Women with ADHD and Pregnancy

Many women with ADHD have managed their disorder and function well on medications such as stimulants, antidepressants, and blood pressure medications. But the problem is always occurs when women are on childbearing years and nursing mothers. Most of them have lot of questions regarding the safety of the medicines their taking during pregnancy.

It is important to inform their physician if they are planning to become pregnant. So that the physician can study and can make the best decision what medications he or she will give to the patients that are safe. Physician must educate the patient, make practical recommendations and must act based on the decision of both woman with ADHD and her partner. One of the important decisions to make is if the mother wants to continue her treatment through medications and at the same time not exposing her baby to drugs or parents should base their choice on a balance between the ability of the mother to function off the medication and the desire to keep the fetus free from exposure. If they choose to stop medications, they must take extra precautions to be able to live normally. This include having someone with them all the time and someone who can help them in house chores and following stress management to minimize symptoms of the disorder.

There is no definite confirmation that ADHD medications have a negative effect on the fetus and no issue on clinical data about women who continued their medications during their pregnancy. The effects are high risk from malformations, miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, and behavioral disorder that may appear afterward in childhood. For some clinicians believed that the placenta acts as a barrier that protects the fetus from adverse effects of medications and toxins taken by the mother.

For nursing mother, they must work directly with their pediatrician. They must know the reactions or negative effects that may occur when giving a breastfeeding at the same time taking ADHD medications. For example, in taking stimulants medications, the effects are poor sleeping patterns and irritability. They should ask their physician to decreased the dosage of their medicines or stop it completely.

Working with mental physician, obstetrician and pediatrician is very significant in mother with ADHD and their pregnancy. They must carefully consider the benefits and potential negative outcome of treatment before prescribing and giving the medications to their patients. In my opinion, women must not take medications during their childbearing days for the safety of their child. There other means of treating ADHD like engaging in cognitive behavioral therapies or reading books and magazines that are helpful in understanding more of their situations.

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