Is it more difficult to conceive if you have epilepsy?

Some seizure medications may contribute to infertility. On the other hand, certain anti-seizure drugs can affect the effectiveness of hormonal birth control techniques.

What is the impact of epilepsy on pregnancy?

Seizures during pregnancy can result in the following:

The foetal heart rate has slowed.
Reduced oxygen supply to the foetus.
Fetal damage, early separation of the placenta from the uterus (placental abruption), or miscarriage due to trauma during a seizure, such as a fall.
Premature labor.
Premature childbirth.
Is there a difference in epilepsy during pregnancy?

Pregnancy affects every woman's body differently. Seizures remain the same for the majority of pregnant women with epilepsy. Seizures have become less common for a few people. Pregnancy increases the number of seizures for others, particularly women who are sleep deprived or do not take medications as prescribed.

What about prescription drugs?

Medication taken during pregnancy can have an impact on your baby. Birth deformities, including cleft palate, neural tube malformations, skeletal abnormalities, and congenital heart and urinary tract defects, are only a few of the potential adverse effects of seizure drugs. Higher doses and more than one anti-seizure medicine appear to enhance the risk.

If you haven't had a seizure in the nine months preceding your pregnancy, you're less likely to have one throughout your pregnancy. If you haven't encountered a seizure in two to four years, you may be allowed to take off drugs before getting pregnant and see if you stay seizure-free. Before you stop taking your prescriptions, consult with your doctor.

However, for most women, it is advisable to continue medication during pregnancy. To reduce the dangers to you and your baby, your doctor will prescribe the safest medicine and dosage for your kind of seizures and will monitor your blood levels throughout your pregnancy.

What does my epilepsy imply for my child?

Aside from the effects of drugs, babies born to epileptic moms have a slightly greater risk of getting seizures as they grow older.

What should I do to brace for pregnancy?

Make an appointment with the health care practitioner who will be treating your pregnancy before attempting to conceive. Interact with other members of your health care team, such as your primary care physician or neurologist. They'll assess how well you're managing your epilepsy and discuss any treatment modifications you might need to make before you get pregnant.

If you experience regular seizures before conceiving, your doctor may urge you to postpone your pregnancy until your epilepsy is under control.

Take your anti-seizure medicine precisely as directed. Please don't change your medication's dosage or stop taking it on your own. Uncontrolled seizures are more likely to endanger your infant than any medication.

1. It's also critical to live a healthy lifestyle.
2. Consume a nutritious diet, for example.
3. Get enough rest.
4. Avoid using tobacco, alcohol, illegal drugs, and caffeine.

Is it true that I require more folic acid than other pregnant women?

Folic acid aids in the prevention of neural tube defects, which are the significant brain and spinal cord abnormalities. Because some seizure medications alter how the body uses folic acid, your doctor will advise you to take a high-dose folic acid supplement three months before conception.

What should I expect from my prenatal visits?

During your pregnancy, you will see your top neurologist frequently. Your weight and blood pressure will be assessed at each visit, and you may require frequent blood tests to monitor your drug level.

If you're using an anti-seizure medication, your doctor may advise you to take oral vitamin K supplements throughout the last month of pregnancy to help prevent post-delivery bleeding problems in the baby.

What happens if I experience a seizure while pregnant?

Seizures can be deadly, yet many pregnant women who experience attacks have healthy kids. Report the seizure to your doctor as soon as possible. He or she may change your medication. Suppose you encounter an episode in the last few months of your pregnancy. In that case, your doctor will have your baby monitored at a hospital or clinic.

Throughout the pregnancy, your top neurologist will keep an eye on your baby's health. You may need to get ultrasounds regularly to monitor your baby's progress. Other prenatal tests may be recommended by your top neurologist as well. Dr. Gautam Arora is the finest neurologist and interventional pain specialist possessing an expertise of more than a decade and will indeed treat you like a family. Consider visiting Dr. Gautam Arora now. You can contact him via:

Dr. Gautam Arora MBBS MD DM

NEUROLOGY AND PAIN MANAGEMENT CLINIC NPMC

Address: E 164 /1 KAMLA NAGAR DELHI NORTH 110007

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 8810340685