Regretfully, I have a friend who is now in a federal prison for killing her 6
month old daughter.  She had been off her Lithium for several months during
her pregnancy, but then told her physician she desperately needed to go back
on, which they did and she had a brief hospitalization.  About two months
later, while they were trying new medications, she could not take 'it'
anymore and smothered her baby and then tried to take her life and that of
her 6 year old.  I cannot begin to tell everyone how heart wrenching this has
been for all involved.  What I have learned, with extensive reading is that
Lithium is the only drug that helps with suicidal tendencies.  If a patient
has a history of suicide, they are apparently 22 times more at risk for
attempting suicide in the first six months after stopping the drug Lithium.
Weaning this drug in small, small doses is absolutely necessary with very
close monitoring of the patient.  I spoke with a friend of a mother the other
day who is concerned about her friend being depressed.  She does not know for
sure, but thinks her friend was bipolar in college.
If one mother, one baby can benefit from this story, I am willing to share
the pain we all relive.  My friends trial is pending, but there is no
question in my mind she was mentally insane at the time.  We, as Lactation
Consultants are in an interesting position, because often we spend enough
time with these mothers to have her open up and discuss this sort of thing.
So, open your minds and your hearts, we can heal others in so many ways.

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