To add a layman's impressions to Dr. Corelli's observations, the book appears to be just a one-person anecdote, not anything approaching a scientific guide. Some reader comments:
"I was very disappointed with this book. I had pre-ordered it and was very excited about the concept. As a bipolar woman trying to get pregnant with plenty of doubts, I thought this book would be educational. Instead it's pretty much one lady's story about her two pregnancies while she was off lithium. Since I don't take lithium and was instructed to stay on meds while pregant, her tale was just about useless for me.
The book claims to give you the latest on the newer bipolar drugs: we're talking about a small chart in the apendix that had zero info about my drug (Seroquel) and I found way more info online. Although the author credits look impressive, the author has zero medical experience (and claims none, so that's fair).
I thought this would give me more insight into bipolar pregnancies in general. Save your money because here's all the book tells you: The author was successful in managing her very specific case of bipolar and pregnancies off lithium by planning and charting her moods in journals, along with her husband. Since her family has always written in journals, this was normal behavior (whereas the rest of us might not take to journaling so easily or as effectively -- especially convincing our spouse to do the same!). Her husband was her cheerleader and they are very pleased with themselves. So pleased that they wrote about about how great they did. Kudos to them, but what about the rest of us? Those without journals and introspective mates? Those who have to make a horrible and confusing decision about staying on anti-psychotic medication while pregnant without any good research? Those who haven't been living with their illness as successfully as the author has since teenage years? Those who don't have the ability to take a part-time job instead of a full-time one to reduce stress? If you have those issues and questions, then this is not the book for you. Zero science. Zero research. Nothing about the latest information. You are better off using google and doing your own research."
and
"As a medical doctor, this is what I would call a dangerous book. It assumes people with bipolar disorder will stop their medications, a potentially disasterous decision for mom and baby. It does not address how to safely stay on medications during pregnancy. I'm disturbed by this and will steer my patients clear. It is a pity because if well done it would fill a void on the topic."
Also, from
this site,1. MEDICATION: There is a painful cost/benefit analysis that has to be done - many bipolar meds are dangerous for the fetus, but a mom going off her meds MUST have a back-up plan.
2. RELAPSE: 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.