Epilepsy in Pregnancy

by Pattie Hughes | More from this Blogger

In past generations, women with epilepsy were often warned against having babies. This is no longer the case. The way in which women react to pregnancy varies widely and this is difficult to predict prior to pregnancy. A small number will have fewer seizures during pregnancy. Others will have more. For the rest, the condition remains about the same.

While the vast majority of pregnant women with epilepsy will go on to have perfectly healthy babies, there are some risks. The best way to ensure the best possible scenario for your baby is to get comprehensive medical care before and during your pregnancy. If the pregnancy is planned, preconception counseling is a good way to start.

Your doctor will make suggestions about things you can do to help ensure a healthy baby and will make recommendations based on your individual case. Doctors should work together to coordinate care during the pregnancy as well. This will help ensure you are getting appropriate prenatal care and treatment for epilepsy that takes the pregnancy into consideration.

A certain number of women with epilepsy will experience an unplanned pregnancy, but there is also a higher incidence of infertility among women with this disorder. Problems range from irregular menstrual cycles to endocrine disorders and polycystic ovaries.

There is a greater risk of complications in women with epilepsy during pregnancy. Some of these include hyperemesis, anemia, bleeding, placenta separation, pre eclampsia and a higher risk of still birth. The average rate of still birth is between two and seven percent. In women with epilepsy, the rate is between two and fourteen percent.

There is a greater risk of complications related to birth as well. This starts with an increased risk of preterm labor. Other problems include a failure to progress, which contributes to a higher c section rate.

For more on pregnancy and epilepsy visit www.epilepsyfoundation.org.

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What to Expect in Preconception Counseling

Learn more about Pattie Hughes

Pattie Hughes is a freelance writer and mother of four young children. She and her husband have been married since 1992. Pattie holds a degree in Elementary Education from Florida Atlantic University.

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