Schizophrenia and Pregnancy: What to Know

If you have schizophrenia, you may wonder whether it’s possible for you to have a safe pregnancy and start a family.
That said, if you want to become pregnant, there are certain things you’ll need to know and do in advance to stay healthy while you're pregnant and ensure the best outcome for you and your baby. Here’s how to prepare yourself for a healthy pregnancy if you have schizophrenia.
How Might Pregnancy Affect Your Schizophrenia Symptoms?
Before getting pregnant, it’s important to talk to your treatment team about how pregnancy could affect your symptoms.
- Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t really there)
- Delusions (unshakable false beliefs that are clearly untrue)
- Disorganized thinking, speech, or movements
- Lack of motivation
- Flattened emotional expression
- Social withdrawal
- Lack of insight into your illness (meaning you may be unaware of your symptoms or illness)
Some of these symptoms could put your and your baby’s health at risk, so it’s important to tell your schizophrenia treatment team and your ob-gyn about any symptoms you’re experiencing. If needed, they may adjust your treatment to help you stay well.
Is It Safe to Take Schizophrenia Medication While Pregnant?
For most people with schizophrenia, medication plays an important role in symptom management. Antipsychotic drugs are the most common medications for schizophrenia.
It’s important to talk to your psychiatrist — ideally before you get pregnant — about what medicines you’re taking before and during your pregnancy, as well as the risks and benefits of both continuing and stopping medication. The best approach will vary from person to person.
Does Schizophrenia Raise My Risk for Pregnancy Complications?
- Gestational diabetes
- High blood pressure during pregnancy
- Urinary tract infections
- Intrauterine growth restriction (the fetus, or unborn baby, doesn’t grow as much as it should for its gestational age)
- Preterm labor
- Stillbirth
- Cesarean section (C-section)
Will My Child Have Schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia and Postpartum
Postpartum care with your treatment team is very important after you give birth to ensure you stay in good health.
The Takeaway
- Planning for a pregnancy when you have schizophrenia involves special considerations to ensure that you and your baby stay healthy.
- Prescribed medication may be necessary to manage your symptoms, but it’s important to discuss risks and alternatives with your healthcare team.
- Be sure to maintain regular prenatal appointments to monitor your health, and try to keep a robust support system in place postpartum.
Resources We Trust
- Mayo Clinic: Schizophrenia
- Cleveland Clinic: Postpartum Psychosis
- Centre of Perinatal Excellence: Schizophrenia in Pregnancy
- Mind: Antipsychotics During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
- MGH Center for Women’s Mental Health: Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy

Angela D. Harper, MD
Medical Reviewer
Angela D. Harper, MD, is in private practice at Columbia Psychiatric Associates in South Carolina, where she provides evaluations, medication management, and psychotherapy for adults.
A distinguished fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, Dr. Harper has worked as a psychiatrist throughout her career, serving a large number of patients in various settings, including a psychiatric hospital on the inpatient psychiatric and addiction units, a community mental health center, and a 350-bed nursing home and rehab facility. She has provided legal case consultation for a number of attorneys.
Harper graduated magna cum laude from Furman University with a bachelor's degree and cum laude from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, where she also completed her residency in adult psychiatry. During residency, she won numerous awards, including the Laughlin Fellowship from the American College of Psychiatrists, the Ginsberg Fellowship from the American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training, and resident of the year and resident medical student teacher of the year. She was also the member-in-training trustee to the American Psychiatric Association board of trustees during her last two years of residency training.
Harper volunteered for a five-year term on her medical school's admission committee, has given numerous presentations, and has taught medical students and residents. She currently supervises a nurse practitioner. She is passionate about volunteering for the state medical board's medical disciplinary commission, on which she has served since 2015.
She and her husband are avid travelers and have been to over 55 countries and territories.

Lindsey Konkel
Author
Lindsey Konkel is an award-winning freelance journalist with more than 10 years of experience covering health, science, and the environment. Her work has appeared online and in print for Newsweek, National Geographic, Huffington Post, Consumer Reports, Everyday Health, Science, Environmental Health Perspectives, UCSF Magazine, American Association for Cancer Research, and others.
She previously worked as an editor and staff writer at Environmental Health News. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from NYU’s Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program and a bachelor’s degree in biology from College of the Holy Cross.
Konkel lives in Haddon Township, New Jersey, with her husband, daughter, three cats, and dog. When she isn't writing, she handles social media and content marketing for a small veterinary clinic she started with her husband, Neabore Veterinary Clinic.

Christina Vogt
Author
Christina Vogt is an award-winning editor covering mental health conditions for Everyday Health. She is experienced in creating health content for both consumers and healthcare professionals, and her work has appeared on Livestrong.com, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Consultant360, and Neurology Learning Network, among others.
Vogt received a bachelor's degree in journalism and media studies from Rutgers University. A lifelong resident of New Jersey, she enjoys hiking, rock climbing, and volunteering in her community with the Junior League of Greater Princeton.
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