Anxious about Epilepsy during pregnancy

[Nuttypea]

Hi, I'm new to mumsnet and have been TTC baby no. 1. Are there any mummas out there with epilepsy, who breezed through pregnancy without it having an effect on your seizures?

I have been seizure free for almost 7 years now, but am terrified of them returning, however I am longing to have a baby.

Just wanted to hear if anyone else's experience... And did you continue to have a healthy little bubba 💕

Thanks all 😘

My DS was born last year. When I first saw the consultant during pregnancy she told me I had to increase the dose of my medication for the duration of my pregnancy, which absolutely terrified me because I had been seizure free for 12 years and I was worried this would cause a seizure. Turned out to be fine though and there were no problems while I was pregnant. Had to have an extra scan to check baby's heart because there was a risk of problems because of my medication. Thankfully this was all fine (it was just nice to have an extra scan and see him again!). Couldn't have pethidine during labour because of my epilepsy, but I had plenty of other drugs! All was going well until January this year (DS was about 3 months old) when I had a seizure. I was so annoyed! No idea what caused it. Could have been tiredness (not usually a trigger), maybe I forgot to take my tablet or doubled up by accident, or could have been because of hormones. I have been fine since though and it was obviously just a blip.

Also had to take a high dose of (prescription) folic acid for 3 months before starting to ttc, and all through pregnancy.

Hope everything goes well for you

And DS is perfectly healthy!

I had my epilepsy managed with increased dosages where necessary so I had an antenatal appointment every month to check me and DS.

Go and see your GP so you can have a decent strength folic acid.

DS was and is absolutely fine. He's 15 now 😁.

Thanks for replying both! I've been taking 5mg folic acid for a while now, this is my 4th cycle ttc. So not long, but still a heartache each time af makes an appearance! Sorry to hear you had a seizure cremeegg. Fingers crossed it was a 1 off and your body just readjusting!
How soon after baby was born did you have to reduce your meds to its normal dose? Do you think that could of been a trigger.
Big hugs and well wishes all round x

And congratulations to you both on the birth of your beautiful and healthy babes!

It wasn't a huge increase and it just reduced back to my normal dose over 2 weeks. Totally clueless as to what caused it!

I had been seizure free for years when I got pregnant with DC1. I was taking levetiracetam and wasn't advised to take an increased dose. I had extra antenatal appointments at the hospital which ran a clinic for pregnant women with epilepsy, and I got a detailed scan to check the medication hadn't caused any problems. Everything was fine. I couldn't have a water birth, and I couldn't have the baby in the midwife-led unit (same hospital, just down the corridor from consultant-led ward) but I had a meeting with the midwife in charge of the MLU about how epilepsy had been controlled throughout the pregnancy and it was agreed that I could go there. Gave birth at 39 weeks with gas and air, in labour for about 6 hours total, was transferred to labour ward at some point but nothing to do with the epilepsy.
I did have a seizure a couple of weeks after the birth, fortunately DH was there to make sure DC and I were ok. I was also told it could have been due to tiredness although that hadn't previously been a trigger.
Have since had DC2 again with no problems. Gave birth in MLU after about 2 hours labour, no time for even gas and air. DC2 is now 4, terrible sleeper, didn't sleep for more than 2 hours at a time for over a year, didn't routinely sleep through the night until after her 4th birthday, but no seizures (yet).
Hope everything goes well for you.