Preparing for pregnancy in a woman with epilepsy is a long-term process that should be discussed and planned in detail, and then implemented well before trying to conceive.
For most patients with epilepsy, pregnancy proceeds normally, and over 90% of them give birth to healthy children. However, we cannot leave things to chance. We know that uncontrolled epileptic seizures and inappropriately selected treatment carry risks for both mother and child.
It is important that the woman remains under the care of specialists with the necessary knowledge and experience in caring for patients with epilepsy, and the key to safety is planning pregnancy early enough. This gives us the opportunity to optimize treatment, meaning adjusting the type and amount of medication to meet needs during pregnancy. Any change in treatment requires time to assess its effectiveness, and this doesn't happen overnight.
Despite increased awareness and knowledge about epilepsy, about 40% of pregnancies are still unplanned. Ideally, every young woman should receive treatment optimal for potential pregnancy from the moment epilepsy is diagnosed, regardless of when or if she plans motherhood. In practice, however, things often happen differently.
There isn't one path, one ideal preparation scheme that we could implement the same way for all women with epilepsy. Each case of epilepsy is different, each patient has different types of seizures, different frequency, and varying effectiveness of medications. Therefore, pregnancy planning is a step-by-step and individually tailored action plan, including:
It's difficult to precisely determine the time needed to prepare for pregnancy – it looks completely different for each patient. We know, for example, that being seizure-free for 9 to 12 months before pregnancy gives over 70-90% chance of remaining seizure-free during pregnancy. Therefore, the earlier you discuss pregnancy with your neurologist, the more valuable preparation time you gain.
At CTP Neurosphera, we treat women of all ages, implementing the highest standards of neurological care from the start. We also accept patients who want to come under our care during pregnancy preparation, pregnancy, and postpartum period. Each year, Neurosphera specialists treat many women planning motherhood, actively accompany them during pregnancy preparation, supervise the course of pregnancy, and support parents during the postpartum period.
Our specialist, neurologist Maja Kopytek-Beuzen, places particular emphasis on promoting knowledge about epilepsy among women, organizing free educational activities and running an information profile on FB aimed specifically at such patients: https://www.facebook.com/KobiecosciPadaczka.
Remember to discuss pregnancy and motherhood with your neurologist as early as possible!
Author: Dr. Maja Kopytek-Beuzen