Hi, Beverly. Definitely discuss this in full with both your pdoc and the doc who is treating your pregancy and delivery.

Some general points:

No decision is risk-free.

Most birth defects from meds occur in the first weeks of pregnancy. So - by the time you found out you are pregnant you are into a different phase.

Generally, the risks to the fetus are considered far less in the second and third trimesters.

If you are bipolar and not medicated, there is a major risk of affective instability, particularly post-partum. Hormonal fluctuations around the time of birth pose a huge - very huge - risk. Thus there is a strong body of opinion that you need to be on one med (hopefully only one) during at least the last trimester and after giving birth.

Affective instability creates major issues with bonding with your newborn and all kinds of other problems.

Against this, there are risks involved with being on a med, which are particular to which med your are on or contemplating to be on. In no instance should you think of switching to Depakote.

For further reading:

http://www.mcmanweb.com/meds_pregnancy.html