Pregnancy and Epilepsy

More than 90% of women with epilepsy give birth to a healthy baby. But good prenatal care is important and there are things you need to be careful about with medicines. Years ago, it was not advisable for women with epilepsy to get pregnant. Today, however, the choice is up to you. Fortunately, with early and regular antenatal care, more than 90% of pregnant women with epilepsy have healthy babies. If you have epilepsy and are thinking of becoming pregnant, you should know what to look out for.
Does epilepsy make it difficult to conceive?
Yes, this can sometimes happen. Because seizures can disrupt the ovulation signal from your brain to the ovaries. This can affect your menstrual cycle and your ability to conceive. Medication can help with this. Some epilepsy medicines can make it harder for you to conceive, and some ovulation medicines can make your seizures worse.
How epilepsy affects your pregnancy
Pregnant women with epilepsy are more likely to experience adverse events during pregnancy, such as vaginal bleeding and premature detachment of the placenta from the uterus. Premature water retention and pregnancy-induced high blood pressure may also develop.
Treatment considerations
Any medication you take while pregnant can affect your baby. It is important to follow up the babies of those who are being treated for epilepsy as they may have congenital anomalies, especially related to the heart and nervous system. However, if seizures are not controlled in those who do not receive treatment, it may cause more serious problems in the baby. Such as oxygen deprivation in the baby. Sometimes seizures can cause miscarriage or stillbirth. For most women, it is best to continue treatment. Your doctor will already choose the best medicine for you to reduce the risks for you and your baby.
Some newer epilepsy medicines may be less risky for your baby, but their safety during pregnancy may still be incomplete. You may need to change your medication dose frequently to control your seizures. Severe nausea and vomiting in the early stages of your pregnancy can throw you off balance. As your pregnancy progresses, your blood volume will increase and your kidneys will work faster than normal to excrete more of the medicine you are taking. Take your medicine as prescribed by your doctor and never increase or stop taking it on your own.
What epilepsy does to your baby
Babies born to mothers with epilepsy have a slightly higher risk of developing epilepsy than other people. There may be some delay in their growth and development. The risk of congenital anomalies in babies born to mothers who use epilepsy medication varies between 4 and 8%. In other babies, this rate is around 2 to 3%.
When to consult your doctor
If you are planning to have a baby, you should talk to your doctor before you conceive.
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