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Is there anyone who is pregnant and suffers with epilepsy?
Hi all. Could really do with a sympathetic ear. I'm 26wks pregnant, and throughout my pregnancy, and before getting pregnant, me and my husband have been aware of the possible risks of having a baby, born to a mother with epilepsy. To cut a very long chapter short, I had the AFP and Downs blood tests at 15wks, which gave me a personal ratio of 1 in 200,000 of having a child with Downs, or Spina Bifida, which I considered positive. The thing that upsets me now though is that each time I go to the hospital I am constantly reminded that the medication I take (sodium valproate 800mg per day) is quite risky in causing abnormalities...which absolutely frightens me to death. I've had a referral to see my neuro consultant this week, and I know that she will go over the same thing yet again. To me the risks of changing my medication far outweigh the benefits to the baby of changing to "a less risky medication" (lamotrigine has been recommended instead), in that a change will probably cause me to have seizures. The last time I had one I was in the bath and went unconcious and stopped breathing, and the thought of that happening whilst pregnant doesn't bear thinking about. But when the hospital insist on bringing it up every single time I see them, it makes me think "what if I am harming my baby", which is very upsetting, as I love my baby so much already. If there is anyone else out there going through a similar dilemma, I'd love to hear from you. claire xxxxx
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I think you either change medication at the beginning or not at all your so far now it seems odd you only had a referral this week to see the neuro consultant. When you had your 20 week scan that would have shown any abnormalities, have you been able to read any of the reseach undertaken on pregnancy and the medication you are taking? I think if they change your medication this late in the day you should be in hospital for the first week under the consultants watch. Keep me posted.