Does epilepsy affect pregnancy?
Seizures during pregnancy can cause: Slowing of the fetal heart rate. Decreased oxygen to the fetus. Fetal injury, premature separation of the placenta from the uterus (placental abruption) or miscarriage due to trauma, such as a fall, during a seizure.
How do you manage epilepsy during pregnancy?
In order to prevent convulsions during labour, proper seizure control should be achieved during the third trimester. Benzodiazepines or phenytoin are found to be effective for seizure cessation during labour and delivery. Phytomenadione should be administered immediately after birth to the newborn.
Which seizure medication is best for pregnancy?
Of the new anti-seizure medications, lamotrigine and levetiracetam are the most widely used due to their known safety during pregnancy. Clearance of lamotrigine and levetiracetam doubles during pregnancy compared to before pregnancy.
Can you take epilepsy medication while pregnant?
Myth: I can’t take epilepsy medication during pregnancy. In fact, neurologists usually recommend continuing epilepsy medications throughout pregnancy. However, it comes down to the type of medication. You may need to adjust your dosage or switch to a new drug, but you probably won’t need to stop medication altogether.
Can a baby shake in the womb?
Babies also sleep up to forty minutes intervals, so may disappear for some time before returning. At times, more unusual movements maybe felt. These include repetitive rhythmic hiccups by the baby, and a sudden “shaking” caused by the baby’s own startle response. Neither of these are of any specific concern.
Will eating too much make my baby bigger?
A researcher cautions against too much weight early into pregnancy, which leads to larger, chubbier babies. Moms-to-be who gain too much weight early into their pregnancy are nearly three times as likely to give birth to bigger and fatter babies, warns a University of Alberta researcher.