Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing to invite your readers to help us with our women’s campaign. Epilepsy Action’s Mothers in Mind: healthy births campaign is the latest in a series of campaigns and will be launched in September as part of Pregnancy Health Month.
It is possible to have epilepsy and have a baby, but your readers may not know this. Many women are unaware of the facts surrounding epilepsy and pregnancy, and their health professional may not have up-to-date information. As a result, women may decide against having children. However, with the correct advice and information, they are able to make informed choices.
Epilepsy Action needs to educate women and health professionals about some of the particular issues facing women with epilepsy, and how their treatment may affect contraception, fertility, pregnancy and the menopause.
The campaign is intended to educate health professionals and women with epilepsy on how to best manage their condition before, during and after pregnancy to improve chances of having a healthy mother and baby. Epilepsy Action wants all women to be able to make informed choices about their epilepsy care and treatment.
Mainstream and LGBT media are unable to publicise these issues without interviewing real women with real experiences. Epilepsy Action would like to include the experiences of lesbians. If you are a lesbian with epilepsy and are pregnant, or have been pregnant in the last five years, we would like to hear from you. Please contact Epilepsy Action’s press officer, Keeley Eastwood, for more information on 0113 210 8870, or at keastwood@epilepsy.org.uk
If you have not been pregnant, but have had experiences with epilepsy, we would also like to hear from you. Your stories are important! Please contact Epilepsy Action’s communications officer, Lucy Rollinson, on 0113 210 8882, or at lrollinson@epilepsy.org.uk
Yours faithfully,
Lucy Rollinson
(Communications officer)