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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: Epilepsy, pregnancy and giving birth

Submitted by quietmember71 on Thu, 2013-03-07 - 13:27

HI

I'm not sure when the original post was written, but I'm going to share my story because at some point it may help someone and I'm new to this site.  

I am a juvenile epileptic - 41 now, diagnosed at age 9. I had my son in 1999 (now 13 years old). Let me tell you, it was scary before, during, and after, but I made it through. I have a wonderful kid: healthy, happy, and well-adjusted. That being said, I took a lot of responsibility on myself before I made the decision to get pregnant and as my pregnancy advanced. I researched constantly. I spoke at length with Mother Risk in Ontario. They were an unbelievable source of information for me before and during my pregnancy. I asked to be referred to a gynecologist/baby doctor, as opposed to working with my GP (who understood my decision) in conjunction with my neurologist. That's what Mother Risk recommended and I totally agreed. I was able to get extra care, extra ultrasounds. I made informed decisions and wasn't bullied into anything I didn't feel was in my best interest. I lived in a city that had a medical program - meaning where people earned their medical license. Thus, there was lots of research being done through the university and the hospital. I volunteered from the start that if in some way I could be involved with the university in this capacity, that I would like to. I knew this would give me additional care. IT did. I was followed up with constantly. It was a help to them and to me. I got to know the interns quite well, along with the doctors, and ultrasound techs. I was really healthy.

It's like anything else in this world, you have to be your own advocate. Constantly research. The internet is loaded with valuable information (so long as you are using credible sites). When I had my son, there was not nearly as much information online as there is now, so I had to do alot of it on my own via doctors offices, hospitals, books, library, etc. My husband was amazing and just let me take control and did whatever I needed.

 Now here is the most valuable piece of advice to you. What I didn't do, was focus enough on how having a baby would impact my epilepsy after I had him. I had an overabundance of emotions. No seizures. But side effects. I didn't work enough with the community, I didn't ask for enough help. I would strongly recommend that you set up support networks for yourself. Take advantage of EVERYTHING your community has to offer. If you aren't sure of what that is and neither is your doctor, start researching. I know here (now I live in a rural community), there are general (not set up for epileptic moms, just everyone) clinics, mother baby activities, health nurses, phone numbers you can call for support, etc. Use ALL of it! It's your baby. Sleep EVERY moment that you can and tell your family and friends that you are going to use them as much as they are willing to let you, until you adjust. Don't get them to pay lip service and say "yes we will help", nail them down on how/when etc. before your new life begins.

I hope this helps. I know how you feel and where you've been. I don't know or remember my life without my condition and there are always scary moments, but use resources. I think by just writing here, it's creating a new resource! Cheers.

HI

I'm not sure when the original post was written, but I'm going to share my story because at some point it may help someone and I'm new to this site.  

I am a juvenile epileptic - 41 now, diagnosed at age 9. I had my son in 1999 (now 13 years old). Let me tell you, it was scary before, during, and after, but I made it through. I have a wonderful kid: healthy, happy, and well-adjusted. That being said, I took a lot of responsibility on myself before I made the decision to get pregnant and as my pregnancy advanced. I researched constantly. I spoke at length with Mother Risk in Ontario. They were an unbelievable source of information for me before and during my pregnancy. I asked to be referred to a gynecologist/baby doctor, as opposed to working with my GP (who understood my decision) in conjunction with my neurologist. That's what Mother Risk recommended and I totally agreed. I was able to get extra care, extra ultrasounds. I made informed decisions and wasn't bullied into anything I didn't feel was in my best interest. I lived in a city that had a medical program - meaning where people earned their medical license. Thus, there was lots of research being done through the university and the hospital. I volunteered from the start that if in some way I could be involved with the university in this capacity, that I would like to. I knew this would give me additional care. IT did. I was followed up with constantly. It was a help to them and to me. I got to know the interns quite well, along with the doctors, and ultrasound techs. I was really healthy.

It's like anything else in this world, you have to be your own advocate. Constantly research. The internet is loaded with valuable information (so long as you are using credible sites). When I had my son, there was not nearly as much information online as there is now, so I had to do alot of it on my own via doctors offices, hospitals, books, library, etc. My husband was amazing and just let me take control and did whatever I needed.

 Now here is the most valuable piece of advice to you. What I didn't do, was focus enough on how having a baby would impact my epilepsy after I had him. I had an overabundance of emotions. No seizures. But side effects. I didn't work enough with the community, I didn't ask for enough help. I would strongly recommend that you set up support networks for yourself. Take advantage of EVERYTHING your community has to offer. If you aren't sure of what that is and neither is your doctor, start researching. I know here (now I live in a rural community), there are general (not set up for epileptic moms, just everyone) clinics, mother baby activities, health nurses, phone numbers you can call for support, etc. Use ALL of it! It's your baby. Sleep EVERY moment that you can and tell your family and friends that you are going to use them as much as they are willing to let you, until you adjust. Don't get them to pay lip service and say "yes we will help", nail them down on how/when etc. before your new life begins.

I hope this helps. I know how you feel and where you've been. I don't know or remember my life without my condition and there are always scary moments, but use resources. I think by just writing here, it's creating a new resource! Cheers.

Re: Epilepsy, pregnancy and giving birth

Submitted by kpong29 on Mon, 2013-04-08 - 21:55
Thank you quietmember! I am new to the forums here, but have been working through figuring out my epilepsy for the past 8 years. I am pregnant with my first (and all is going very well!), but I have had 4 seizures during my pregnancy and every day I am afraid of another one. Your advice is very helpful to a mom-to-be, and something I will certainly keep in mind. I have been hesitant to delve into too much research because, in all honesty, it scares me. But I know that if I want what is best both for myself and for my child, it is what I SHOULD be doing so that we can both live healthy lives. Thanks again!

Labor Contractions

Submitted by Polina22 on Fri, 2017-11-10 - 06:04
Hello everyone, how did you feel about difficult cuts? What advice can you give? motherhow.com/labor-contractions

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