The birth of a child can be a stronger trigger for new parents who have, or at risk for, bipolar disorder. It’s not uncommon for the birthing parent to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder for the first during pregnancy or postpartum.
Bipolar disorder causes extreme mood shifts ranging from very (i.e., mania or hypomania) to very low (i.e., depression). There are four diagnosable type of bipolar disorder. However, for our purposes here we focus on two: bipolar I & bipolar II.
Bipolar I
Bipolar I is characterized by having at least one manic episode. As well, the individual may or may not experience a major depressive episode. Signs and symptoms may include:
- Periods of depressed mood and irritability
- Risky behaviours
- Rapid or pressured speech
- Restlessness
- Increased activity level
- Grandiose self-image
- Hypersexuality
- OverspendingLittle need for sleep
- Racing thoughts, trouble concentrating
- Continuous high energy
- Abnormal mood elevation
- Overconfidence
- Impulsiveness, poor judgment
- Grandiose thoughts, inflated sense of self-importance
- In the most severe cases, delusions and hallucinations
Bipolar II
Bipolar II is characterized by at least one hypomanic (milder or more subtle form of mania) episode with a major depressive episode occurring in the previous 2 weeks. Bipolar II contains no manic episodes, and therefore, it is common for bipolar II to be misdiagnosed as depression. Signs and symptoms include:
- Periods of severe depression
- Periods of high mood
- Rapid or pressured speech
- Little need for sleep
- Racing thoughts, trouble concentrating
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Overconfidence
Risk Factors
Personal history of postpartum depression, bipolar disorder, or psychosis or a family history of bipolar disorder, are the strongest predictors. However, it’s important to keep in mind that sleep deprivation, traumatic birth, young age, and low socioeconomic status are stressors that can be contributing factors.
If you’re pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant and you know you have a history of bipolar disorder or psychosis, please discuss this with your health care provider immediately so you can determine your best course of treatment during pregnancy and after the baby is born.
Treatment
The first step in treatment is to ensure to an accurate diagnosis, as it is not uncommon for bipolar disorder to be misdiagnosed as depression. Health care providers can administer screening tools like the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and/or the Mood Disorders Questionnaire (MDQ). In addition, taking a personal and family psychiatric history, and asking questions about activity level, sleep, energy levels
Once an accurate diagnosis is received treatment generally involves psychopharmacology. However, increasing social support, optimizing sleep, psychoeducation, and psychotherapy may also helpful. It’s important to speak with your health care provider about which treatment options best suit your unique needs.
If you are in need of immediate assistance, please contact your health care provider, 911, go to your local hospital, contact Crisis Services Canada, or National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
DISCLAIMER: The content of Postpartum Support Yukon’s website, posts, and blogs does not constitute medical advice, nor is it an emergency service. If you have concerns about any health or medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment, you should consult with a licensed healthcare provider. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call, or go to, your health care provider, local emergency department, 911 or your local emergency number immediately. Postpartum Support Yukon is intended for informational purposes only.
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