The risks of Bipolar Disorder in Pregnancy and the Postpartum period include the risks of relapse of the Disorder, the potential risk of harm to the Mother and/or Baby, and the unfolding area re the relative risks of medication in the first trimester, the rest of pregnancy and during lactation.
Ceasing medication before or during pregnancy or while breastfeeding carries the risk of a potentially dangerous relapse of Bipolar Mood Disorder. Remaining on medication through the different stages of pregnancy and lactation carries variable rates of risk to the foetus and breastfed baby. Data will be presented in relation to the relative risks of the various Mood Stabilisers, Antipsychotics and Antidepressants in each trimester, the immediate Perinatal period and Lactation.
A current model of continuum of care from preconception counselling through pregnancy, delivery and the postnatal period will be discussed.
Type 2 Bipolar Mood Disorder in the Perinatal period can be missed/masked by the understandable symptoms of pregnancy and particularly, "prenatal nesting" and postnatal euphoria. The Depressive phase that may follow is often precipitous, deep and potentially dangerous.