Although I did not know I was bipolar before I had kids, I would not change a thing.....I love my sons. they are amazing kids, and they bring such joy to my life. I am looking forward to a lifetime of memories shared with them.

For those of you that have made the decision to not have kids, that is the ultimate sacrifice in my book, very responsible too.....For those of you wanting children, only you know if you can handle it with support from family and friends. It is not easy to do it alone.

I have a 7 yr old and a 15 yr old. So far neither has manifested any symptoms that concern me, although my youngest takes melatonin to sleep well. I don't regret having them for a moment. I just regret I wasn't more stable for more of their lives by sticking with meds and actually being properly diagnosed.

i had kids, i wouldn't have changed it with dx and family history. why would i want to cleanse the bp out of society? i suppose it is relative to each level of pain.

i enjoy my kids sand i have learned something... patience. they are quite unique. i hope they thrive and pray for them.

I am heartbroken at the thought that I may not have children. I hope I am able to someday.

Severe depression ran in both sides of my family along with other mental issues.There are 5 children in my family and I'm bipolar and have a brother with OCD. My mom is severely depressive but she and I support each other and she helps me more than the meds and the pdocs ever have.I have 2 sons and they are the best kids they have kept me alive and given me more happiness than anything else in the world. Neither of my sons have any mental issues at all and I know in my heart I would have been dead 20 years ago if I hadn't had them. Not all kids of beepers inherit the curse and even if mine had I would definitely love them just as much as I do now.

I grew up in an abusive home, and it's instilled in me a very strong desire to have kids, and make a normal family one day.

Well now, I'm bipolar, went through hell until a 15 months ago, my husband is (and not seeking treatment), we're dysfunctional, we spent 5 months separated last year, and we're only together now because he has no job, and no place to go (no family in the US). (But we're getting along fine now.) After I had my daughter 4 years ago, I had a total bipolar breakdown (made many times worse by SSRIs), and I was not able to parent properly, nor work properly, for years. To top it off, I had an array of physical issues, some even life-threatening, from being pregnant. I can't be off my BP meds, at least not yet.

All this, and I can't wait to have another child now. We'll probably start working on it this year. We're so majestically fucked up, but our daughter is the best, nicest, smartest, happiest kid. Her smiles just burst into the air, and everyone who meets her, talks about how special she is. Kids tend to take in the positive. All the drama, all the illness, all the instability, all the fights, and I still think my children are better off being born than not. At least both my husband and I like kids and want to be there for them. He is even more dedicated than I was, but I was sick then. Oh - and our daughter had a wonderful nanny who cared for her beautifully. That helps too.

And if my kids turn bipolar, hey whatever, they'll be medicated 30 years earlier than I was. I'm sure they'll do better, and I'm not doing that bad now.

I know my life would have been much easier if I haven't had a child, but I don't think I could live with not having children. I'm having a hard time thinking about only having one. I'd go for three, if my health survives, and if my husband and I don't kill each other in the process.

i never had kids. bipolar screwed my life up too much for me to have had a stable enough relationship to have kids. it was a bit of a conscious decision. i didn't want to pass on the pain.

I've always been unsure about having children, upon being diagnosed with BP I became even more unsure, but my fiance loves children and wants kids, and I do have moments when I thin I want to be a mother, so I'm just basically... unsure. But I really really have the fear of passing this on. It's always on my mind and I bring it up to my fiance all the time.

I'm giving myself five years to see if I'd be ready to have kids by then, and I hope I would have better control over my condition by then.

Like solongago, I also long to be a mother. I do not have to come off meds to have a child. I would consider adoption as well.

Last night, my husband and I decided "almost for sure" to not have one. I cried myself to sleep, and expect I will for a long time now. Bipolar wasn't the only reason we decided against it, but it was at least 30%.

I was dx with bipolar disorder after the fact. I have 2 awesome boys, neither show signs of any mental illness thus far. My oldest is in college doing great, the youngest in middle school, also doing just fine.
Not sure, had I known I had a mental disorder if I would have had kids or not. I can understand why alot of people wouldn't want to though.

i was diagnosed after having my daughter and would not trade it for the world. she is what helps keep me as stable as i am and shes light and joy and a wonderus child. i have a number of things going on besides my bipolar that i didn't know about before she was born and im very very lucky she was not still born or born with spinabifida. she truly is my miracle child. as for having more children its not going to happen. i only have the energy for one. and i don't want to take the risks that i would have to take to have another one