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19 - Pregnancy risks for the woman with epilepsy

from Part V - Family planning, pregnancy, and parenting

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 November 2009

By
Mark Yerby  and
Yasser Y. El-Sayed
Edited by
Martha J. Morrell  and
Kerry L. Flynn
Mark Yerby
Affiliation:
North Pacific Epilepsy Research, 2455 Northwest Marshall Street, Portland, OR 97210, USA
Yasser Y. El-Sayed
Affiliation:
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Stanford University Medical Center, Standford Hospital, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA 94305
Martha J. Morrell
Affiliation:
Columbia University, New York
Kerry L. Flynn
Affiliation:
Columbia-Presbyterian Cancer Center, New York
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Summary

Making the decision to have a child can be joyous, as well as frightening. Every parent hopes that the pregnancy will be uncomplicated and the child will be born healthy. Women with epilepsy may be especially concerned that the risk of pregnancy complications and birth defects could be higher because of seizures and because the baby will be exposed to antiepileptic drugs. However, many women with epilepsy (and their physicians) believe these risks to be higher than they really are. Therefore, it is especially important for women with epilepsy to have access to comprehensive and accurate information in order to make an informed and appropriate choice. In addition, strategies to optimize seizure control, minimize medication exposure, and provide essential preconceptional vitamin supplementation need to be in place before pregnancy occurs. The information contained in the next two chapters should provide a good basis for discussion among women with epilepsy, their neurologists and obstetricians/ gynecologists.

Dr Mark Yerby is a faculty member at the University of Oregon and an epilepsy expert who lectures widely on this topic. Dr El-Sayed, who provides the information contained in the boxes in Chapters 19 and 20, is an Assistant Professor in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Stanford University. He has special expertise in the gynecological and obstetrical care of women with epilepsy.

MJM

Reproductive health care is important for every woman. For a woman with epilepsy, regular appointments with her neurologist do not replace the essential visits to her obstetrician/gynecologist.

Keywords

antiepileptic drugsepilepsyepileptic mothersinfant mortalitypregnant womenpregnancy risksneonatal hemorrhage
Type
Chapter
Information
Women with Epilepsy
A Handbook of Health and Treatment Issues
 , pp. 203 - 214
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2003

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  • Pregnancy risks for the woman with epilepsy
    • By Mark Yerby, North Pacific Epilepsy Research, 2455 Northwest Marshall Street, Portland, OR 97210, USA, Yasser Y. El-Sayed, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Stanford University Medical Center, Standford Hospital, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA 94305
  • Edited by Martha J. Morrell, Columbia University, New York, Kerry L. Flynn, Columbia-Presbyterian Cancer Center, New York
  • Book: Women with Epilepsy
  • Online publication: 02 November 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511545030.019
Available formats
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  • Pregnancy risks for the woman with epilepsy
    • By Mark Yerby, North Pacific Epilepsy Research, 2455 Northwest Marshall Street, Portland, OR 97210, USA, Yasser Y. El-Sayed, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Stanford University Medical Center, Standford Hospital, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA 94305
  • Edited by Martha J. Morrell, Columbia University, New York, Kerry L. Flynn, Columbia-Presbyterian Cancer Center, New York
  • Book: Women with Epilepsy
  • Online publication: 02 November 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511545030.019
Available formats
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Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Pregnancy risks for the woman with epilepsy
    • By Mark Yerby, North Pacific Epilepsy Research, 2455 Northwest Marshall Street, Portland, OR 97210, USA, Yasser Y. El-Sayed, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Stanford University Medical Center, Standford Hospital, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA 94305
  • Edited by Martha J. Morrell, Columbia University, New York, Kerry L. Flynn, Columbia-Presbyterian Cancer Center, New York
  • Book: Women with Epilepsy
  • Online publication: 02 November 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511545030.019
Available formats
×