Should women with epilepsy get pregnant?

The article is written by Master, Doctor Nguyen Nhu Thu Truc - Obstetrician and Gynecologist - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital.

Epilepsy, commonly known as epileptic seizures, is a disease that occurs due to a disturbance in the conduction activity of nerve cells in the two hemispheres of the brain. This abnormal activity leads to simultaneous and sequential stimuli in multiple neuronal regions of the cerebral cortex, resulting in sudden and out of control electrical impulses. The most characteristic manifestation of epilepsy is seizures. However, this is not the only sign, epilepsy presents with many different symptoms depending on the area of ​​​​the cortex that is overstimulated.
The specific mechanism that causes epilepsy is not well understood. However, epilepsy can appear in the following pathological contexts such as:
Traumatic brain injury: This is one of the main causes commonly encountered in clinical practice. The patient's first convulsion after traumatic brain injury is a common clinical setting.

Infections in the brain such as: meningitis, meningitis, brain parenchymal abscess can also cause epilepsy. Diseases that cause brain damage: People with brain tumors that compress healthy parenchyma or have a cerebral infarction, a brain hemorrhage that causes brain cell death, have a higher risk of developing epilepsy in humans. normal. Family and genetic factors: Having a family member with epilepsy is a risk factor for epilepsy. In addition, today several types of epilepsy have been identified that are associated with certain genes. These genes have the role of increasing the patient's susceptibility to external factors, from which epilepsy occurs with a higher frequency. In children, especially those younger than 5 years old, uncontrolled high fever can lead to convulsions. Children who experience repeated febrile seizures have a relatively high rate of developing epilepsy later in life.

First of all, it should be stated that most women with epilepsy can get pregnant and give birth to healthy babies like other women. What is different, however, is that the management of pregnancy should be done thoroughly and carefully under the advice and supervision of specialists. Epilepsy and pregnancy have many interactions, and the health of the fetus can be affected by the mother's epilepsy treatment.
During pregnancy, the indications for drug use are related to the dose and duration that need to be adjusted. Epilepsy drugs need to be carefully selected to limit unwanted effects on pregnancy. However, this is a factor that easily leads to loose control of epilepsy in pregnant women compared to other patient groups. Fetuses born to mothers with epilepsy also face more risks such as miscarriage, premature birth, and intrauterine growth arrest. The mother's seizures can cause trauma to the abdomen and endanger the fetus. Live babies born to women with epilepsy have higher rates of mental and mental retardation, as well as epilepsy, than babies born to mothers healthy mother. Good disease control and preventive measures help reduce these risks in future generations.

To keep a balance between the effective treatment of epilepsy for the mother and the health of the fetus, women with epilepsy before and during pregnancy need to keep the following in mind:
Women with epilepsy need to keep in mind the following: adhere to the continuous use of medication for at least 2 years before pregnancy. Women with epilepsy should become pregnant only when the condition is well controlled. During the first trimester of pregnancy or the first trimester of pregnancy, pregnant women should not use any medicine so as not to cause unwanted effects on the fetus. In the following months, if the pregnant woman has recurrent seizures, she should see a specialist doctor. At that time, it is possible that certain drugs will be prescribed to use. Usually, drugs used to treat epilepsy in this period are usually at low doses and with intermittent use to limit adverse effects on pregnancy outcomes such as premature birth, miscarriage. However, observations from experts show that women with epilepsy have a low rate of recurrence during pregnancy. Follow the schedule of follow-up visits at the neurologist throughout the pregnancy. Do not arbitrarily change the dose and duration of drug use such as stopping using the drug without the consent of the treating doctor. Women with epilepsy during pregnancy need to pay attention to supplementing with a full range of nutrients to ensure the healthy growth and development of the fetus. Absolutely do not use tobacco, alcohol and stimulants during pregnancy. Women with epilepsy during pregnancy are subjects with an immune system that is not as healthy as the general population. Therefore, avoiding contact with toxic chemicals, limiting going to crowded places, and not working in chemical or dusty environments is necessary to protect the health of both mother and baby.

Maintain a comfortable and relaxing spiritual lifestyle, limiting stress from work and surrounding relationships. Pregnant women should also participate in appropriate physical activities such as walking, doing housework. Absolutely do not rest in place for too long to limit the risk of limb embolism and serious complications. Women with epilepsy can still have a normal pregnancy if the disease is controlled and during pregnancy is monitored by a specialist, experienced.
To protect the health of pregnant women and their babies during pregnancy, Vinmec International General Hospital provides a package of maternity services as a solution to help pregnant women feel secure because of the companionship of the medical team. doctor throughout pregnancy. When choosing Maternity Package, pregnant women can:
The pregnancy process is monitored by a team of highly qualified doctors Regular check-ups, early detection of abnormalities The Package Maternity package helps to facilitate convenient for the birthing process Newborns are taken care of comprehensively.