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Epilepsy, pregnancy and giving birth

Mon, 01/21/2008 - 10:14

Good morning,

I am very curious to hear the experience of women while they were pregnant, and during labor & birth of a child. 

How did the pain, stress affect your epilepsy, and was it easy to manage seazures? I am trying to figure out how to deal with the actual birth process, and I am seriously considering a c-cection, where I would like to be under total anesteshia. I would love to go through the natural birth, no epidural or pain med, but I am worried that the pain of labor will give me seizures. Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated.

By the way, I am not taking any meds for epilepsy, as my seizures are only about once a year...and I know the trigger, so I avoid doing things that I know could trigger the seizure.

 

Thank you all so much,

Sonja C.

Comments

Re: re:Epilepsy, pregnancy and giving birth

Submitted by leslisenatobia1 on Wed, 2009-12-23 - 23:02

 I am 7months pegnant and I started taking lamictal when I was 4 months. I intake 200mgs a day. My due date is coming up and I am thinking about having my baby naturally, but I have three other children and only one of them came in natural birth. I am considering getting an epidural and IV medicine but not sure if my body can manage that with lamictal. I agree with you about the natural birth thing, but what if I can't handle it? Will the epidural be ok? Did anyone get an epidural while on lamictal? Nicole

 I am 7months pegnant and I started taking lamictal when I was 4 months. I intake 200mgs a day. My due date is coming up and I am thinking about having my baby naturally, but I have three other children and only one of them came in natural birth. I am considering getting an epidural and IV medicine but not sure if my body can manage that with lamictal. I agree with you about the natural birth thing, but what if I can't handle it? Will the epidural be ok? Did anyone get an epidural while on lamictal? Nicole

Re: Epilepsy, pregnancy and giving birth

Submitted by hahunter on Tue, 2008-02-19 - 16:01
I am 14 weeks pregnant with my first child.  I had my first and last siezure in 2006.  I am on 200 mg of Topamax.  I was diagnosed with Temporal lobe Epilepsy.  I have partial siezures.  So far my pregnancies been normal.  Other than chronic headaches which I have to see my neurologist for soon.  I also have to take a high dose of Folic acid becuase I'm on Topamax.  But everything is going good so far for me, no partial sizures no full blown siezures.  I do plan on doing natural child birth unless I something happens and I'm not allowed.  Really it's all up to you and your doctor.  You should speak to your neurologist and your ob/gyn about your choices.

Re: Epilepsy, pregnancy and giving birth

Submitted by shorti122 on Wed, 2008-09-17 - 12:52
Hi, I just found out that I'm pregnant. Like you I'm on 200mg of Topamax. What dose of folic acid do you take? I don't have seizures, so all good here. My first appointment is next week with the OBGYN.

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