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Epilepsy, pregnancy and giving birth
Mon, 01/21/2008 - 10:14Good 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: Epilepsy, pregnancy and giving birth
Submitted by scaredypants19 on Fri, 2010-09-03 - 01:16
Re: Epilepsy, pregnancy and giving birth
Submitted by rbeauchene on Sat, 2010-09-11 - 07:29
I have been having seizures for a while and didn't even realize it. I had my son 9 months ago. I was going to have a water birth with no medication but due to absolutely no sleep the night before labor and really painful back to back contractions, I tried an IV medication. It didn't help much so I went for the epidural. The labor was pretty easy and I was able to get rest before the labor too. I found that the epidural didn't hurt as much as the women made out on tv.
I think it's important to know what you want but to know what else you would consider acceptable options.
Some people can go through labor all natural and some can't. You are not a bad person for wanting medication. I would recommend an epidural over having a c-section. You really shouldn't have one unless it is medically necessary because it can affect whether or not you are able to have a vaginal birth with another child.
If you can find a midwife who is flexible, that would be the best. I would recommend staying informed on what your options are and also the risks. Also, be very open with your doctor or midwife.
I have been having seizures for a while and didn't even realize it. I had my son 9 months ago. I was going to have a water birth with no medication but due to absolutely no sleep the night before labor and really painful back to back contractions, I tried an IV medication. It didn't help much so I went for the epidural. The labor was pretty easy and I was able to get rest before the labor too. I found that the epidural didn't hurt as much as the women made out on tv.
I think it's important to know what you want but to know what else you would consider acceptable options.
Some people can go through labor all natural and some can't. You are not a bad person for wanting medication. I would recommend an epidural over having a c-section. You really shouldn't have one unless it is medically necessary because it can affect whether or not you are able to have a vaginal birth with another child.
If you can find a midwife who is flexible, that would be the best. I would recommend staying informed on what your options are and also the risks. Also, be very open with your doctor or midwife.
Re: Epilepsy, pregnancy and giving birth
Submitted by tia maria on Sat, 2010-07-10 - 21:43
im 19 i have gran mal epilepsy an i just found im pregnant unplan an i want to keep it but im so scared im going to have a fit during it. do the docotors take u off ur medication whille u pregnant?