Does lithium affect fertility?

No. Lithium does not afect fertility in women (1) and so taking Lithium should not make it more dificult to get pregnant. Does Lithium increase the risk of miscarriage? As many as 1 in 5 pregnancies end in miscarriage even when a woman has not taken any medication.

What happens to your lithium level during pregnancy?

During pregnancy there are changes in the amount of fluid in your body and the rate at which your kidneys get rid of Lithium in your urine. This means that your Lithium level will change at diferent stages of pregnancy. So, your Lithium level will need to be measured more often than usual.

What happens if a newborn eats lithium?

There have been reports of less muscle tone, sedation (sleepiness), trouble with breathing and feeding, and jaundice (a buildup of bilirubin in the blood that makes the eyes and skin look yellow) in the newborn when lithium was used near delivery, especially if the mother’s blood lithium level was high.

Does lithium increase the risk of heart defects in babies?

There has been specific concern about whether using Lithium in pregnancy increases the risk of heart defects in babies. About 1 in every 100 babies is born with a heart defect, even if the mother has not taken medication. Heart defects happen during the first 8 weeks of pregnancy.

What happens if you take lithium while breastfeeding?

The amount of lithium in the nursing baby’s blood is less than what is in the blood of the person who is breastfeeding. If someone takes lithium while breastfeeding, they and their healthcare provider should monitor the baby for symptoms such as restlessness, low muscle tone, or trouble feeding.

Does lithium cause miscarriage?

Miscarriage is common and can occur in any pregnancy for many different reasons. It is not known if lithium increases the chance of miscarriage. Two studies have shown an increase in the chance of miscarriage with lithium use.