Epilepsy & pregnancy

[Wallaroo21]

Does anybody have experience with epilepsy during pregnancy? I’m 4 +6 and slightly freaked out by reading things online. I’m on lamotrigine which seems like is the safest drug during pregnancy at least. The doctor has put my forward for the early screening but I’m not really sure what this involves?

Hi OP fellow epilepsy sufferer here. I'm on Clobazam but was on lamotrigine years ago, it just didn't control my seizures. I remember being told it was safe then.

You're lucky, I've just been advised to take 5mgs of folic acid and that I can't have pethidine by the obstetrician. Apart from that nothing, I'm currently 21 weeks.

Are your seizures controlled?

Luckily I was already on the 5mg folic acid. I scoffed when the doctor prescribed it just in case I accidentally got pregnant but I guess he knew something I didn't!

My seizures are well controlled and minor anyway I'm just concerned about the medication affecting the baby. I've been reading about how it can effect the spine and cleft palate

Did you have the early appointments?

That's good then. It'll have already been in your system, the folic acid I mean.

I wasn't offered any early appointments, I paid for a private scan at around 6 weeks.

I get being freaked out about the medication, I weighed up the pros and cons but I think the risk of having a seizure is much worse for both of you than the risk the meds pose.

Fellow epilepsy sufferer here, also on Lamotrigine! I had my baby 6 weeks ago and the only issue with the Lamotrigine was my levels dropped quite dramatically throughout the pregnancy so I did have to increase my dosage a fair amount.

I had concerns about the apparent increase in cleft palate cases as well but spoke to my epilepsy nurse about it and she’d never even heard of it until recently and said in reality the increase is practically nothing so not to worry! Baby wasn’t affected at all by the Lamotrigine and she’s now a lovely little 6 week old sleep thief!

Oh that's good to hear thank you so much! Congratulations on your healthy baby!

Personally but a very good friend had to healthy pregnancies whilst on lamotrogine. Interestingly she found that she had no seizures during pregnancy, where is she usually experiences breakthrough procedures. Her children are gorgeous, good luck to you

Sorry, that should say personally no !!