Epilepsy and pregnancy: What you need to have to know

If you have epilepsy getting pregnant may possibly appear risky, but the odds are in your favor. Discover out how to encourage a healthy pregnancy.

By Mayo Clinic Staff members

Epilepsy for the duration of pregnancy raises special problems. Although most gals who have epilepsy supply healthy infants, you may possibly need to have special care for the duration of your pregnancy. This is what you need to have to know.

Does epilepsy make it extra complicated to conceive?

Some medicines made use of to handle seizures may possibly add to infertility. On the other hand, selected anti-seizure drugs can also minimize the efficiency of hormonal birth management strategies.

How does epilepsy impact pregnancy?

Seizures for the duration of pregnancy can induce:

  • Slowing of the fetal heart amount
  • Lessened oxygen to the fetus
  • Fetal personal injury, premature separation of the placenta from the uterus (placental abruption) or miscarriage due to trauma, these types of as a slide, for the duration of a seizure
  • Preterm labor
  • Untimely birth

Does epilepsy adjust for the duration of pregnancy?

All women’s bodies respond in a different way to pregnancy. For most pregnant gals who have epilepsy, seizures stay the similar. For a couple, seizures become significantly less repeated. For other folks, specially gals who are snooze deprived or do not get treatment as recommended, pregnancy improves the selection of seizures.

What about treatment?

Treatment you get for the duration of pregnancy can impact your baby. Beginning flaws — such as cleft palate, neural tube flaws, skeletal abnormalities, and congenital heart and urinary tract flaws — are a couple likely facet results related with anti-seizure drugs. The threat appears to increase with increased doses and if you get extra than one anti-seizure treatment.

If you have not experienced a seizure for 9 months before you conceive, you might be significantly less probable to have a seizure for the duration of your pregnancy. If you have not experienced a seizure for two to four a long time, you may possibly be able to taper off drugs before you conceive and see if you stay seizure-no cost. Talk to your overall health care provider before discontinuing your drugs.

For most gals, however, it’s finest to continue therapy for the duration of pregnancy. To limit the risks for you and your baby, your doctor will prescribe the most secure treatment and dosage that is helpful for your sort of seizures and keep track of your blood stages in the course of your pregnancy.

What does my epilepsy indicate for my baby?

Beyond the results of drugs, infants born to mothers who have epilepsy also have a a bit increased threat of producing seizures as they get older.

How must I get ready for pregnancy?

Before you check out to conceive, routine an appointment with the overall health care provider who’ll be handling your pregnancy. Also satisfy with other associates of your overall health care group, these types of as your loved ones doctor or neurologist. They will evaluate how properly you might be running your epilepsy and look at therapy improvements you may possibly need to have to make before pregnancy starts.

If you have repeated seizures before you conceive, you may possibly be suggested to wait to get pregnant till your epilepsy is much better managed.

Just take your anti-seizure treatment precisely as recommended. Will not regulate the dose or quit using the treatment on your have. Uncontrolled seizures probable pose a increased threat to your baby than does any treatment.

It is also crucial to make healthy life-style possibilities. For instance:

  • Try to eat a healthy diet.
  • Just take prenatal natural vitamins.
  • Get more than enough snooze.
  • Steer clear of smoking, alcohol, illegal medicines and caffeine.

Do I need to have extra folic acid than other pregnant gals do?

Folic acid will help avert neural tube flaws, really serious abnormalities of the mind and spinal wire. Due to the fact some seizure medicines impact the way the physique uses folic acid, your overall health care provider will suggest a large-dose folic acid nutritional supplement — ideally starting up a few months before conception.

What can I expect for the duration of prenatal visits?

During pregnancy, you can expect to see your overall health care provider generally. Your weight and blood pressure will be checked at each individual go to, and you may possibly need to have repeated blood checks to keep track of your treatment level.

If you might be using anti-seizure drugs, your overall health care provider may possibly suggest oral vitamin K health supplements for the duration of the final thirty day period of pregnancy to support avert bleeding complications in the baby following birth.

What if I have a seizure when I am pregnant?

Seizures can be unsafe, but lots of mothers who have seizures for the duration of pregnancy supply healthy infants. Report the seizure instantly to your overall health care provider. He or she may possibly regulate your treatment. If you have a seizure in the final couple months of your pregnancy, your overall health care provider will keep track of your baby at the healthcare facility or clinic.

How can I make positive my baby is Ok?

Your overall health care provider will keep track of your baby’s overall health in the course of the pregnancy. You may possibly have repeated ultrasounds to monitor your baby’s growth. Your overall health care provider may possibly suggest other prenatal checks, as properly.

What about labor and delivery?

Most pregnant gals who have epilepsy supply their infants without the need of complications. Females who have epilepsy may possibly be able to use the similar strategies of pain reduction for the duration of labor and delivery as other pregnant gals.

Seizures do not frequently take place for the duration of labor. If you have a seizure for the duration of labor, it may possibly be stopped with intravenous treatment. If the seizure is prolonged, your overall health care provider may possibly supply the baby by C-area.

If you have repeated seizures for the duration of your 3rd trimester, you might be extra probable to have a seizure for the duration of delivery. Your overall health care provider will assessment the finest delivery method with you to keep away from enhanced threat of seizures for the duration of your delivery.

If your anti-seizure treatment dose is altered for pregnancy, converse to your overall health care provider about returning to your pre-pregnancy stages shortly following delivery to continue preserving your seizures underneath management and your treatment at secure stages.

Will I be able to breast-feed my baby?

Breast-feeding is encouraged for most gals who have epilepsy, even people who get anti-seizure treatment. Examine adjustments you can expect to need to have to make with your overall health care provider in advance of time.

He or she may possibly suggest using your treatment following a feeding. At times a adjust in treatment is recommended.