Community Forum Archive
The Epilepsy Community Forums are closed, and the information is archived. The content in this section may not be current or apply to all situations. In addition, forum questions and responses include information and content that has been generated by epilepsy community members. This content is not moderated. The information on these pages should not be substituted for medical advice from a healthcare provider. Experiences with epilepsy can vary greatly on an individual basis. Please contact your doctor or medical team if you have any questions about your situation. For more information, learn about epilepsy or visit our resources section.
terrified to get pregnant
Sat, 09/19/2009 - 11:59Hello,
My name is Linzy and I am 26 years old. I was diagnosed with Absence seizures when I was 23. I have been on a boat load of medications to control them and now I am on Lamictal which has done the best so far. I have been increased recently because of some breakthrough seizures. My husband and I have decided to have a baby and I am terrified for the health of the baby. My doctor told me that Lamictal can cause cleft lip, palate etc., to the fetus and that I cannot breast feed. I take 125mg of lamictal in the morning and at night. I have always dreamed of having children - healthy children. I would love my child no matter what but doesn't everyone want healthy children, free of defects? I have also always dreamed of breast feeding. I was pretty devastated when my doc told me that I wouldn't be able to breast feed my child. I want to be able to have that connection with my baby. I guess I am just hoping for some similar stories and to know that there are people out there who understand where I am coming from and how much of an impact seizures can put on your life even if they are just absence.
UPDATE (May 5, 2011): I thought that I would update this thread :) I am happy to tell you all that I am the very proud mother of a happy, healthy and totally normal 9 month old son =) I got pregnant shortly after posting this thread and my whole pregnancy and delivery was completely normal, problem free and most important of all, seizure free!! Towards the end of my pregnancy I did accumulate too much amniotic fluid but it wasn't a worry at all and my water ended up just breaking on its own 2 days after my due date which kicked off 21 hours of labor and 2 hours of pushing, to which I welcomed a very healthy 7lb 14oz baby boy (with the help of the vacuum because he was coming down at an angle and was a bit stuck!). He was pretty jaundice for a while because he ended up getting some of my blood during delivery but that went away within 2 weeks. He does have an undescended teste which is fairly normal in boys anyway and has nothing to do with the lamictal. He already had the first surgery to fix that and is doing awesome. I haven't had any seizures since before I got pregnant which is really awesome since I was having them fairly often. And which is even more amazing seeing as my soon to be ex-husband wanted a divorce right before we found out I was pregnant and wanted one even faster once we found out I was pregnant a week later. I ended up having to move 9 hours away back to my hometown while I was terribly sick with morning sickness. To go through all of that stress and not have a seizure is pretty awesome I think! I was really scared about birth defects and such when I was ttc but now I know how small of a chance those things are especially with lamictal and in the future if I find someone else to spend the rest of my life with I will have no fears about having more children. Thank you all for your support and for sharing your stories! I wish you all the best of luck!
Comments
Re: terrified to get pregnant
Submitted by leopardess84 on Thu, 2011-05-05 - 13:39
Re: terrified to get pregnant
Submitted by wynterz on Thu, 2011-05-05 - 14:48
Hi, Im new to this site.
I also too have Abscence seizures and saw your post, Because im now of childbearing age my doctors have discussed pregnancy with me, Ive always wanted children and they told me the defects and Im terrified of it now.
I never got any statistics on it but reading online and alot of research, Theres very little chance of defect and that most women with Epilepsy go on to have a healthy birth .. Its nothing to do with the Epilepsy its to do with the AEDs you take. Its as much chance as people over 30 getting a birth defect child, But I would hate to bring a child into the world knowing it might suffer.
Theres surgery now for clef lip, spina bifia and hole in hearts, But the thought of it having to go through it. Breastfeeding isnt adviced because of your AED and it could affect your baby but lots of women have done it with AED and there babies have been fine, just go and talk with your GP and midwife about it and do research online, Its not like doctors live with Epilepsy they only study it..
I wish you all the best.
Hi, Im new to this site.
I also too have Abscence seizures and saw your post, Because im now of childbearing age my doctors have discussed pregnancy with me, Ive always wanted children and they told me the defects and Im terrified of it now.
I never got any statistics on it but reading online and alot of research, Theres very little chance of defect and that most women with Epilepsy go on to have a healthy birth .. Its nothing to do with the Epilepsy its to do with the AEDs you take. Its as much chance as people over 30 getting a birth defect child, But I would hate to bring a child into the world knowing it might suffer.
Theres surgery now for clef lip, spina bifia and hole in hearts, But the thought of it having to go through it. Breastfeeding isnt adviced because of your AED and it could affect your baby but lots of women have done it with AED and there babies have been fine, just go and talk with your GP and midwife about it and do research online, Its not like doctors live with Epilepsy they only study it..
I wish you all the best.
Re: terrified to get pregnant
Submitted by alsaari on Thu, 2011-04-07 - 20:50
Hi I'm new to this site and saw your post. I do have the same fears of being on meds while trying to get pg. My story is a bit different. I was 8 months pg when I had 2 seizures (dec 09). The doctors still have no idea why... I'm had MRIs and EEGs and everything has come back normal. I did have 4 seizures as a child my last one was at the age of 4. I believe that I was on meds for a little while and then was weened off. I had been seizure free for 24 years and then I have 2 within 2 days of each other. Actually the 2nd one happened 2 hrs after being discharged for the 1st one. They thought I had the 1st as a result of my low blood sugar, so they sent me home with a glucose monitor. The 2nd seizure was a little bit worse because I had pulmonary edema (lungs filled with bloody fluid) I was air lifted to a bigger hospital where I spent 5 days. Since then I have been seizure free and one month after I was blessed with a beautiful and healthy baby boy. He was 3 weeks early, so he had a short stay in the NICU. I am off the dilantin and currently taking 200mg of Lamictal.
We have been talking about trying for another baby but we are both terrified of what could happen. We have had a string of bad things happen over the past year, so that is weighing heavily on our minds. I know few ladies that have had perfectly healthy babies while on seziure meds, so I'm trying to stay positive.
Nothing in lifeCan hold more joys or more tears,
Can make you more proud or more tired,
Or give back more rewards
Than being a mother.
Hi I'm new to this site and saw your post. I do have the same fears of being on meds while trying to get pg. My story is a bit different. I was 8 months pg when I had 2 seizures (dec 09). The doctors still have no idea why... I'm had MRIs and EEGs and everything has come back normal. I did have 4 seizures as a child my last one was at the age of 4. I believe that I was on meds for a little while and then was weened off. I had been seizure free for 24 years and then I have 2 within 2 days of each other. Actually the 2nd one happened 2 hrs after being discharged for the 1st one. They thought I had the 1st as a result of my low blood sugar, so they sent me home with a glucose monitor. The 2nd seizure was a little bit worse because I had pulmonary edema (lungs filled with bloody fluid) I was air lifted to a bigger hospital where I spent 5 days. Since then I have been seizure free and one month after I was blessed with a beautiful and healthy baby boy. He was 3 weeks early, so he had a short stay in the NICU. I am off the dilantin and currently taking 200mg of Lamictal.
We have been talking about trying for another baby but we are both terrified of what could happen. We have had a string of bad things happen over the past year, so that is weighing heavily on our minds. I know few ladies that have had perfectly healthy babies while on seziure meds, so I'm trying to stay positive.
Nothing in lifeCan hold more joys or more tears,
Can make you more proud or more tired,
Or give back more rewards
Than being a mother.