Medications and birth defects
Australian and US Antiepileptic Drug Pregnancy Registers
About 40% of women with epilepsy will experience fewer seizures during their pregnancy. This is thought to be because they are more careful about getting enough sleep and taking their medication(s) regularly. Up to 25% of women will not experience any changes in the incidence of their seizures during pregnancy, and up to 33% of women will experience an increase in the number of seizures (especially during the first and last 3 months of the pregnancy). Increases in the seizures are thought to be due to the anti-epileptic medication not being taken properly, or the increased metabolism and hormonal changes of pregnancy causing the medication levels in the woman’s blood to fall and be less effective. Sometimes medications don’t work adequately because the woman is experiencing vomiting due to
morning sickness.
The main health concerns if the woman experiences a seizure during her pregnancy is the unborn baby receiving less oxygen, possibly making their heart rate slower, and remaining low for up to 20 minutes or so. Most babies can tolerate this to a degree, but a few may suffer a various levels of brain damage. In rare circumstances, the seizure may cause the baby to
die during the pregnancy or be
stillborn. Occasionally, if the woman experiences a severe fall during an epileptic seizure, this may injure the placenta and/or stimulate
premature labour.
Medications and birth defects
Australian and US Antiepileptic Drug Pregnancy Registers
In an ideal world, no pregnant woman would be given medications during her pregnancy. However, when women have health conditions such as epilepsy (or as another example severe asthma), the benefits of the medications are then considered to outweigh any possible side effects. This is because the medications are more likely to keep the mother and baby healthy.