Parenthood and Medication

[bluenote]

I would like to here peoples experiences/opinions on having children even though you maybe schizophrenic. I am considering having a baby, but am concerned about going off meds for it. Working with my doctors now to figure out if I can switch to different medications during the pregnancy. Worried about the whole process. My doctors don’t seem to think I can develop into having a full life.

[Dreamscape]

I think the little bundle of joy would be worth the symptoms. Sounds like you’re doing the right thing by speaking to your doctor and asking around… I probably also look at some the naturopathy treatments that wont harm the baby. Things like omega-3, vitamin B etc but talk to your doctor about levels for pregnancy. Hopefully some of the others can give much more personal accounts of their pregnancy with symptoms.

[Hadeda]

My husband and I are also considering having a child whilst I’m schizophrenic. I am not in a good place right now so it seems impossible but the doctors say its possible. That is - when I am stable.

[BarbieBF]

Am I crazy to want a baby when I'm schizophrenic?

I don’t think she should let her disorder stop her from doing what she wants with her life. Everyone deserves that and if she wants a kid she should damn well have one.

Should a schizophrenic Woman Have a Baby?

@etre I just wanted to give a shout out of support… and with the therapy and the anger management classes, the stable relationship… the good insight… it sounds like your set-up for success. Wishing good health to you and your arriving daughter.

Antipsychotic medication during pregnancy does affect babies

The observational study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, reveals that whilst most women gave birth to healthy babies, the use of mood stabilisers or higher doses of antipsychotics during pregnancy increased the need for special care after birth with 43 per cent of babies placed in a Special Care Nursery (SCN) or a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), almost three times the national rate in Australia. As well as an increased likelihood of the need for intensive care, the world-first study by experts from the Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre (MAPrc) and Monash University, shows antipsychotic drugs affects babies in other ways; 18 per cent were born prematurely, 37 per cent showed s…

Motherhood and schizophrenia - compatible?

Having children is very hard for anyone - you get very little sleep for a few years of your life when your kids are very young. Its exhausting and very stressful - for anyone. Key things that help are having family support (parent’s, or other close friends that can help and give you a break when you need it). I would recommend reading these documents: Preventing Schizophrenia http://schizophrenia.com/prev1.htm

[anon40453850]

I can tell you, I was not on meds for either of my pregnancies, but, I was oddly more stable. This was before I had ever started medication, but, was obviously ill. The pregnancy hormones seemed to level me out. That and the fact that my diet was perfect, because I was carrying an extra special person with me. Now that I have a 4 year old and 8 month old and I am on medication, all is well. I have my ups and downs, but, having people to care for keeps me sane. I CAN’T just check out and be crazy. I have obligations. This does mean a lot of added anxiety, but, with anxiety medication, I am doing really well and I love my kids. They are the most amazing things to ever have happened to me. The first 8 weeks you can expect some waking in the middle of the night, but, it’s not hard! Just get up, breastfeed, bottle feed and then put your bundle back to bed. Don’t let him or her be dependent on rocking or singing to sleep. Both of my children did great. If you have questions, please feel free to contact me, I will gladly help out.

[SzAdmin]

Some reading that may be valuable:

Am I crazy to want a baby when I'm schizophrenic?

One woman’s story:

Motherhood and schizophrenia - compatible?

I am sitting with a little dilemma. My husband would prefer to have a child, but I don’t really. I would want a child, but I am worried with us both having an illness, it would make things difficult. I am worried about how I would cope as a schizophrenic mother. I am almost constantly depressed and fearful and lack motivation in life, its often so hard to keep going. And I have phobias about sicknesses, and children have them a lot. I don’t know how I would cope because I hate germs. At the moment I dread having to nurse sick children more than I would love to play with healthy children. Its crazy. I have no experience of babies as I was the youngest in my family. I don’t know if I even hav…

Should a schizophrenic Woman Have a Baby?

Should a schizophrenic woman have a child? Im 40, 8 yrs out of hospital, non smoker, non addict, happily married, togethqer 7 years Is it just a bad idea all round Ive been exrermely unwell in the past and long term and my sister screams at me if i suggest having a baby she says how could you expect mum to take care of it and youd be in hospital?..s What is the truth? My new friend who has only seen me stable thinks id love it Im so broody My husband is asexual has climaxed only in his sleep in his life Our sex went on for 4 yrs but weve stopped We are both mildly autistic

http://forum.schizophrenia.com/t/should-a-schizophrenic-woman-have-a-child/15066

[bluenote]

Thank you so much everyone for your comments. I have so much to think about and plan for. I don’t want to have regrets, but it is hard to reach for a “normal” life when dealing with the symptoms of sza. I wish I could step back into life before my breakdown when all things seemed possible.