From Sweden – Bipolar women are much more likely to have pregnancy and birth complications, according to a report published in the British Medical Journal. Researchers compared over 800 pregnant women with bipolar disorder to over 300,000 without the condition who were giving birth between 2005 and 2009. 320 of the bipolar patients were treated for their condition, while the remainder were untreated.

Results showed that both treated and untreated mothers were more likely to have a c-section, instrumental delivery, and were also at a 50% increased risk of preterm birth. As well, bipolar women were at raised risk of giving birth to a baby with a small head and one with episodes of low blood sugar levels.

Caring for someone with bipolar disorder can be enormously difficult. The spouses, parents, children, and friends of people with bipolar disorder are often its forgotten victims. It can wreak havoc on their marriages, careers, friendships, finances, and emotions.

If you’re helping someone through bipolar disorder, you face a difficult balancing act. On one hand, you have to be supportive and sympathetic; you can’t blame a person for the effects of an illness. But on the other, you can’t sacrifice all of your own needs to care for another person.

There’s no easy solution. But here are some tips that might help you cope with a bipolar loved one.
•Learn. The first step is to read about bipolar disorder. Go to the bookstore or the library. Get information from reputable web sites. Find out about the symptoms and treatments.

•Listen. Pay attention to what your loved one has to say. Don’t assume that you know what he or she is going through. Don’t treat your loved one’s emotions and feelings as if they are all signs of an illness. Just because someone has bipolar disorder doesn’t mean his or her point of view isn’t valid.

•Ask how you can help. During bad periods, everyday things can be overwhelming to people with bipolar disorder. Reducing stress at home helps. Offering a ride to a doctor’s appointment, or help with laundry or child care, can mean a lot.

•Keep track of symptoms. In many cases, you may notice emotional changes in your loved one before he or she does. So think about keeping records. Catching changes in mood early — and getting treatment for them — can make a big difference. However, you walk a fine line. If you’re too intrusive, your loved one might feel like you’re spying or violating their privacy.

•Encourage your loved one to stick with treatment. It’s key that your loved one stay on his or her bipolar medication and get regular checkups. Your loved one may also need encouragement to eat well, get enough sleep, and stay away from alcohol and drugs.

•Do things together. People who are depressed often pull away from the world. So encourage your friend or loved one to get out and do things he or she enjoys. Ask him or her to join you for a walk or a dinner out. If he or she resists, don’t force the issue. Instead, just gently ask again a few days later.