I am a happy, well balanced individual. I have a career, hobbies, a great relationship with my family, many good friends, an active social life, and most importantly to me- a successful marriage and a happy, healthy child. It wasn't always like this. While I was on the incorrect, or worse, no medication my behaviour was erratic at best. Wild mood swings (to quote The Cure), inconsistent behaviour, destructive behaviour, self harm, inability to sleep or eat like a 'regular' person- these were just a few of the symptoms I experienced when things got out of control. I look back on those days in horror, but also with pride, as I am never going back there.

I have always wanted to be a mother, for as long as can remember. In 2007, when I had been happy and symptom free for quite some time, and we were financially and emotionally in a really great place, my husband and I decided we would start a family. So it was out with the contraceptive pill and in with the pregnancy vitamins. We were all set to go.

One of the first people I spoke to about it was my psychiatrist. He was really happy with our decision to start a family- he knew I had been wanting this for a long time. He asked me what I intended to do about my medication. I knew that he would give me his honest opinion, but support me whatever I decided. I told him that unless I was strongly advised otherwise, I would continue with my current medication. He was greatly relieved. He had many patients in similar situations and he found that those that continued with their current medication regime had relaxed and trouble free pregnancies (from a mood perspective) and had chilled and happy babies. He found that those that chose to go without often spent the pregnancy highly anxious and distressed, and that this was passed on to the baby. At the time (as now) I was on two different medications. One had been extensively researched and found to have no discernible effect on the developing foetus. The other had not had extensive testing for pregnant women, however, the chances of it crossing the placental barrier to any great extent were minimal. My GP and psychologist shared this opinion, as did the obstetrician at the hospital where I was due to deliver my baby. Many people smoke, ingest alcohol, seafood, soft cheeses, processed meats and so on during their pregnancies. I did none of these-I simply continued to take the medication that makes it possible for me to be safe and well. *

Ask yourself this- Would you tell an insulin dependant diabetic not to take their insulin, just because their body doesn't 'naturally' make enough of it? No way. Well for some of us it is the same with our behaviour and mood medication. Our bodies simply do not make enough of, or make too much of, things that can severely compromise our quality of life. When used in conjunction with therapy and under strictly supervised conditions, these medications can be the difference between a happy, healthy life or no life at all.

It isn't an easy decision to make, and not something to be entered into lightly. There are many factors to consider including the following:

• Is your condition episodic, or is it ongoing? If your condition is related to specific incident and has an end date, resolving the issue and going medication free before planning a pregnancy ultimately may be the answer for you. If the condition is ongoing, becoming medication free may not be something that is a viable option.
• Have you had the best possible advice? In the first place, I acted on the advice of my 3 medical practitioners that had been seeing me for many years. They knew where I was both physically and emotionally and so could advise me from an informed position. I was also in a place where I could trust their advice, as it had served me well in the past.
• Have you looked into genetic counselling? Genetic counselling is available in most states (in WA the centre is a KEMH). If you feel that the advice you have received from your medical practitioners is incomplete, or does not reassure you, look into this option.

Ultimately, no pregnancy is risk free. Our environment, general health and wellbeing, and other accidents that can happen along the way mean that there are never any guarantees. All you can do is take the information available and make the best decision for you and your baby, whatever that decision may be.

Regards,

Mintythistle79

*Advice is able to be read by non-members and general net-surfers. While I am happy to share details of my condition and medication within the Minti community, I am not comfortable posting it publicly. If you are in a similar situation and would like to know the details so you have a basis of comparison, please feel free to Minti Mail me. Thanks.