Kymtte
The pregnancy webpage
Epilepsy and Pregnancy
Women who are suffering from epilepsy conditions may face problems when they became pregnant; these problems may affect their pregnancy, also, they are vulnerable to these problems more than women who are not suffering from any epilepsy conditions. The problems include:
• Bleeding from vagina.
• Increase in the number of times that the seizures may occur.
• Development of preeclampsia conditions, which is an increase in the blood pressure and the protein in the urine after the 20th week.
• Placenta may be separated from the uterus (womb), placenta is the organ which is responsible of nourishing the fetus during pregnancy.
The effect of epilepsy differs from one pregnant woman to another, it may increase or decrease in some women. Although the majority of women who have epilepsy conditions during pregnancy may deliver healthy babies, but, there are some risks with a higher probability to occur in babies who are born by women with epilepsy, these risks include:
• Babies may being born premature or may being stillborn
• While getting older, babies develop seizure disorders.
• Babies may suffer from delays in development and growth.
• Babies may have bleeding problems after being born.
• Birth defects caused by the medicine that the mother used to take in pregnancy. Although, using medications during pregnancy may be dangerous for babies, it is more dangerous not to take these medications on both mother and baby lives. It may cause physical injury, developmental delay and even death.
To protect mother and baby from these risks, it is necessary for mother to use the medications that were permitted by her doctor, also, she should not stop them in her own, the doctor will decide to minimize the doses step by step according to the condition, for women who haven't had any seizures for 2 or more years, medications can be minimized and stopped before becoming pregnant, but again under the doctor advise. Also, it is important for all pregnant women (not only women with epilepsy problems) to take prenatal vitamin supplements and folic acid which helps babies to be born healthy without birth defects. For pregnant women with epilepsy, it is better to start taking vitamins before pregnancy since the absorption of folic acid may be changed because of the antiseizure medicine, the doctor should be told with the health history of parents' families, such as any brain or spinal defects, to be able to give a suitable decision. In general, eating good diet, sleeping enough time, and exercising regularly are good for pregnancy.
Tell your doctor about any history of brain or spinal defects in your family (or in the family of the baby's father). Eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep and exercising regularly are other things you can do to have a safe and healthy pregnancy.
