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ADHD Moms?

bustabucketbustabucket member
in 1st Trimester
Anyone else struggling with adjusting to pregnancy with ADHD? Love to hear from anyone on their experiences, past or present…did you continue meds, and if so how did everything turn out? If not, how did you cope, and when did you restart? Thank you!
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Re: ADHD Moms?

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    callistobugcallistobug member
    Hi. I have ADHD and haven't taken meds in a long time. The side effects were just too bad for me. However, you can talk to ob/gyn to ask if you should continue your meds or not. They can give you a good opinion and let you know if there are any risks. I have an antidepressant that can be a small risk. The doctor said they didn't want to mess around with mood disorders so they didn't want me to stop. Just sending a quick message over to them may help. You may need to safely taper off of the med if the doctor wants you to stop.
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    pangolindromepangolindrome member
    edited May 2022
    I have ADHD but have never medicated. Pregnancy brain + ADHD brain has been kind of a harsh combination. Sometimes, I feel like the hormones have improved my focus but other times, I can hardly remember what I just said and I'm so lucky I have high schoolers who are happy to help keep me on track.
    I set lots of calendar reminders and alarms. It's the only way I can remember what to do and when to do it. I exercise at least an hour every day, two half-hour walks with our dog, which is about what I can handle right now. I try to eat healthy, nutritious food. That's worked well enough for me.
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    knottiea7f4f03de2cffd55knottiea7f4f03de2cffd55 member
    Hello , never been medicated but I work in a fast paced, multitasking, healthcare facility. Just today I realized that I need to stop trying to fix everything at once, and can’t help 3 people at once anymore 🤣. I take breaks when I need to, write to do lists in the mornings and after lunch to keep track, drink water, deep breaths. Also informed my coworkers that I can only take so much input of information at once. So far it’s helping.
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    knottie86fc8c35609aa9fbknottie86fc8c35609aa9fb member
    I was diagnosed with ADHD and on medication when I got pregnant in March. I took my medicine regularly for about 6 weeks until I realized I was pregnant. My primary care doctor told me there is insufficient evidence to say whether or not the medication harms baby. She suggested I stop taking. My OB said nearly the same thing, but she said graduly stop, but if my mental state suffered, we would talk about it. I stopped taking it almost immediately and I've been okay! The first trimester was tough! But now I am 13 weeks and I feel pretty great! Good luck!
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    knottie36e108238d95580bknottie36e108238d95580b Newbie
    I have been on 20mg adderall for 16 years. I stopped taking it at 4w pregnant on advice of my prescriber, who wants my OB to weigh in. I’m 8w now and not only can I not get any work done, or anything on my personal to do list, it’s really affecting my mood to be so ineffectual. I’m going to talk to my OB next week about it but I want to advocate to restart my adderall, or try a non stimulant alternative (my prescriber suggested Wellbutrin). I’m also worried about adderall use for breastfeeding (or being unmedicated while breastfeeding for 6-12mos), so interested in a non-adderall option that would work for lactation too. Has anyone tried a non stimulant alternative to adderall?
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    bustabucketbustabucket member
    knottie36e108238d95580b For the exact reasons you described, when the time comes, I plan to discuss this information with my OB:   https://www.infantrisk.com/content/adhd-medications-and-breastfeeding
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    knottie0f44bc963b115ad2knottie0f44bc963b115ad2 Newbie
    Hey! So I’ve been on adderall twice a day for about 2 years now. I take it for work/school and I can’t function as effectively without it.

    My OB/psychiatrist said the benefits outweigh risks; there’s not enough info saying adderall is linked to defects. But I take it once a day now, just to keep the total daily dose down. Any studies (there’s a few here and there) about possible links are linked with the third trimester, so I may stop then and/or literally take a half of my already-halved dose. Hope that helps at all! I was really concerned about that too!
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    meaber21meaber21 member
    I was wondering the same thing! I’ve been taking mine twice a day for 15 years and haven’t talked to my dr yet but decided to go down to once a day and even half my dose is difficult! I’m
    Only 5 weeks pregnant so Thank you for sharing that because it’s making me feel better about taking it in the mean time.
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    salmabahsalmabah member
    So incredibly happy I found this group!! I was diagnosed late at almost 31 (currently 32) with ADHD which made all the sense in the world after going in to a testing facility and speaking with a specialist on my test results. I’ve struggled with it all my life but never went to see a specialist. My mental state especially during COVID made it 10 times worse (especially since I also have anxiety/depression and on Zoloft aka Setraline). Finding out was a shock, and I went through the typical what if scenarios from childhood to adulthood. I was put on Aderrall which effectively changed my life. 

    I spoke to my psychiatrist and she said the same as some of you above, that there has been no concrete research but advised that I stop taking it and also speak to my OB once we meet. 

    I’m currently 8w5d with my first and have my first appoint on the 7th. To say I’ve been struggling would be an understatement. I know that the first trimester is the worse (I feel like I have all of the symptoms lol). Being off Aderrall for the past month has been the worse, plus I also have an aversion to coffee with my morning sickness so even that 1 cup is no more. 

    My work is starting to be impacted, I find myself having to catch up on the weekends (I’m an accountant and work from home). My studies for my CPA exam has been nonexistent and my firm leadership wants me to do more, which is increasing my anxiety and stress which is also not good during my current state. 

    I’m hoping to have a candid conversation with my OB this week and my psychiatrist shortly after. 

    At the end of it, I just want what’s best for baby, but understand that constant stress and anxiety don’t help either. 

    Sorry for the essay!! 😊
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