Epilepsy

How epilepsy may affect your pregnancy and your baby

Most people with epilepsy have a healthy baby, but it's not always possible to tell how pregnancy will affect your epilepsy symptoms.

Seizures in pregnancy

You may have no seizures in pregnancy or you may have more than usual. There may also be an increased risk of having a seizure during labour and after birth.

During pregnancy, you'll usually be offered extra appointments and tests to check the health of you and your baby.

Your midwife or epilepsy specialist can give you advice on managing your epilepsy throughout your pregnancy.

A specialist care team will also support you during labour and birth, and discuss how to manage your epilepsy after your baby is born.

Breastfeeding while taking epilepsy medicine

It's usually safe to breastfeed while taking epilepsy medicine, but some medicines can pass into your breastmilk. Talk to your specialist for advice if you plan to breastfeed.

Treatment for epilepsy in pregnancy

If you're pregnant or planning to get pregnant, your GP or midwife will usually refer you to a specialist, such as a neurologist, for advice on how to safely treat your epilepsy in pregnancy.

They may also discuss things like reducing stress and getting enough sleep, which can lower your chance of having seizures.

Medicines for epilepsy in pregnancy

Some medicines can affect a baby's development if they're taken in pregnancy.

There is also a risk if you or the baby's father is taking epilepsy medicine around the time you get pregnant.

Important

Do not stop taking your usual medicines until you've talked to an epilepsy specialist. They'll be able to discuss the safest treatment options with you.

You may be offered different medicines than usual, or you may be advised to keep taking your usual medicines.

Get urgent medical help if:

You have epilepsy and:

you've found out you're pregnant and have not discussed pregnancy with a GP or specialist
you're being sick (vomiting) in pregnancy - this can make your medicines less effective
your seizures have changed in pregnancy, for example they happen more often

Call your maternity unit if you have the phone number.

If you do not have a maternity unit yet or cannot call them, ask your GP or epilepsy specialist for an urgent appointment.

If you cannot contact a maternity unit, GP or an epilepsy specialist, call NHS 111.

Call 999 now if:

You or someone else is pregnant and:

have a seizure that lasts longer than usual, or longer than 5 minutes if you do not know how long their seizures usually last
do not recover as usual after a seizure, or have another seizure without recovering

Do not drive yourself to A&E.

The person you speak to at 999 will give you advice about what to do.

Planning a pregnancy when you have epilepsy

If you're planning to get pregnant, it's important to talk to an epilepsy specialist about the medicines you take.

You may need to change your medicine, and an epilepsy specialist can help you do this safely.

It's important to use contraception until you've had advice from a specialist, if you or the baby's father are taking epilepsy medicine.

Epilepsy and your chances of getting pregnant

It's not known if having epilepsy can make it more difficult to get pregnant, but some epilepsy medicines may affect your fertility.

Talk to an epilepsy specialist if you have any concerns about getting pregnant.

See a GP or epilepsy specialist:

you have epilepsy and you're planning to get pregnant
you're planning a pregnancy and the father of the baby is taking epilepsy medicine

If you're pregnant and it's unexpected

If you've found out you're pregnant and it was not expected, make an urgent appointment to see a GP or your epilepsy specialist, if you have one.

It's important to get advice as soon as possible about the medicines you take.

Help and support with epilepsy during pregnancy

As well as support from your midwife and specialist, you may find it helpful to get support from other people with epilepsy who are pregnant or have a baby. This could be at a local support group or online.

There are also national charities that can offer support and information about epilepsy and pregnancy.

The UK Epilepsy and Pregnancy Register

If you're pregnant and living with epilepsy, you can join the UK Epilepsy and Pregnancy Register.

The UK Epilepsy and Pregnancy Register is a research project that studies how pregnancy can be made as safe as possible for people with epilepsy and their babies.

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