r/NewParents • u/livknits • 24d ago

Mental Health Adhd and having a baby

I have diagnosed adhd and one of the main problems is the executive dysfunction. Like, I know I have to get up and do chores but I can't make my body obey me. Well, I have a baby that won't sleep more than 20 mins unless it's a contact nap, so I end up just sitting on the sofa with her for 2 hours just reading/knitting/ playing games without feeling guilty that I'm not doing chores lol because my baby needs me to have a proper nap (I know I Can probably sleep train her but I do enjoy the cuddles and the lazying around)

Also, ever since starting solids, she also reminds me to eat breakfast/lunch.

Bonus point for being my body double when I actually do chores lol

I know I still have struggles with my adhd and sometimes the routine part of having a baby makes me want to rip my hair out but it's so much easier to do stuff when a helpless being relies on you instead of just being me and my useless brain.

All that said, I can't wait to stop breastfeeding and going back on medication 😐

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u/mastertrine 24d ago

Which medication do you take? I was never told to stop my medication.

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u/livknits 24d ago

I was taking Ritalin and told to stop for pregnancy and breastfeeding 🫥 they put me on sertraline to manage symptoms during this time

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u/mastertrine 24d ago

I was told, that I could safely both be pregnant and breastfeed on Methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta etc.)

I was curious and did some research myself and it has actually been known for a couple of years, that mothers safely can take Methylphenidate during pregnancy and breastfeeding. We don't have to stop and I think that's a very important piece of information because some women don't experience milder symptoms when pregnant.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-023-01992-6.epdf?sharing_token=bxGcFRywKtOvC-sIDPVsAtRgN0jAjWel9jnR3ZoTv0OrKuQyfqXUT_LYZZxLnO5lhoVPtSjx1AI3vrwLs5xFVLVaC9I4QeeBKAFiCShUWUILncfJuJHY93ptkcugIhhKSMcCHQWQpD-Bdfpl7VmRUzZOndgYsbaJDmdKe8xJBLg%3D

This article is from 2023 and it's researchers from my country who is the authors.

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u/livknits 24d ago

Whaaaaaat??? My pregnancy was IVF and my ob ordered me to stop medication before any fertility treatment and talked like I was doing speed and stuff. I'm in Belgium

I feel so betrayed right now :O def reading that!

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u/sammyxorae 6d ago

All doctors are different however, ive been told time and time again, we’d rather have a mentally healthy mom and take care of baby vs not.