Breathe easy. If you have epilepsy and are planning to start a family you can still have a healthy baby, safely. The good news is that YES most women with epilepsy can have a baby and deliver their babies in good health.
For women with epilepsy, this means planning and knowing what to expect throughout every stage of your pregnancy journey. From pre-conception to labour, you will want an educated team of doctors answering your questions and providing support throughout your journey.
What are some effects of epilepsy on pregnancy?
Planning ahead is a great strategy for women with epilepsy. Be prepared to have frequent visits to your neurology team before and during your pregnancy. This is so your seizure medication can be adjusted and monitored throughout your pregnancy. There are many physiological and emotional changes in your body happening so staying on top of your health is crucial during this time.
This will be an emotional time for you so it’s important to engage with a team of medical professionals to support you through this process. This includes a neurologist, OBGYN, nurse, and mental health professional to answer any questions that you may have along the way and help you prepare for your pregnancy so you know what to expect.
Your preparation will include blood tests that test the level of medication in your blood. Your neurologist will use this as a baseline so that they can keep that number stable throughout your pregnancy to prevent any risk of increased seizures.
What happens if you have a seizure while pregnant?
While the majority of women have the same or fewer seizures during pregnancy, some women may have more. This is due to so many changes happening in the body at once.
Having more seizures while your pregnant may happen for a few reasons:
Changes in your body all at once: Your body is facing hormonal, physiological, and psychological changes which can all contribute to your likelihood of having a seizure.
Physiological changes during pregnancy: These changes can alter the efficacy of your medication so that its effects are weakened. This includes weight gain. If your weight increases, you may need to consult with your doctor about increasing your dose of medication.
Nausea and sickness: Vomiting may contribute to throwing up your medication before your body has the chance to absorb it.
Emotional Stress: Seizures are triggered by high-stress states. Inconsistent sleeping patterns mixed with emotional stress can cause an increase in seizure triggers.
This can cause a lot of anxiety because of the potential consequences of injuring your baby during a fall or inducing premature labour, however, rest assured knowing that the cases of serious injury are rare and the risks can often be mediated and controlled by medication.
What happens during delivery?
During delivery, women with epilepsy can deliver vaginally or via c-section. If you have repeated seizures while in labour your physician may choose to do a C-section but this will be discussed before going into labour.
There is a myth that epilepsy is inherited but women shouldn’t worry. There is a 1% risk of a child developing epilepsy, this number jumps to 5% if you have epilepsy but the jump isn’t a significant one. If you are very concerned about it, a genetic doctor will be able to provide more information.
Keeping stress down and having your medication monitored regularly by your neurologist can keep the risk of having more seizures low. In most circumstances, women who have seizures while pregnant still give birth to healthy babies because their medication is monitored regularly.
Have a conversation with your OBGYN, Neurologist or doctor about strategies to monitor and regulate your epilepsy during pregnancy.
Your doctors will be able to provide you with more education about how to keep stress at bay and regulate your medication to reduce the risk of seizures while pregnant while ensuring that you stay safe while delivering your baby.
Final Thoughts
If you or someone you know suffers from epilepsy, or have been diagnosed with epilepsy and are looking for an epilepsy therapist in Vancouver, please get in touch today for a free consultation. I recognize how misunderstood people with epilepsy can feel. I’d love to work with you to help you through this process as it can be an incredibly emotional time for those with epilepsy.
