has anyone taken medication throughout pregnancy as a preventative?

[Hollykk]

I was advised by my doctor to stay on my medication if I’m thinking of having a baby in the next year and throughout pregnancy. Has anyone else done this? I am on Haliperidol

[Rachel_at_APP Partner APP]

Hello Hollykk,

It’s a really good question you’ve asked in relation to planning pregnancy, and one too that I pondered massively with my husband when considering having a second baby following PP with our first.

There is lots of information in APP’s Planning Pregnancy Guide, I’ll pop a link to it below for you.

Firstly I always think it’s important to say that everyone’s situation is unique to them, so the advice I received from my health professionals, was relevant to us at the time. But it did follow the advice I’ve heard from others too subsequently. And in short it worked for us, for which I feel extremely fortunate and grateful. Preconception advice can be accessed by visiting your GP who can refer you to a Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Team, that was our first step - which worked well.

I took preventative medication from about 34 weeks, I was prescribed Risperidone, taking half the dose that I took in 2016/17 to help me get well again. Not without huge emotion with all of the decisions to be honest. The first tablets I took that day - I won’t forget as my husband had to hold my hand literally. It felt frightening, but it was most definitely the right thing for us.

As it happened, I should probably have been on a higher dose in the lead up, as the prescription had to be increased very swiftly not long after the birth of our little one (hence me saying everyone is unique).

The medication was just part of the plan, which also featured a planned five day stay in hospital after the birth. Again, it was all with huge emotion. But we decided on balance it was a sensible approach.

Planning / birth plans - as my sister once said - pre-warned is pre-armed - if you like, because my experience of PP in 2016 was completely out of the blue - we’d never even heard of PP - preparing for a second baby was “easier” in “some” ways as we knew what support and care there was - so if you like we could build a little team around us to help control the controllables.

The best advice I had, was working with my doctors. Ask them all the questions you have, tell them what’s worrying you etc. I hope you’re finding them approachable so far, and there to support you.

Hope this helps in some way, do write other questions if it helps.

Rachel

Few links:

- APPs Planning Pregnancy Guide

app-network.org/postpartum-...

- Medication in Pregnancy

choiceandmedication.org/ncm...

[Hollykk in reply to Rachel_at_APP]

Thanks Rachel, this was extremely helpful! I was advised the same thing about a pre conception meeting to discuss possible options. I agree with you, having a team around you does make things a bit less scary and make it possible to want to try again!

Thanks again for your advice.