ANY EPILEPTICS??

annecim_avci · #1 11-30-2007, 02:50 AM

Hi,
Noticed the post on diabetics and wondered if there was any other epileptic mums on here.
If so, just wondering how it affected your pregnancy, birthing experience, post natal etc
Also how do you find life as a mum with seizures?

Be good to talk to anyone that understands

carmen_richards · #2 12-03-2007, 10:46 AM

I am epileptic, I have petit mal tempal lobe epilepsy....

Around 2,500 women with epilepsy will have a baby each year in the UK.

Pregnancy affects pregnancy in so many different ways. I have had five children and had a different time each time.
My first pregnancy I did not get any fits until near the end when I had quite large grand mal fits, with my second daughter I had them also at the end but they were petit mal and the same with my third daughter although they started earlier. I knew with my son I was having a boy as everything was so different. I had all the fits at the beginning and they kicked off big time. It was the same with Eche my youngest boy i had the fits in the beginning... they are terrible and can make you feel lousy.
The best advice I can offer you is to not get too stressed as this brings the fits on along with tirednes... get some rest... I dont mean lying down rest I mean sleep rest.
The actual birth can cause a fit as it did with my eldest, to the point i dont remember giving birth, but this is not the case all the time. Each persons epilepsy is individual to them.
Do you take tablets for your fits? If so go to the doctor and get your dosage checked as I took Lamotrigine which can cause Nerual tube defects. This can result in spina bifida, downs syndrome or a brain problem which I just found out jevan has. I do not wish to frighten you... the more you worry about it the harder it is...
You will be fine honestly. I was fine with all of mine...

annecim_avci · #3 12-03-2007, 02:45 PM

thanks for your reply

Read your pm before i read this

I have grande mal or tonic clonic as it is now known as. I also have absence seizures.
My first pregnancy was awful with my son, I was on tegratol retard which I have taken since I was 7, my seizures increased ten-fold and because of this I had a planned section to reduce the risk of complications in birth.
My son ended up in SCBU and has FACs as a result of my meds.
My second pregnancy I still took the tegratol but also had keppra introduced and this seemed to have a positive effect on it all although maybe it was because I was carrying a girl that time who knows.
Still had a section though and even though she has none of the long term effects my son has she also had to spend time in SCBU

I do try not to let it get to me but as I said in the pm I worry about the affects of everything on the kids esp my son who was very upset by the other day.

Anyway thank you for your reply and advice

carmen_richards · #4 12-03-2007, 04:03 PM

I used tegretol retard until I had my second daughter then changed to lamortrigine.
My boy Jevan had nuchal thickenings on his neck which lamotrigine can cause, this can result in spina bifida and downs syndrome. My son has a brain problem resulting from this, it is still under investigation so not sure what it is, but it is not deffinate this will happen. You may be fine. I was with my 2nd and 3rd baby although they were born at 30 weeks and in SCBU for nearly two months. Only my eldest and youngest went full term.

As for the effect it will have on your three year old... I found that the only effect it had was that my daughter became such that she felt she needed to keep an eye on me. She knew when I had absences that it was a fit, she new when I had big ones that I needed to sleep so would look after the others until I came round. It has made her very mature for her age. She apparently has a mental age of a 16 year old and she is only 11. Your three year old will be alert to your changes... that is the only major change I found.
it was helpful too as when Bronwyn was born I had a massive fit and was out of it for a few hours... melissa was alone with bronwyn and Bethany until I came round. She kept the baby quiet and nursed her until I was ok, she was only four at the time. Your little one may be the same.

If you get warnings like I do then tell someone you have had a warning so that if you do have a fit they can ensure you do not fall on to your tummy and there is someone there for your little ones.