epilepsy & pregnancy

[Firsttimemum3212]

All,

Just wondering if any other mums or mums to be have had nice healthy pregnancies whilst also taking anti-epilepsy medicine? I am 20 weeks pregnant with my first and taking apparently the safest anti-epliepsy medication for pregnancy (Levitracetam) but would be great to share stories with anyone else in a similar position! (I haven't had a seizure myself in 9+ years and had been considering stepping away from my medication before finding out i was expecting, I am taking higher dose of folic acid because of this other medication)

I have a 2 year old and am 4 weeks pregnant. I'm taking lamotrigine (which I've been told is the safest in pregnancy!) and until ds was about 3 months old, I hadn't had a seizure for over 12 years. I had my dose increased slightly when I was pregnant and then reduced back to normal after I gave birth. I'm also taking the higher dose of folic acid. I did want to come off my medication completely before getting pregnant but I was advised not to. I used to take sodium valproate aswell but thankfully they were aware of the problems with it and I was taken off it before getting pregnant.
Ds is perfectly healthy and I had a smooth pregnancy last time.

The birth wasn't particularly straightforward but it was nothing to do with epilepsy!

Hi@Firsttimemum3212
I'm expecting DC2 and am still taking the antiepileptics I had through first pregnancy. I take Levetiracetam and Lamotrigine. I discussed it at length with my neurologist who agreed that the risks of seizure whilst pregnant (If stopped meds) outweighed the small increase in risk of birth defects. Seizures while pregnant can cause permanent harm to baby also. Maybe it also depends on the type of epilepsy, but I've tried to come off meds before and failed so wasn't going to risk it.
DD1 is perfect (of course I think so ☺️). Hope your consultant has talked your through the data and options. Congratulations!

I have 2 DC, and took levetiracetam while pregnant with both of them. They were straightforward pregnancies with natural births. DC are now 5 and 9 and healthy.

Thank you all! I don't personally know anyone else with epilepsy who is pregnant so its great to hear from others who have been in a similar position