Having a mental health condition can discourage any woman from attempting to get pregnant and start a family. This is truer if the condition is one that requires you to take medications to control. If you feel you are ready to have a baby, you should not let mental illness stop you from that. There are many options you can pursue to and there is support available to ensure you have a healthy pregnancy.

Pregnancy, however, does come with a few challenges that almost every woman needs to face. It can be tiring and it can cause undesirable symptoms. Planning for a pregnancy is important for every woman, but it is even more so for women with mental health conditions. Here are a few things you need to do to prepare for pregnancy with a mental health condition.

Medications that Interfere With Getting Pregnant

If you take medications for your mental health condition, talk to your doctor and ask if any of these medications can make it harder for you to get pregnant. Some medications, such as antipsychotics, may affect the chances of getting pregnant, and this can cause you added stress and frustration. Talk to your doctor about other options.

Medications that May Harm Your Baby

Other medications can pose risks to your baby even if you were using them before getting pregnant. Talk to your doctor about your medications well before getting pregnant because some medications need to be stopped gradually over a few weeks to prevent withdrawal symptoms. Some medications that you need to be careful about include benzodiazepines, lithium, anticonvulsants, and antipsychotics.

Discuss Other Treatment Options

Ask your doctor about other treatment options for your condition that do not involve taking medication. Some mental health conditions can be treated by talk therapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy. If your doctor thinks that such treatment might work for you, it is worth trying. Remember that controlling certain conditions need the use of medication so it may not be an option for you.

Learn Relaxation Techniques

Ask your doctor about relaxation techniques you can do to control stress and anxiety while pregnant. There are many techniques you can learn and apply while pregnant, and these can be greatly helpful as an extra way to keep your condition under control. Some relaxation techniques include deep breathing, guided imagery, and some forms of yoga.