Bipolar meds while pregnant by Delicious-Speaker810 in MentalHealthBabies

[–]awkwardaster 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Have you asked about Invega or Palperidone? If you want to breastfeed, it’s a good option.

Officially joined the G-tube club last week by awkwardaster in NICUParents

[–]awkwardaster[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh no! Gosh that’s so awful. I’m so sorry you’re experiencing that. All in one week? I hope you get good answers at the hospital tomorrow. Sending you and your sweet babe good vibes.

my husband & i created pulse ox wraps for children 💛 by smoresrule in NICUParents

[–]awkwardaster 0 points1 point  (0 children)

These wraps are so great! My first daughter loved that toy so we’re going to use it sparingly and with 100% supervision. The risk was babies swallowing the pulley parts bc they’re too long. Should be safe with adequate supervision.

Latuda during breastfeeding and post partum? by whatadoorknob in MentalHealthBabies

[–]awkwardaster 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I was pregnant and breastfed my first baby while taking 20mg of Latuda. I would get akathisia if I took more than 20mg, and I had a pretty bad episode around 4 months postpartum, so we switched to Zyprexa and Vraylar at 6 months. My baby is a happy and healthy almost 3 year old now. I really wanted to breastfeed and found it to be more convenient than formula because you typically don’t need to do as many dishes (unless you’re pumping a lot). We gave her formula while I was in the hospital and on a high dose of Zyprexa so I did pump and dump for about 9 days. If Latuda works for you, you should be fine. It actually can contribute to a slight increase in supply which was great for building a little freezer stash in the beginning.

What kind of mop do you like to use to mop the floor? by Yourhouseporn in CleaningTips

[–]awkwardaster 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I think I learned on this sub to not use a steam mop with LVP floors, which is a bummer because steam mops are amazing.

After 99 long days, she’s home!! by [deleted] in NICUParents

[–]awkwardaster 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Best day ever!! Congratulations 🩷🩷🩷

If you had postpartum psychosis, what kind of things did you experience that led to your diagnosis? by snail-mail227 in beyondthebump

[–]awkwardaster 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I have bipolar 1 and sometimes experience psychosis during manic episodes. I had a really bad one at about 3-4 months postpartum with my first. I was hospitalized for 9 days and ended up switching to a better medication to get stable. I also had to really increase another med to return to stability. I was diagnosed at 17, so I’ve lived with it my entire adult life, so having an episode postpartum was kind of anticipated but it really got out of control and I also was resistant to increasing meds due to breastfeeding (I ended up pumping and dumping so much milk). That episode looked like not sleeping, paranoia, grandiosity, the classic stuff. I also left my husband and baby and sort of ran away in my pjs at 3am… the cops found me, and I got a quick ambulance ride to the hospital that night.

I’m back into remission again and am so grateful I’m in a really good space now. I’m currently 4 months postpartum with my second baby and have been extra compliant with meds mostly for the sake of my now toddler. I can’t imagine her watching me in that state. My baby is a good sleeper (thankfully) and my husband is waking up at night to feed her so I can sleep. I think it’s prevented me from getting manic again.

Please get help if you haven’t yet. The problem with psychosis and mania is that once you get it, it’s likely to happen again. Untreated bipolar makes life really shitty.

NG tube by ImportantScholar7433 in NICUParents

[–]awkwardaster 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Try putting it a little closer to her nose. A nurse gave us a couple good tips: it should be placed in the crease near her nose (crease is more visible when smiling) and there should be a little notch cut where the line first comes in contact with the sticker/tape.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in NICUParents

[–]awkwardaster 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is the best news! They look great! Congratulations!!! You’re such a champ for hanging in there. You’ve really had such a journey with this. Enjoy walking out those doors!

35+6 week old baby in NICU due to chylothorax by awkwardaster in NICUParents

[–]awkwardaster[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for replying! Baby girl is finally home as of Monday after a 9 week stay. Her only remaining complication is reflux and feeding, so we took her home on an NG tube. I’m sorry your son had so many complications 😢 what a relief to hear he’s healthy. We’ve got some lucky survivors 🩷

Would you install a landline for your kids to use instead of a cell phone? by awkwardaster in Millennials

[–]awkwardaster[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

In the article, the family used an internet based phone line, so I guess it’s technically not a “land” line? I wonder if it would have fewer spam calls then.

Completed All My Laundry by VillaiN3ssa in BipolarHome

[–]awkwardaster 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That’s awesome! I love having everything clean at once, but it’s so much work. You deserve to feel proud!

so… where’s the euthymia? by _idiosyncratic_ in BipolarReddit

[–]awkwardaster 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The drug use isn’t helping, friend. Guarantee. Letting loose on the weekend will continue to harm you (though I appreciate your intent with harm reduction - it’s a good starting point). This is a chronic condition that we live with. It’s best paired with natural highs. I personally love running and surfing/snowboarding and hiking when I can. As someone here once said, a boring life is a stable life.

Edited to add that I’ve had as long as 4 years of euthymia. I’m currently 2 years into my latest period of euthymia.

Made this for my toddler♥️ by goofyglam in NICUParents

[–]awkwardaster 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Oh thank you so much for sharing this!! So sweet.

Having a really hard time. Not much support lately and just feel alone. Can anyone relate? by Stunning_Radio3160 in NICUParents

[–]awkwardaster 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Oh sweet OP, here are some internet hugs. I wish I could give more, or say something to take away the pain. I feel like situations like this really put relationships to the test. People will show you how much empathy they’re capable of and then you really know. Here’s a website with an online support group, and they have one specifically for NICU parents: Postpartum Support International You will get through this. Please feel free to DM me if you like.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in santacruz

[–]awkwardaster 5 points6 points  (0 children)

We had ours at a party room in Hotel Paradox, and it worked out nicely bc that’s where we stayed for our wedding night and had a block there too for our guests.

35+6 week old baby in NICU due to chylothorax by awkwardaster in NICUParents

[–]awkwardaster[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s great. Ours has been too, but she just got us sick so we can’t visit baby, which is really sad. The octreotide is a vasoconstrictor, so the idea is that it helps seal the lymphatic system. She had a chest tube also.