Trying for a baby - Epilepsy Message Board

bajan · 03-26-2006, 02:29 AM

Hi there, I was diagnosed with epilepsy when i was nine in the form of petit mal, but i progressed onto gran mal seizures, I now take 400mg tablets of Tegretol 2 twice daily. My husband and myself are trying for a baby and I know folic acid is a must for eplieptics is there a certain amount of which I have to take in order for there to be no effects?

minsm · 03-28-2006, 10:59 AM

Hi there! I just read your post and we are as well trying to get pregnant. I've had to go through alot of questions as well. I was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 7. I am also infertile therefore we are going through IVF( invitro-fertilisation) I contacted my specialist in order to find out if anything can affect the pregnancy and he said most likely not. Now I am on 400mg of Tegretol 3 times daily and Frisium 10mg twice daily.....My specialist recomended that I take 5 mg of Folic acid therefore I have been on Folic Acid for a year now. Hope this info helps if you have any other questions please don't be shy to ask!

Thank you
Take Care
Mindy

starkat · 04-27-2006, 10:35 AM

I was on phenobarb and depekote when I was pregnant with both my children. I had seizures during my pregnancies, but I now have two very healthy teenagers! They are very normal teenagers also. Actually they both score way above average on tests, and are very intellectual. Seriously, I had no more problems with my pregnancies, than a normal mother. I even had normal deliveries. My children have never shown any signs of any effects. Good Luck and God Bless

persian85033 · 05-20-2006, 08:38 PM

I wouldn't try for a baby with this. Either because of the medication side effects and stuff, and because what if they get it. I would never forgive myself if someone else had epilepsy just because I was selfish, and didn't think. I still haven't forgiven my parents for doing that same thing.

jprinz99 · 05-25-2006, 08:55 PM

I am on 4 MG of Folic Acid. I am at higher risk as I had an anencephalic fetus years ago (before I knew anything about the meds, etc). I am still a faitly small risk.

I would not worry about passing it on. Most epilepsy is idiopathic anyway. I know several folks with epilepsy who have had several children - all fine. As a mater of fact, the only thing abnormal was a case of cleft palate and one boy born with two different colored eyes. In other words, absolutley nothing to do with seizure disorders or the meds!

My husband and I were sent to a genetics counselor and were told we would be seen by a high risk specialist, purely as a precaution. In fact, it was primarily for my benfit as the hormones can play a litle havoc with your levels. They did tell us that the baby would probably be kept on anticonvulsant therapy for first year, just to be extra careful.

I say go for it and good luck. Baby cheeks are the best thing to kiss, eh?