Epilepsy

What should I know about epilepsy and pregnancy?

Epilepsy is chronic disorder of the nervous system that is characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures. Pregnant women that suffer from epilepsy are at an increased risk of developing pregnancy-related complications such as vaginal bleeding, increased seizure activity (for some), preeclampsia, miscarriage, anemia and separation of the placenta from the uterus. However, not all women with epilepsy will experience these complications during pregnancy. Some women may notice a decrease in their seizure activity.

Babies that are born to epileptic mothers may have an increased risk of complications. These complications include stillbirth, low birthweight, increased risk of seizure disorder, developmental delays and birth defects as a result of necessary medications. The most common birth defects that occur in children born to an epileptic mother are heart abnormalities, neural tube defects and cleft lip or palate.

During your prenatal visits, your healthcare provider will question past seizure activity. Current or recent seizure activity will need to be monitored closely and medications are crucial to protect you and your developing baby. Sometimes doctors will slowly stop epilepsy medications if a woman has not had a seizure in the past two years. Never stop or start any medication without consulting your healthcare provider first. The risks associated with medication discontinuation in a woman with recent seizure activity outweighs the benefits. The amount of medication may be changed during pregnancy as well. Epileptic mothers can expect frequent ultrasounds, blood tests and additional testing as suggested by doctors and obstetrical specialists. It is very important that epileptic women take a folic acid supplement (generally found in the prenatal vitamin) to lower the risk of neural tube defects in the developing fetus.

Comments: Epilepsy

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shorty.s@live.co.uk - 103 days ago.
I had a seizure last night and have not felt any baby movements i am 17 weeks pregnant should i be concerned?

march092010 - 181 days ago.
Anyone on Lamictal and going through bouts of depression? Ive only been on it about a week now (I was on it a year pre-pregnancy) but I also have 'mental issues' I wrote a blog about it for further details, but anyways the last 3 days of my life I just can't seem to keep a smile on my face, everything makes me wanna curl up in a dark corner and I'm not sure if the lamictal has anything to do with it. Anyone else going through this? Im 34 weeks.

marine32 - 191 days ago.
Hi! I'm 15wk 2 days pregnant with my 3rd baby and I'm currently on both Keppra and Lamictal. I was on both while pregnant with my other 2 and both are beautiful and healthy! I've had epilepsy for about 14 years now but have been seizure free for 7 1/2 years, and was so scared of taking the meds being pregnant but Lamictal and Keppra are the safest meds to be on. Good luck to all of you! :)

kimmijohn - 898 days ago.
I take Topamax and it seems to be doing a pretty good job. I still have a few petit mal seizures every now and then but for the most part they are controlled. My neuro said it's worse to have a seizure than to take meds so I'm taking the meds. I've also registered w/the pregnancy registry so they can research the effect of my medicine and the baby. If you are pregnant you should DEFINITELY register to help the docs learn more about what our meds are doing and they can give more information to pregnant women out there. If you want information just send me a message! :)

suddenlyalone - 898 days ago.
I just want to warn you if you take lamictal and are pregnant you need to increase you dose at you gain weight. I took a trip to another state for the holidays had a seizure because there was not enough med in my blood. I paid out of pocket to see a neurologist and he doubled my meds, it still took days for it to work its way into my system. I have one more grandmal and lots of petite seizures hade it stay at my brothers house almost the whole trip I did not want to freak out my whole family. So if you are pregnant and on lamictal keep up with your neurologist so he can make sure you have the correct amount in your blood!!

suddenlyalone - 898 days ago.
Mmfisher- the lack of oxygen during a seizure is more dangerous than the meds you get put on during pregnancy. not to mention med induced birth defects happen in the first 3 weeks of pregnancy before you even know your pregnant like spine bifida. So stopping your meds will not lower your chance of birth defects only increase the chance of oxygen deprivation during a seizure.

mmfisher8@yahoo.com - 907 days ago.
i have had seizuers all my life i'm now 33 years old and i'm pregnant with my 6th child it sucks,but i have learned to deal with it i have never taken meds while pregnant i want do that to my baby i know what it dose to my body i can only imagen what it will do to my baby.

kimmijohn - 915 days ago.
I have absense seizures, hormonally enduced. I am currently 7 wks 4 days pregnant and noticed that my seizure activity just slowly started kicking in around week 6 and now it's getting worse. Has anyone else gone through this and if so what was your outcome? My neuro is upping my meds so I hope it will help but I can't take my abortive pills (Ativan) b/c it's a Class D pill. The birth defects are way too bad and I'm not going to do it until MAYBE week 12 or so (after more has developed). Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Suddenlyalone - 982 days ago.
I have had small seizures for as long as I can remember, I just did not know what they were.(like little day dreams) When I was 3 months with my first child they went in to grand mall. I was sooo scared. My doctor put me on topamax. I fared for my son that it would affect him in a bad way. He was born perfect, 8lb 7oz 22in. he is now 6 and still perfect. I am pregnant with my second child. I took tegretol for a year till I found out I was pregnant. My doctor changed my meds to lamictal once a day and folic acid. So far it is controlling my seizures well. I hope you have perfect, healthy babies and all of your pregnancies are seizure free!

Jamiee - 1052 days ago.
My 21 month old has had seizures starting when he was 7 months old. He was just diagnosed as epileptic and will be put on a daily medication. Prior to that he will be getting an MRI, bloodwork and development tests. Then he will get regular EEGs for as long as he is on the medication.

leamerre - 1174 days ago.
I just thought I'd let everyone on here know, I am epileptic, took a high dose of lamictal throughout the entire pregnancy and gave birth valentine's day to a happy healthy little boy. I was so relieved that the meds. didn't effect my little man and my pregnancy went very well. Keep a positive attitude and listen to your dr. about your meds. Have your neurologist and OB work together during your pregnancy for the best success. Good luck everyone!

Emma85 - 1213 days ago.
Hey everyone, new to the site & just been reading up on this section. I got diagnosed with epilepsy at thirteen years old (now 24), i am taking tegretol 600mg daily, have not had fit for ten years now. When i was preg with my first child, needless to say i was VERY frightened about my epilepsy & birth defects, i began having panic/.anxiety atacks....my son came 5 days early in a 3hr labour & is just perfect. Im ten weeks preg now with my 2nd child now & so far so good, as long as im monitored regularly im gonna try enjoy my pregnancy this time round & not let anxiety get me down

lolligirl - 1223 days ago.
Do anyone take flintstone gummies for pregnancy? I'm 17 weeks, on 3mg. of folic acid, topamax and lamictal. I've been takeing the gummies because the regular prenatal make me puke. But now I am worried that baby may not be getting enough nutrion.

sandistar03 - 1233 days ago.
tamfrix i know that lamiktal and kepra r the safer meds but i am not sure about tegratol

tamfrix - 1259 days ago.
I am 5 weeks pregnant. I have had seizures since I was about 13. I had brain surgury almost 2 years ago and no seizures since! I hope I will come off of my Tegratol XR. I am on 800 mg a day. Will this hurt the baby? Oh yeah...I am 33 now! LOL sorry bout that!

leamerre - 1348 days ago.
I'm now 17 weeks and found out we are having a little boy. So far, everything looks good for our little one. I however, did develop hypothyroidism and am now on Synthroid for my thyroid but OB says the medicine is good for me and baby. My neurologist after a medicine level blood test said the baby was zapping most of my lamictal so he did increase it. Fortunately, the lamictal is still working good for me except the increased dose makes me a little nauseous for an hour or 2 after I take it. Michele, I hope you don't have anymore seizures but am glad the baby is doing well. Sandistar, hopefully after your move your stress will ease up and your seizures will stop. Good luck to everyone!

sandistar03 - 1362 days ago.
michelle i am sorry to hear about ur siezure that is not good but i am glad to here that the baby is doing good i wish my siezures would go away and the stress of our move is not going well for my siezures but baby is doing well

michelle.w - 1376 days ago.
Hi all, I had my 20 week scan and all was fine, no apparant effects from my med, lamictal. I did have quite a bad seizure however last week, i was in agony afterwards and bit most of my tongue away but that was the only one i have had so far and it was also in my sleep so not too bad, onbstretics doc said they were going to refer me to my specialist however i don't want them to increase my med. I'm so happy all is going as it should be so far and if i can go another 20 weeks without having a fit i will be fine!

sandistar03 - 1383 days ago.
i took topamax before and it was in pill form but i did not do well on it so far so good with the kepra and lamiktal but u all know with seizures that can change in one day or less

leamerre - 1400 days ago.
Sandistar & Michelle, sorry I didn't see your responses sooner. You have made me feel much better taking my lamictal now. So far, I'm 10 weeks and things seem to be going well. My Dr. talked about putting me on Keppra about a yr. ago and I decided against it after reading all of the possible side effects. Lamictal seems to be doing well so far. I hope I'm lucky like you and your healthy little ones!

daydays mom - 1402 days ago.
daisy is on kepra. it didnt work even with triliptal. so shes not on topamax and kepra. topmax is a sprinkle you put on food. she takes that one good but hates kepra. shes having brain surgery on august 19th cause there is a spot on her brain that is causing the seizures.

sandistar03 - 1412 days ago.
it is just an epileptic med i think it is pretty new they are calling it a new age med

michelle.w - 1413 days ago.
whats kepra?

michelle.w - 1413 days ago.
yeah this will be my first, 16 weeks 2day :)

sandistar03 - 1416 days ago.
they actually just added kepra and like i said both of my boys are healthy and no signs of epilepsy in either one yet i was diagnosed when i was 5 and my youngest will be 4 tomorrow so i hope that he does not get it we still have a while with the youngest before we would not n e thing but as far as meds i took lamictal both times and they are great happy arnory kids. machelle is this ur first