Epilepsy and pregnancy
Epilepsy is common, and it usually begins in childhood, and most people are diagnosed when they're under 20, but epilepsy can start at any age. The main symptoms of epilepsy are repeated seizures.

A seizure happens when abnormal patterns of electrical activity arise in the brain. It may cause the body to move in an uncontrolled way, and it can cause loss of consciousness for a short period.

Epilepsy during pregnancy
It's hard to predict how pregnancy will affect epilepsy. For some women, their epilepsy is unaffected, while others may see an improvement in their condition. But as pregnancy can cause physical and emotional stress, seizures may become more frequent and severe.

Drug treatment
Many women with epilepsy use drugs to keep their seizures under control. In general, these drugs increase the risk of physical defects in the developing baby. They can cause a range of conditions, such as spina bifida, cardiac (heart) abnormalities and cleft lip.

For a woman without epilepsy who is not taking any medication, the chance of one of these kinds of problems arising is around one in 50. For a woman who takes drugs to control epilepsy, that risk rises to around one in 25. This still means that most women taking anti-epileptic drugs will have a healthy child.

To minimise risk to your baby’s development, it's sometimes possible to switch to safer drugs, cut the total dose or change the way the drugs are given. For example, drugs can be given in slow-release preparations. This should only be done by a professional who has specialised knowledge in the treatment of epilepsy.

It is usually better to make any changes to drug treatment before rather than during pregnancy. Before you become pregnant, discuss your treatment with an obstetrician or a neurologist (brain specialist) who knows about epilepsy.

Do not alter drug treatment or stop taking treatment without specialist advice, especially during pregnancy. A severe seizure during pregnancy could result in the death of both mother and baby.

If you're taking drugs to control your epilepsy, it's recommended that you take a high (5mg) daily dose of folic acid as soon as you start trying for a baby. Your doctor can prescribe this. The folic acid may protect your baby against the effects of your anti-epileptic drugs. If you become pregnant unexpectedly and have not been taking folic acid, start taking it straight away.

Your care during pregnancy
Before you become pregnant, or as early in pregnancy as possible, you'll be referred to an obstetrician who will discuss and plan your care during pregnancy. If necessary, a neurologist may also be involved in putting this plan together.

You will be offered ultrasound scans to help detect any developmental problems in your baby, and you may need extra blood tests to check the levels of treatment drugs in your blood. If there is a strong history of epilepsy in your family or your partner’s family, your care team will talk to you about the possibility of your baby inheriting the condition.

Labour, birth and beyond
Although there's a low risk of having a seizure during labour, it's recommended that you give birth in a maternity team unit in a hospital. A water birth is not advised. During labour you'll be looked after by a nurse, and doctors will be available if you need their help.

Find out about what happens in labour.

Because some anti-epileptic drugs reduce the ability of your baby’s blood to clot, you may be given vitamin K to take in the later stages of your pregnancy. Your baby will be given a vitamin K injection, instead of drops, before you're discharged.

There's usually no reason why you can’t breastfeed your baby. Even if some of your medication gets into your milk, the benefits of breastfeeding often outweigh any risks. Your doctor or obstetrician can give you advice based on your circumstances.

Find out more about living with epilepsy.