diabetes, epilepsy and ohter strange going-on

[fallingandlaughing]

I am newly preg (4 weeks!) with my first. DP and I are very excited, though a little fearful thanks to my diabetes and epilepsy.

Any other pregnant folk (or Mums) out there with these or other chronic conditions? How are you holding up? What kind of support are you getting?

I have epilepsy and am 15 weeks pregnant. It was well controlled by medication before my pregnancy and so far I have remained seizure free. I do worry a lot about the effects of the medication on the baby though. I had my 12 week scan early at 9 weeks and I assume that was because of my epilepsy. I also saw a doctor and an epilepsy specialist nurse at the antenatal clinic. I have to go back next week to see the specialist nurse and probably the doctor next week, and then my 20 week scan will be more specialised and done at the department of fetal medicine to check the baby for any effects of my medication. That's all so far. I am lucky that my local hospital is a regional centre for more complicated pregnancies so all the specialists are based there.
Hope everything goes well for you.

Stegasaurus - it sounds like they're really looking after you. I'm jealous :-) I also have epilepsy which is fully controlled and, like you, I've remained seizure free throughout my pregnancy - now 32 weeks. They didn't do anything special for me at all. I really wish they had. I was given no literature on the subject and no extra scans or anything. They certainly didn't get me scanned at the fetal medicine department. The most annoying thing though is that my doctor took me off my extra dose of folic acid at around 15 weeks. It was only when I finally got an appointment with the antenatal clinic at the hospital to discuss my epilepsy did the consultant quickly put me back on it. According to the 20 week scan we've apparently escaped all the major problems which can occur with anticonvulsant medication but it does still worry me, especially as we had a mmc immediately prior to this pregnancy.

fallingandlaughing - the best advice I can give you is to make sure you try and get all the advice and care you can. Badger people into making appointments for you. Also don't listen to your GP if they want you to come off your folic acid. It may not be proven to be helpful after 12 weeks, but it can't hurt. Hope all goes well for you.

Congratulations on your pregnancies stegasaurus and redheadgal It is good to hear from others inthe same boat, especially when things seemt o be going well.

I have been seizure-free for 6 months (longest ever!) since starting on Tegretol Retard so crossing fingers it stays that way. Sounds like I am in a lucky position as my diabetes and epilepsy consultants and my GP are all quite pro-active. Just before I found out I was preg my neurologist suggested I reduce dose from 800mg to 600mg in readiness for TTC - much better than my past consultant who wanted me on high dose valproate without even discussing pregnancy. Apparently I am going to get review appointments with my neuro, diabetes consultant and specialist obstetrician all together!

Your GP sounds a worry Redheadgal Mine is quite the opposite, she has been on a course about epilepsy and pregnancy and seems really supportive.

Are either of you on Tegretol? I just found out that I have severely depleted Vitamin D because of it (from my Gastroenterology consultant - hard to keep up with them all). Need to speak to GP next week about supplementation, just hoping it won't be a risk for my pregnancy. Mean while taking over the counter vit d and getting out in the sun.. when it appears.