iMedix's comments

Pregnancy and Bipolar Disorder

25 Nov 2008 09:11 PM

Many women with chronic mental illnesses, including bipolar disorder, become pregnant or plan to have children at some point in their lives. Managing bipolar disorder throughout a pregnancy is a delicate balance of the risks and benefits of the illness versus treatment, and should be done in close collaboration with knowledgeable professionals, both psychiatric and obstetric. Pregnancy and delivery can influence the symptoms of bipolar disorder: pregnant women or new mothers with bipolar disorder have a sevenfold higher risk of hospital admission and a twofold higher risk for a recurrent episode, compared with those who have not recently delivered a child or are not pregnant.

Bipolar Disorder, Bipolar Patients, Bipolar Symptoms, Bipolar Community, Manic-Depressive, Mania, Mood Swings, Mood Stabilizers, Mental Health Evaluations, Episodes