Seizure Disorders In Pregnancy

Question: Should I go off of my anti-seizure medication for pregnancy? I was just diagnosed with a seizure disorder and put on medication that my doctor told me is safe during pregnancy because I want to conceive in the next few months. I looked it up on safefetus.com and it was only given a grade of "C," and says it should only be taken during pregnancy if absolutely necessary. I'm not sure that the benefits of the medication outweigh the risks. I'd rather have seizures than have something happen to my baby. So far my seizures have only been in my sleep. What do you think I should do? I have had at least 2 grand mal seizures about a month apart, both while sleeping. I would never have known what had happened if my husband hadn't seen it. I suspect I have had others while I was away from my husband on business. I have woken up with little clues like muscle soreness, chewed up tongue, drool all over the bed, etc.

Answer: Preventing seizures while you are pregnant is "absolutely necessary.". They have to pick the lesser of two evils when it comes to medications during pregnancy... and in this case they will probably tell you to continue the medication. Pregancy category C meds are given alot more than you would think.

Question: Has anyone taken Trileptal during pregnancy? My daughter is 4 months pregnant with her 1st child. She has had a seizure disorder since she was age 12. She is on Trileptal as well as prenatal vitamins with folic acid. Ever since becoming pregnant, she has been having more seizures, so the doctor has increased her dosage a couple times (Trileptal is the only med she is on). She is naturally worried that it might affect the baby. Her neurologist says probably not, but of course there's risk with every drug. Does anyone know anyone who has taken Trileptal during pregnancy? Did the baby have any problems or birth defects? All the websites just talk about studies being done on it with animals, etc. Any insight would make her feel better. Thank you!

Answer: I take 800 mg. per day of Tegretol (carbamazepine) for seizures, and I've been pregnant twice and both my boys are perfectly healthy, wonderful, strong boys. :) My ob/gyn put me on a double dose of folic acid every day (800 mcg versus the standard 400 mcg) to help prevent the risk of spina bifida, cleft palate and cleft lip (the three most common birth defects of babies whose mothers took Tegretol) and I guess it worked because they're fine. :)

Question: epilepsy/pregnancy dilemma? I am 27 and I have epilepsy. I have also just found out that I am 6-weeks pregnant. For people that don’t know, Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that causes seizures, these can be controlled by anticonvulsant drugs, which I am currently on, and I lead a perfectly normal life. I have been reading up on the relationship between epilepsy and pregnancy, and I have found out that in 30% of epileptics, seizures increase in both frequency and severity during pregnancy. Seizures during pregnancy aren’t good; they can cause damage to the placenta and to the baby’s brain. But on the flip side taking the anticonvulsant drugs can cause the baby to develop brain and spinal cord defects. The dilemma I am facing is the balance between medication and seizures. The pregnancy will change the way my body responds to the medication, making the dosage difficult. The doctors have said the only way to find out is by trial and error. I want to have a happy life with a perfectly healthy and normal child. What should I do?

Answer: i don't have a choice - i absolutely could not live without seizure control. But since you do, i would find SOME way to get an epilepsy expert ( not just a doc who does epilepsy stuff) to talk to your OB/GYN. You need their best estimate (guess) on things like' danger to you without seizure meds danger to baby with seizure meds if the seizure meds are more dangerous to the baby in certain months. this might be very important, because it might let you choose a medium path, such as doing without your meds only 1 month - during the brain development of the baby. ================== yes, i read the part about your docs saying the only way to find out is trial and error. i think you need REAL experts, and force them to give you an answer - as in "what would you do, if you were pregnant? or if your wife or daughter were pregnant? what would you recommend." Also ask what are the worst things that can happen to the baby if you continue meds, and what are the worst things that can happen to you without the meds? I would go with the statistics. You can do that, or go with your gut instincts.

Question: I have developed a seizure disorder, could use some advice? I have one little boy, i was on the meds during pregnancy. He was healthy and normal and i had no problems. It's been four years since his birth and i've had four more seizures. i'd like to have baby but i'm scared. do you stop while your ahead? or do you roll the dice and try for another child?

Answer: Since I don't know what kind of seizures you have, it makes it harder to answer this. However, I would suggest talking to your doctor first of all. My friend has a seizure disorder, and if she were to get pregnant she couldn't stay on her medication. You said that you were on your meds during your pregnancy, so obviously, it's different. However, you should talk to your doctor and discuss the risks and possible complications you would encounter with another pregnancy (if you haven't already talked to him/her about it). If I were you, I'd probably "stop while you're ahead" as you put it. Pregnancy affects your body in so many ways that it seems more likely that you would have complication from the disorder, and I wouldn't want to risk it, for myself or my baby. You may want to consider adoption if you really want another child. I'm sorry I couldn't really give a good answer - Good luck and God bless!

Question: Bottle feeding vs breast feeding (first pregnancy so I have a few questions!)? So I am only almost 9 weeks and have a LONGGG way to go still but I have a few questions! I have a seizure disorder and was on Depakote before I got pregnant but right before I got pregnant my dr switched anticonvulsants so I am on a lower risk medication now. I have to take it throughout my pregnancy but my dr gave me an extra mg of folic acid to help prevent against birth defects. My question is this...is breastfeeding always better than bottle feeding? B/c my dr wants to put me on IV depakote right after delivery so I will not breast feed my new baby b/c of the dangers of the medication. So is formula as bad as people say? I want to give my child everything it needs but my dr really wants to me to go back on my regular medication. Please any info would be greatly appreciated!! COngrats on your newborns!!! <3<3 If I am not on ANY medication I could have a seizure and I need to be there for the baby and I wouldn't want to breast feed him/her and give her such high doses of meds i just feel so torn! I just want whats best for the baby!

Answer: Perhaps they will have donated breastmilk at the hospital for while you are on the IV depakote. Damn, you are only 9 weeks pregnant and you are making excuses already. "Healthcare providers consider Depakote to be safe during breastfeeding." http://bipolar-disorder.emedtv.com/depakote/depakote-and-breastfeeding.html I don't blame you tho. I just didn't care enough to breastfeed either. That is why I use formula. I wasn't as smart as you to think up such an elaborate excuse.

Question: NICU baby and Case Management? My daughter was born at 34wks. No drug use, great prenatal care, rough pregnancy due to hyperemesis and seizure disorder... However, she was born at 5lbs 12oz and has needed no oxygen support. Her only problem is she's having trouble eating and needs some help with her body temp. Today while visiting her, I noticed her chart said "Case Management to Follow", and when I looked up case management on the hospitals website, it said it was a group of social workers. With no drug or abuse history, a generally healthy newborn, and very involved/loving parents with a great support network, what would be the reasoning behind case management being assigned to follow her?

Answer: There was a social worker available to us when my son was in the NICU. The lady my husband & I talked to got us in touch with the Alliance for Infants & children which is an early intervention for child developments. Some preemies "fall behind" on their milestones and they can come out to your house to monitor your child to see if they are on track. It's free of charge. We decided against it though. Talk to the hospital staff and see what they say.

Question: pregnancy and tonic clonic siezure? Pregnancy and tonic clonic siezure? ok. I am a mother of one child, and would like to start trying to concieve with my husband for another child. I have had one seizure in my entire life, and took an EEG test which determined that I have a siezure disorder, because of my reaction to flashing lights and bright lights. We were already going to start trying and then this happened. I had a grand mal type siezure in my sleep. I have been prescribed Kepra XR, and am scared about the birth defect thing. I desperately want to have a baby seeing as mine is almost 5 and needs a sibling. I know it sounds selfish, but I have been thinking about stopping the kepra, and am not sure if I am going to have another siezure. I would hope not, as it was very traumatic, but I am almost 30, and need to get on trying to have another child. I feel a little ( a lot) helpless, and afraid of going off my medication, but I am having a very hard time figuring out if it a risk worth taking. I have no idea of the things that could happen should I have a siezure while pregnant. If it helps, which to me it does, doc said I would most likely be sleeping, since this is when my brain causes me to have the seizure. but it is all the other things i am worried about. I need someone with a kind heart to answer my question. i understand that some people would feel like I am wanting to do the wrong thing. I just need support, and please no smart *** comments, from the peanut gallery.

Answer: Yes.

Question: Epileptic and pregnant? I am 17 weeks pregnant with my first child. I have adolescent seizure disorder that has been under control for 10 years. My neurologist had weaned me off my meds about 4 months before I conceived. Since I've been pregnant, I've had no episodes. I have been told by my midwife that having an epileptic seizure at any point during my pregnancy could prove fatal to my baby, so I'm extra careful, (eating every two hours, keeping my stress levels low, getting plenty of sleep...all of which typically for me have been seizure triggers) My question is, does anyone know what the chances are of my baby having a form of epilepsy? The father of this baby has no family history of epilepsy, nor does he have it. My twin sister and I are the only ones in our family to have epilepsy as well. Insurance won't pay for a genetic consultation, so I can't go down that avenue.

Answer: I don't know the stats, but I can speak from experience. I had a son when I was in my mid thirties. I was on Phenobarb & Dilantin--not possible for me to be off either at the time. My son was born completely healthy and does not have any form of epilepsy or deformity from the medication. He is now 16. I'm adopted so I have never known my family history so I understand your concern.

Question: Did Obama vote against providing medical care for a live fetus following a late-term abortion.? Barrack Obama addressed this issue last night. True to form, McSame's erroneous slant on this issue skirts absolute deceit. The bill proposed in Illinios was an overt effort to undermine Roe v. Wade. Obama explained that there is already a law on the books that states all physicians MUST treat any one who needs treatment. The bill, that Obama did not vote for, did not include any exception to save the life of the mother. As an example, if a mother of small children suddenly has Eclampsia in her 20th week of pregnancy. Her death is imminent if she contines the pregnancy. According to this bill, this woman would have been prohibited from terminating the pregnancy. Shouldn't that decision be made by the woman involved and not some religious nut job who does not even know her, or care about her situation? Eclampsia = Synonyms and related keywords: eclampsia, hypertension of pregnancy, seizures in pregnancy, toxemia of pregnancy, coma in pregnancy, preeclampsia, hypertensive disorder, proteinuria. Obama explained that while he is not in favor of late-term abortions, like most people, he could not support a bill that did not have exceptions for the life of the mother. Obama also knew that there are already laws in place that force medical personnel to provide emergent care for ALL people in need. (Do I have to clarify for the small minded that this would not include those with living wills?)

Answer: I'm so glad you said something. I'm taking a painting class (to get back into the swing of things) and some naive little 18 (or so) yr old comes in the other day, going on about how Obama wouldn't sign a bill that would stop DRs from keeping a live baby from dying on the table. I've heard enough of McCain's camps half-a$$ed truths to know there was more to it than that but I didn't know the details...and surprise! There was! Who would just sit by and WATCH an infant die anyway? I heard the last part of the debate last night and McCain definitely came off as being aggresive and attacking. I hope others saw it too. Re: Kent, listen to yourself. There wasn't a law about that but Congress passed a law about that BEFORE he was a Senator (implying he never voted or was aware of any such thing). Get real. The guy has a wife and two daughter's. Do you really think a guy like that is all for aborting everything in sight, no matter what?

Question: strange fetal movement? I am 30 weeks pregnant with my third child. I have been feeling "spastic" fetal movements since 24-25 weeks. They occur almost daily for about 3 seconds they are extremely rapid (faster than I assume fetal hiccups to be) and seem too fast to be normal. I never felt movement like this with my other pregnancies (and I know that each pregnancy can be very different. The baby also moves "normally" (a kick or a turn that isn't repetitive and fast) on a regular basis. Is there such a thing as seizure disorders in fetuses? Have you ever heard of movement like this? I'm getting pretty worried and I'd like to hear an opinion of someone who might have gone through the same thing. Thank you.

Answer: He or she is practicing their gymnastics! My baby girl does the same thing, if you pay attention ....you might notice a pattern in its behavior : Eating/ sugary drinks or foods/ or when you are trying to rest might makeyour baby more active. For me , laying on my side gets her hyper. I asked my doctor of the spastic movement and it can be hiccups of not the baby at all , but your uteren ligaments being stretched under the weight of your baby. (they cause a throbing sensation with or without pain and can be mistaken for fetal movement) I would still ask my doc to confirm.