Hard decision just got harder

[Smitten]

Hello, some advice would be good - I am nearly 37 and mum to beautiful baby girl (13months) I have been trying to decide about having another baby. I worry about the future and what may go wrong in this uncertain world. I think of how much I love my little girl. Should I have another baby when I have this much worry now. Also just recently I have been diagnosed with epilepsy. Docs want to put me on meds. Now, meds cause deformity, plus my age concernes, plus my other worries about the future. Anyone out there on epilepsy meds or pregnant with epilepsy and no meds? Help!! Do I have another baby? Do I risk problems with epilepsy and pregnancy? Do I risk problems with meds? How do I stop so much worrying??? Thanks:confused: :confused:

[Manxie]

Hi Smitten

Just wanted to say that I am also an "older mum" 35 and I worry a lot too!!! We have one DD and my DH does not want to have any more as he is even older + eleven years:(

I dont have any personal experience re epilepsy however, an ex work colleague did take medications while pregnant. I think they have to weigh up what is the greatest risk your health if not on them and the babies if you are. Her baby turned out just fine by the way!

Is there an epilepsy society that you can contact. It must be a common question. I really think you have to be guided by the professionals on this one.

Good luck:D

[SAVINA]

i WISH U WELL I KNOW IT WOULD BE SCAREY I DONT KNOW MUCH ABOUT THIS BUT HOW ABOUT LOOKING THROUGH THE NET FOR INFO ON PG AND EPILEPSY!

GOOD LUCK!

[Tam-I-Am]

Hi,

I don't personally have epilepsy, but my aunt (only 6 years older than me) has a baby - 12 months old now, and she was on meds for ep throughout her pg - the bub was prem at 31.5 weeks gestation, but healthy. She couldn't take the more commonly prescribed meds, either - she had to take lithium. I worked in mental health until the birth of my bub, and saw lots of pg clients on meds for lots of different things, and as long as you have close medical supervision - you and bub will be fine!

Good luck with the future!

[dace101]

My brother has epilepsy, and while he will never get pregnant (LOL, obviously) I couldn't read your post and not respond. I don't know much about what types of drugs are "safer" to take for epilepsy while pregnant (if any), but I wanted to provide some links that might be helpful to making your decision (or you could try searching online for "epilepsy while pregnant" or something similar). I think the best thing you can do (as in any situation) is read, read, read, and educate yourself about every possible option. Good luck! :hugs:

Some information about pregnancy and motherhood from the MyEpilepsy website: http://www.epilepsy.com/info/women_pregnancy.html

"Newer Epilepsy Drug Cuts Risk of Birth Defects": http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=46402

Epilepsy information from the BabyWorld website: http://www.babyworld.co.uk/information/pregnancy/complications/complications_epilepsy.asp

An article about "Epilepsy drugs force pregnant women to make tough decision": http://www.newstarget.com/z007465.html

An interview with Dr Kimford Meador about epilepsy medication during pregnancy: http://www.epilepsy.com/epilepsy/medicine_pregnancy.html

And this, from the US National Institute of Neurological Disorders:

Pregnancy and Motherhood:
Women with epilepsy are often concerned about whether they can become pregnant and have a healthy child. This is usually possible. While some seizure medications and some types of epilepsy may reduce a person's interest in sexual activity, most people with epilepsy can become pregnant. Moreover, women with epilepsy have a 90 percent or better chance of having a normal, healthy baby, and the risk of birth defects is only about 4 to 6 percent. The risk that children of parents with epilepsy will develop epilepsy themselves is only about 5 percent unless the parent has a clearly hereditary form of the disorder. Parents who are worried that their epilepsy may be hereditary may wish to consult a genetic counselor to determine what the risk might be. Amniocentesis and high-level ultrasound can be performed during pregnancy to ensure that the baby is developing normally, and a procedure called a maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein test can be used for prenatal diagnosis of many conditions if a problem is suspected.

There are several precautions women can take before and during pregnancy to reduce the risks associated with pregnancy and delivery. Women who are thinking about becoming pregnant should talk with their doctors to learn any special risks associated with their epilepsy and the medications they may be taking. Some seizure medications, particularly valproate, trimethidone, and phenytoin, are known to increase the risk of having a child with birth defects such as cleft palate, heart problems, or finger and toe defects. For this reason, a woman's doctor may advise switching to other medications during pregnancy. Whenever possible, a woman should allow her doctor enough time to properly change medications, including phasing in the new medications and checking to determine when blood levels are stabilized, before she tries to become pregnant. Women should also begin prenatal vitamin supplements -- especially with folic acid, which may reduce the risk of some birth defects -- well before pregnancy. Women who discover that they are pregnant but have not already spoken with their doctor about ways to reduce the risks should do so as soon as possible. However, they should continue taking seizure medication as prescribed until that time to avoid preventable seizures. Seizures during pregnancy can harm the developing baby or lead to miscarriage, particularly if the seizures are severe. Nevertheless, many women who have seizures during pregnancy have normal, healthy babies.

Women with epilepsy sometimes experience a change in their seizure frequency during pregnancy, even if they do not change medications. About 25 to 40 percent of women have an increase in their seizure frequency while they are pregnant, while other women may have fewer seizures during pregnancy. The frequency of seizures during pregnancy may be influenced by a variety of factors, including the woman's increased blood volume during pregnancy, which can dilute the effect of medication. Women should have their blood levels of seizure medications monitored closely during and after pregnancy, and the medication dosage should be adjusted accordingly.

Pregnant women with epilepsy should take prenatal vitamins and get plenty of sleep to avoid seizures caused by sleep deprivation. They also should take vitamin K supplements after 34 weeks of pregnancy to reduce the risk of a blood-clotting disorder in infants called neonatal coagulopathy that can result from fetal exposure to epilepsy medications. Finally, they should get good prenatal care, avoid tobacco, caffeine, alcohol, and illegal drugs, and try to avoid stress.

Labor and delivery usually proceed normally for women with epilepsy, although there is a slightly increased risk of hemorrhage, eclampsia, premature labor, and cesarean section. Doctors can administer antiepileptic drugs intravenously and monitor blood levels of anticonvulsant medication during labor to reduce the risk that the labor will trigger a seizure. Babies sometimes have symptoms of withdrawal from the mother's seizure medication after they are born, but these problems wear off in a few weeks or months and usually do not cause serious or long-term effects. A mother's blood levels of anticonvulsant medication should be checked frequently after delivery as medication often needs to be decreased.

Epilepsy medications need not influence a woman's decision about breast-feeding her baby. Only minor amounts of epilepsy medications are secreted in breast milk, usually not enough to harm the baby and much less than the baby was exposed to in the womb. On rare occasions, the baby may become excessively drowsy or feed poorly, and these problems should be closely monitored. However, experts believe the benefits of breast-feeding outweigh the risks except in rare circumstances.
...
Women with epilepsy should be aware that some epilepsy medications can interfere with the effectiveness of oral contraceptives. Women who wish to use oral contraceptives to prevent pregnancy should discuss this with their doctors, who may be able to prescribe a different kind of antiepileptic medication or suggest other ways of avoiding an unplanned pregnancy.

[suemp]

hi my name is sue i am 8 weeks preg and have epilepsy. i have only ever had 2 grand mals but have partial (petit mal seizures most days) being recently diagnosed is scary and lonely you are welcome to email me on suemp77@optusnet.com.au if you want to chat. i am on tegretol 400 mg a night. depending on med its different for preg. tegretol is good (compared to others to take while preg) it strips your body of folate so i also take a folate tablet once a day. you have to be under ob care while preg with ep. due to my financial situation i am doing the public hospital thing and its been good. i have a 4 year old son but was not diagnosed till after i had him. if you just have partial seizures i would prob hold off introducing new meds, if you wanna get pg, as they cann knock you around a bit, but if you have grand mal (the type of seizure everyone associates with epilepsy where you roll on the floor etc) than you really should be on meds to control it (this said i am not a doc and its up to them and you). my nuero warned me the ep will get worse in third trimester (something to look forward to)
all said i have baby on the way and worry every day. worry about $ worry me and dp relationship not the best etc etc, i am hoping its all those raging hormones going on making it seem worse than it is all the best:hugs:

[Smitten]

Thank you very much to all ladies who responded. Your time is much appreciated. All the best.:yelclap: