Pregnancy - Scans and tests during pregnancy
There are a number of tests, such as scans and blood tests, available for all pregnant women. Some tests can check the development of the baby’s heart, head and spine as well as look for abnormalities of the baby’s face, such as a cleft lip (when the top of the baby’s mouth does not develop properly). Other tests can only tell you if your baby has a high or low risk of having a birth defect such as spina bifida (when the baby’s spine does not develop properly). These tests can be particularly helpful if your baby has a higher risk of having a birth defect due to your epilepsy and anti-epileptic drugs.
Some women choose not to have any tests to check the development of their baby. Some women have some tests but not others. It is up to you to decide. Parents who find out that their baby has a birth defect before they are born, and choose to continue with the pregnancy, may be better prepared to look after the baby after the birth. Parents who are not expecting a baby with a birth defect may find it more difficult to come to terms with.
If you would like to find out more about scans and tests that can be done while you are pregnant, speak to your midwife or obstetrician.
More in this section:
We can provide references and information on the source material we use to write our epilepsy advice and information pages. Please contact our Epilepsy Helpline by email at helpline@epilepsy.org.uk.
Epilepsy advice and information
- What is epilepsy?
- Children
- Depression
- Disability Discrimination Act (UK)
- Driving
- Education
- Employment
- Entitlements for people with epilepsy in England
- Epilepsy and caring for children: a comprehensive guide
- Epilepsy in later life
- Epilepsy information for prisons
- Getting a diagnosis
- Identity jewellery
- Inheritance
- Learning disabilities
- Living with dificult to control epilepsy
- Me and my dad
- Memory
- Men and Epilepsy
- Mobile phones and epilepsy
- Osteoporosis, osteomalacia and epilepsy
- Photosensitive epilepsy
- Safety
- Seizures
- Sports and leisure
- Stress and epilepsy
- Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP)
- Swine flu and epilepsy
- Syndromes
- Travel abroad
- Treatment
- Women and epilepsy
- Sexual development (puberty)
- Sex life
- Epilepsy and the menstrual cycle
- Epilepsy and contraception
- The menopause and HRT
- Epilepsy and Fertility
- Planning a baby
- Pregnancy - Scans and tests during pregnancy
- Giving birth - labour and delivery
- Breastfeeding
- Caring for children (a quick guide)
- Inheriting epilepsy
- How you can help Epilepsy Action
- Mothers in mind- The Pregnancy diaries
- Young people and epilepsy
- Epilepsy Action and the Information Standard
- The Epilepsies: You, Epilepsy and the NICE Guideline
- Epilepsy Action Information Reviewers (EAIRs)
- Technical editing/writing and copyright
Epilepsy Helpline
- UK freephone 0808 800 5050
- International +44 113 210 8850
- Email: helpline@epilepsy.org.uk
- Txt msg: 07797 805 390 info
- Live online: Tuesdays and Thursdays 1230-1330 UK time






