Should You Have Children If You Have Bipolar Disorder? | Dr. Jehannine Austin 👩🏻‍🍼

I’m the daughter of a mother with bipolar disorder and had quite a terrible childhood. Many people do however, without a mother with BD. That said, the type of things that happened were a result of a mother who was either neglectful and way off on being able to parent due to depression and isolation , psychosis, or mania or hospitalized. Most ordinary situations were largely unmanageable at best due to her state and my fathers controlling abusive way of dealing with everything, and her. This created volatility almost daily. I do think it’s worth careful consideration-bringing another child into the world. I think anyone would agree that it’s irresponsible not to. This doesn’t mean don’t have kids, but if someone has struggled to stay stable having kids is more destabilizing. And you’ll suffer being unstable and unwell with this on top of having BD, but think about how that would affect children. For the rest of their life. I don’t have BD by the way.

I didn't have the heart to multiply myself because I was so fearful of having a mentally ill child. After a lifetime of being medicated I've taken myself off of seven different psych meds for 10 months now and I'm not mentally ill. Trust me I could not hide it😂😢

I totally understand why people make the choice not to have kids for this reason, however, If everyone I’ve known that has bipolar didn’t have children, several people i love wouldn’t exist, including myself. My husband wouldn’t be here, my siblings, my son, so many friends of mine (that have BP parents) wouldn’t exist and that makes me so sad to think about… my dad is BP, my husband is BP, I’m one of 6 of kids and one brother is BP (I’m not). Life is SO hard with BP so i DO understand. It’s a big decision!

I had my daughter and years later got my diagnosis 😢😢😢 its a mixed blessing, perhaps I wouldnt have children if I knew I had bipolar disorder

Its better to take care of yourself to the best of your ability I feel

Sorry, but this wasn't reassuring. Yes, everyone can have a bipolar child, but it only happens in 1% of the general population versus 10-25% with one bipolar parent. That's not "a bit higher"; that's massive. And knowing how to spot it and get help earlier does not offset the fact that I would give the "gift" of lifelong suffering to someone I love.

no im good lol