If you suffer from these illnesses work closely with a psychiatrist and therapist throughout your pregnancy to determine what medications if any are suitable.
Women who suffer bipolar disorder are more likely to suffer from postpartum depression and they are also more likely to suffer from postpartum psychosis (the illness that leads to horrific incidents like the Andrea Yates murders). Not exactly reassuring statistics.
If you suffer from these illnesses work closely with a psychiatrist and therapist throughout your pregnancy to determine what medications if any are suitable. This will make breastfeeding impossible and thus could worsen the mother's temperment by bringing on feelings of guilt, self-centeredness, and greater depression..
If you have suicidal or violent thoughts, antipsychotic medication, pain medication, antidepressants, mood stabilizers could be required, but this often makes the mother unavailable for her newborn due to drowsiness and fatique.
The road to recovery requires the help of good doctors, friends, supportive family and a lot of work if you build a support system, make sure you’re under a good doctor’s care, and are willing to work to improve your mental state.
If you found this helpful, there is a series on postpartum depression at Suite101.com that you may find interesting:
Postpartum Depression Treatment
Postpartum Depression Risk Factors
Do I have Postpartum Depression?
Postpartum Depression Symptoms
