High-Risk Pregnancy
theoryofwhat
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Epilepsy
theoryofwhat
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Any mommas out there have epilepsy?
If so, did you opt to continue taking your seizure meds or get off of them during pregnancy?
edit: autocorrect is a jerk This discussion has been closed.
Re: Epilepsy
Hello! I'm 21 weeks and on a high dose of Keppra for my seizures. Other than extra folic acid, having all my scans done at the maternal fetal medicine practice, and a fetal heart echo scheduled for 24 weeks, things are going great! My MFM says he only needs to see me for scans, Keppra is considered the safest to be on according to studies so far, and the fetal echo is only a precaution because the seizures put the baby at higher risk for heart defects. Baby boy was looking great at 18 weeks at the anatomy scan!
BFP 11/1/2013. Baby Boy born July 4, 2014!
I've stayed on my Topamax my whole pregnancy and everything has gone very smoothly. Make sure the benefits outweigh the risks when discontinuing your medication and be sure to discuss it with your neurologist. Cleft lip is possible when taking Topamax during pregnancy, but the chances are very slight (you have over a 96% chance of having a baby without it). In my siggy, I have a 4D of my baby girl and you can see she has no cleft lip. GL!
I have Epilepsy. I am a TBI survivor and the most damage to my brain was in the temporal area- therefore my biggest problem is that I have Epilepsy. I had 5 Grand Mal/Tonic Clonic seizures in 2005. Other than that, I have mostly Simple Partial seizures a few times a month. The "zone out, going down the hill of a roller coaster" as I like to call it. It's like a daydream, and doesn't effect the subconscious mind. I take 2000mg of Keppra 2x a day. As soon as I found out I was pregnant, I immediately called my Neurologist. He upped my Folic Acid to 2mg a day (AM and PM) along with the prenatal vitamins that also has folic acid in it. He also sent me for blood work and said I will be getting more blood work done over the next few months, to monitor my levels. I see him every 6 months. My next appointment with him is in May. In talking to my OB about this a few months ago, when I was thinking of getting pregnant, he just told me "we'll monitor you closely. It's safer to be on the seizure meds than to be off of them."
The Epilepsy is what is worrying me the most, I think. For the baby and myself. What if something happens and I fall? Hit my head? Will the Keppra cause any problems? Also I want an all natural birth... but what I've read and heard, is that an Epidural is recommended so as not to cause so much strain that a seizure can occur. =/
As for birthing, I haven't gotten that far yet. I've been encouraged to be induced and have an epi, though. I know BP is a real issue when laboring, so they'll want to do whatever they can to keep your body from being too stressed.
I have had epilepsy (generalized) since I was 9 years old and am now on keppra 250mg BID. Keppra does have some potential negative side effects, however it has been highly reccommended to me as the safest med to be on while pregnant. Plus, not having seizures is very important for you and baby from what I have been told.
That is interesting info about the epidural & seizures. I hadn't heard that, and I feel the same way about avoiding meds and going natural.
Good luck with your pregnancy! It sounds like you are doing everything right, so enjoy it
What I have looked at about BF and talked to someone about it (who specalizes in that area) is about the same as well Kellyj1587. It's a low dose risk to transfer to the child and shouldn't harm them. She sent me this info:
It is classified as L3 - moderately safe. Pediatric concerns are low, as transfer level was low. "There was no evidence of accumulation of levetiracetam in this study. The authors suggest that this study should be reassuring for breastfeeding mothers taking levetiracetam." (she also sent me a bunch of info on different studies done, if you want any of that).
Folic acid has been associated with reducing the risk of birth defects in pregnancies where epilepsy meds have been taken. Maybe talk to your OB about how much folic acid you can add daily? https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC320966/ For your A/S are you having a level 2 done?
BFP 11/1/2013. Baby Boy born July 4, 2014!
I have been met with some judgement by others for this. I just tell them seizures can be worse than the medicine for baby and that usually makes them hush. I think as long as you have a good neuro you can trust they will help you make the correct and informed decision.