Maternity and Epilepsy

What’s the issue?

Women with epilepsy need better maternity care. For women with epilepsy, access to joined-up expert care before, during and after pregnancy is vital.

• While most people with epilepsy have safe and health pregnancies, there are higher risks for them than for the general population. People with epilepsy are ten times more likely to die during pregnancy than those without the condition.
• Recent national reviews, including the Ockenden Review and the Amos Review, have highlighted failures in care and risk management, and women not being listened to. These issues particularly affect women with epilepsy.
• Access to specialist epilepsy maternity care varies significantly depending on where someone lives.

What we are doing

Epilepsy Action is a member an expert reference group, supporting the work of the National Maternity Taskforce. We are helping to ensure that the taskforce’s recommendations reflect the needs and experiences of people with epilepsy.

We’ve developed tools and guidance to help healthcare providers improve maternity care for people with epilepsy. So far, we’ve worked with 56 maternity providers across three NHSE regions to put these tools into practice. Find out more about our maternity improvement programme and resources at epilepsy.org.uk/maternity.

These tools are already making a difference. Midwives, nurses and doctors tell us they now have a better understanding of the improvements needed. New epilepsy pregnancy clinics have been set up, and one has created a Specialist Epilepsy Midwife role as a direct result.