Bipolar Disorder is also known as "Manic Depressive Disorder". This forum is for questions and support for people with, or for loved ones of people with Bipolar Disorder. The forum covers topics ranging from Aggressive Behavior, Affect on friends and Family,
Alcohol and
Drug Abuse, Appetite Changes, Chronic Pain, Denial,
Depression, Difficulty Concentrating, Euphoria, Guilt, Manic Depression, Medications, Mood Swings, Poor Judgment, and
Sleep Disorders
Second not all children of BP parents have BP - yes studies show an increased risk factor but nothing is guaranteed and not all parents of BP children are BP>
On the drugs you mentioned.
Lithium is singular in having more bad press, misguided fear and outright lies spread about it than just about anything else out there - its seen as the big bad drug when in reality its the single most effective mood stabiliser around and one of the only real mood stabilisers - Seroquel and the others were not designed for the Mood Stabilisation its actually a side effect.
Lithium has been in use for over 50 years and many many women have had healthy normal babies on it. Yes there are risks as there are with anything but they can be managed easily enough if needed - here's one link : http://personalitymooddisorders.suite101.com/article.cfm/lithium_in_pregnancy
Seroquel has not been studied in pregnant women and the FDA rates it a Category C for that reason however in animal trials it caused low birth weight babies and miscarriages and doctors are reccomended to not use it based on some reading this morning
Venlafaxine is Effxor an SSRI - the jury is very out on SSRI drugs on pregnant which is astounding considering doctors give them out to female patients on the drop of a hat. Wyeth who make Effexor state that its Contraindicated during pregnancy due to some cases of low birth weight babies, miscarriages and increased defect risk.
On Lamotrigine - the FDA issued a warning in 2006 that mothers who take it during the first 3 months of pregnancy have an increased risk of babies born with a cleft palate or lip. Glaxo Smith Kline who make Lamactil state "Lamictal should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus".
Ironically Lithium is one of the safer meds.
And from where I sit if you want children have them, you should never hold back because of what might be, My wife cannot have children and I want them more than anything in the world, I would not hesitate because everything is a lottery in the end.