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| Should I take my seizure medicine with my birth control pills? Can I have a healthy baby? Are my hormones affecting my seizures? These are questions that women with epilepsy ask themselves every day. In fact, over 1 million women and girls in the United States have epilepsy. |
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| What questions are you asking? The more you know can make all the difference. |
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| Birth Control |
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| Take Control of Your Medications |
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| Ever wonder if your birth control pill will work while taking your epilepsy medication? It depends on your pill and epilepsy treatment-but the right combination can work. Some epilepsy medications may react to other medications you take, such as birth control pills, and vice versa. Ask your doctor what the best choices are for you. |
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| Pregnancy |
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| Prescribe to a Healthy Pregnancy |
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| Having epilepsy does not mean you shouldn't have a baby. In fact, 90% of babies born to women with epilepsy are normal and healthy. Planning for a healthy pregnancy is important! Plus, the odds of having a healthy baby may be higher if you plan in advance. Be sure to consult with your neurologist, and get prenatal care from the start. |
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| Continue your epilepsy medicines |
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| Like many people, you probably worry about medications causing birth defects. In truth, most do not. The risk of birth defects for the child of a mother with epilepsy is about 6%. This means a 94% chance of no birth defects. |
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| The most serious birth defects can occur before you even know you're pregnant. There are also risks from not taking your medicine. Remember, you should not stop your medicine unless you are told by your doctor. |
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| Put your mind at ease |
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| Your doctor can check for certain birth defects depending on your risk factors. It is also important to get an ultrasound as well. Your doctor can provide more information. |
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| Be healthy now |
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| If you have epilepsy and are trying to get pregnant, you should: |
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Get your seizures under control |
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Find the right medicine at the right dose |
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Try to get on just one medicine |
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Take a vitamin supplement that has folic acid. (You should continue this throughout your pregnancy) |
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Avoid smoking |
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Be close to normal weight levels, and eat a balanced diet |
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| Manage your pregnancy |
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| When you're pregnant, be sure to: |
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Take your epilepsy medicine as prescribed |
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Try to reduce any factors that provoke seizures |
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Report all seizures to your neurologist promptly |
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Get enough rest and sleep |
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Ask your doctor to prescribe Vitamin K1 (Mephyton tablets) during the last few weeks of your pregnancy |
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Avoid smoking |
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Stay close to normal weight levels and eat a balanced diet |
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Avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine |
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Avoid chemicals like paint, pesticides, and oven cleaners |
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Avoid any prescription or nonprescription medication unless approved by your doctor |
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| If you want to breast-feed, talk to your doctor about what is right for you. |
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