This article discusses how women who are epileptic need to see a neurologist before becoming pregnant.
Epilepsy, a health condition characterised by seizures is in some cases known to cause an overstimulation of the brain cells, or an abnormal electrical activity in the brain. This condition more often than not requires lifelong medication.
Epilepsy may cause lifestyle restrictions in some, which include restriction to drive or hold some jobs owing to unpredictability of seizures.
Even so, can epileptic women conceive and carry the pregnancy to term? Ideally, women who suffer from this condition must see a neurologist first who will assess the number of seizure you experience in a given period of time. If you have been seizure free for about two years, the doctor can reduce the number of anti-epileptic medication or stop them altogether before you conceive.
Usually, the type of epilepsy and the need to balance the risk of recurring seizures influence the decision. Seizures taking place when you are pregnant puts you and the foetus at risk.?
If you had not planned and just discovered you are pregnant, see your doctor immediately whether you are on epileptic medication or not.
All pregnant women needs to take Folic acid to prevent neural tube defect conditions in newborn children and this is no exception for women who are epileptic.
Strict supervision
Research shows that women taking anti-epileptic medication have two or three greater chances of giving birth to children with neural tube defect compared to women without.
At the same time, high doses of Folic acid can affect anti-epileptic medication and hence must be taken under strict supervision of the doctor.
Up to 90 per cent of epileptic women experience uncomplicated pregnancies.
However, here are a few things you ought to do during your pregnancy.
• Ensure you are under the supervision of a physician and a gynaecologist.
• The doctor might increase your anti-epileptic medication in the first trimester.
•Anti-epileptic medication deplete levels of vitamin K, therefore, you may require to take vitamin K supplements during the last four weeks of your pregnancy.
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