If you have mental illness are you likely to suffer post pardum depression?

Please don't be scared. You can start a family if this is what you want. A lot depends on exactly what mental illness you have and what sort of treatment you are getting.

For example, both pregnancy and the aftermath, known as postpartum, are high risk times for mood instability and cycling, even in women with no bipolar history. For women who have been ill in the past, rates of relapse into mania and psychosis are estimated at 50% to 75% respectively.

That is the bad news. The good news is that meds and talk therapy will get you through it - please see the link below - it has all the facts.

It is understandable to be scared and also understandable if you decie this is not a risk you want to take. However, I know several women who have had succesful pregnancies despite their illness and now have beautiful families. The answer is all about having a plan and support from partner and /or other friends or family. Good luck!

If you have a mood disorder such as bipolar disorder or recurrent major depression you have a higher risk of having an episode in the post-partum period. Don't be scared. Just recognize the early symptoms so your doctor can treat it right away.

id say you were more suseptable to it yes, or more of a likelyhood