How to plan and prepare for a healthy pregnancy.) ‚
How might my epilepsy affect my baby? " ” Having seizures while you are pregnant might harm your baby. If you fall down, you could hurt yourself and your baby. When you have a seizure, your baby might not get enough oxygen. ‚
Does pregnancy affect epilepsy? " ” Not usually. Being pregnant will probably not make you have more seizures. But you could have more seizures if you don't follow your doctor's instructions and take your anti-seizure medicine (if you need medicine). ‚
How can I lower my chances of having a seizure? " ” To lower your chances of having a seizure, you can: ‚
- Take your anti-seizure medicine exactly as directed " “ Do not stop or change your medicine without talking to your doctor. You might worry that your anti-seizure medicine will harm your baby. There is some chance that the medicine could do harm, but having a seizure can also harm your baby.
- Let your doctor know if you start any new prescription or non-prescription medicines, or herbal drugs
- Get enough sleep " “ Not getting enough sleep raises your chances of having a seizure.
- Eat a healthy diet
Will I have tests during pregnancy? " ” Yes. You will have tests to check your baby's health. These can include blood tests and an imaging test called an ultrasound. An ultrasound creates pictures of your baby. ‚
You might also have blood tests to check the amount of anti-seizure medicine in your body. ‚
Can I have a normal vaginal delivery? " ” Yes. Most women can have a normal vaginal delivery. It is uncommon for women to have a seizure during delivery. Even so, your doctor will watch you closely during your delivery and adjust your medicine, if needed. ‚
Will my baby be healthy? " ” If your epilepsy was under control during your pregnancy, chances are very good that your baby will be healthy. ‚
Will I be able to breastfeed? " ” Yes. Most women are able to breastfeed. If you want to breastfeed, talk with your doctor. He or she will make sure that your anti-seizure medicine is safe to take if you breastfeed. ‚
What else can I do to protect my baby? " ” If you have frequent seizures, there are things you can do to help keep your baby safe after he or she is born. You can: ‚
- Change your baby's diaper on the floor " “ That way, if you have a seizure, your baby won't fall off a changing table.
- Have someone else with you when you bathe your baby " “ That way, your baby won't be alone in the bathtub if you have a seizure.
All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete. ‚
This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Nov 04, 2014. ‚
Topic 16570 Version 4.0 ‚
Release: 22.8 - C22.206 ‚
‚ © 2014 UpToDate, Inc. All rights reserved. ‚
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