Written by mothers to guide you through pregnancy and into early parenthood.
Foreword
Many women with epilepsy have told us that before pregnancy, and in pregnancy, they begin to think about their health and epilepsy. You yourself may wonder what effect your epilepsy, seizures or anti-epileptic drugs may have on the health of your unborn baby. Rather than wondering, you could request a copy of the booklet Epilepsy and having a baby from Epilepsy Action, and ask your family doctor to refer you for preconception counselling.
In the meantime, you may want a little support through your journey or with the decision- making process.
The Pregnancy Diaries has been written by mothers for mothers and fathers with epilepsy. The Pregnancy Diaries help you to see similar journeys to your own.
If you want to talk to other people with epilepsy dealing with parenthood, why not join our online community, forum4e. It is for people with epilepsy and carers of people with epilepsy. You just have to be 16 or over.
You can discuss how scary pregnancy can seem, share tips to try and make parenthood run more smoothly (we can dream). And you can laugh about all the funny moments that happen during pregnancy and the early years.
Whether you are thinking about pregnancy or are pregnant already, we really hope that you enjoy reading about our pregnancy experiences and find them useful.
Good luck with your journey, wherever it takes you.
Nicola, Jennifer and Ingrid (new mothers) and Nicole (Epilepsy Action).
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Updated July 2009To be reviewed February 2012
Comments: read the 3 comments or add yours
Comments
im 4months i have epilepsy im still taking keprra 1000mg im sooooooooooooooooooo scared i feel alone please help with more info about this
I'm 26 weeks pregnant and have just starting taking Keppra at same dose as you and like you am worried about effects on baby. I saw a consultant obstretian who gave me the phone number of an epilepsy nurse for me to speak to and she has managed to put my mind at ease, to some extent. Keppra is apparently one of the safest AED to take in pregnancy while giving good seizure control. I unfortunately had a seizure at 14 weeks but baby is moving plenty and scans show normal growth which is good although can't say for 100% baby will be ok which of course is worrying. If you have an epilepsy nurse perhaps you should give them a call, the one I spoke to seemed fairly clued up and was reassuring. But as far as I can understand much better to take the drug and hopefully avoid a seizure while pregnant than to have a seizure which puts baby at higher risk.
Hi Brittany,
Have you considered joining forum4e? There are other women there who have taken keppra during their pregnancies. It could be useful to have a chat with them.
There’s also the UK Epilepsy and Pregnancy Register. You could speak with the people there to find out more about using keppra when you are pregnant.
If you think it would help, you would be very welcome to speak to the advisers on the Epilepsy Helpline freephone 0808 800 5050, or email them at helpline@epilepsy.org.uk.
Kathy
Advice and Information Team