I need answer

RE: I need answer

Submitted by Sestrilla on Mon, 2005-05-30 - 11:02

Hello Karina,After I got married and wanted to start a family I was worried about how the meds I was taking might affect a pregnancy. Before I could get to a doctor to ask, I found out I was pregnant. I was scared to death. At that time I was on 2500 mg of Depakote a day and Phenobarbital (can't remember the dosage it's been awhile...my son is 13 now).When my appointment finally came up to see the doctor I would be using throughout my pregnancy I discussed it with him. I will tell you what he told me.....I would be considered a high risk pregnancy (because I had epilepsy)...and he wanted me to take it easy throughout the pregnancy so there would be less chance of me falling hard if I were to have a seizure...and he told me that my medications wouldn't affect my pregnancy but I more than likely wouldn't be able to breast feed my baby because most epileptic meds show up in breast milk. I could live with that! I was so happy. I had a few seizures while I was pregnant and I made sure if I felt even the tiniest bit weird I wouldn't put myself in any position to where I could fall.I ended up with an 11 lb. 5-1/2 oz healthy baby boy! My family still has a good laugh to this day about my labor. I grabbed the doctor by the neck of his coat and yelled, "DRUUUUGS!! GIMME DRUGSSSSS AND ALOT OF THEM, OR YOU'LL BE SORRY YOU PICKED THIS PROFESSION WHEN THIS IS OVER WITH!!!" lolI also begged one of the nurses to find a baseball bat and whap me upside the head until I passed out and then wake me up when it was over. lol I don't remember much of all this, but I do remember seeing the family I had in the room laughing their butts off and me yelling, "This isn't funny, it's PAIN!!" lolBut hey, everyone takes labor pains differently...I just don't do pain well. lol (I was a big baby, I admit it)My advice would be to pick which doctor you would like to use throughout your pregnancy, then talk to him before you get pregnant. Tell him what meds you are on and he will let you know what to expect and the best way to take care of yourself and your baby. I'm sure you will have a great outcome...as well as a cute little rascal.Take care and let me know how it goes.Ses

RE: I need answer

Submitted by grez-monkey on Mon, 2005-05-30 - 14:01

Welcome to the community forum Karina,

Have some ideas for you, which are basically just some weblinks for more direct information that could become rather useful. The first is a webpage titled Medicine during pregnancy, at www.epilepsy.com/epilepsy/medicine_pregnancy.html

This other website is just a index to all of the AED's [antiepileptic drugs] primarily in the United States. It is www.epilepsy.com/epilepsy/seizure_medicines.html. Now on each and every one of the AED's listed, click on any one and it will move forward to the introductions of the AED. For example, you typed up Fenobarbital, which is correctly spelt Phenobarbital, click on the name listed on the second website I printed above and it will take you to the 'Introduction to Phenobarbital' webpage. Now on the webpage, look over along the right side of the page and it shows a menu selection for even more detailed information, along with the three tabs of Basic, Intermediate & Advanced, each one by the way has several detailed listings on each tab, but also just a few more. On the listed selection, one of the choices is labeled "If a woman takes Phenobarbital during pregnancy, will it hurt the baby?". Click on it and read over what comes up on the next webpage. Again, each and every one of the AED's has this question and detailed answers.

Hopefully you can locate some help answers. I wish you the best of luck and also want to ask, if you could, to please let us know your results so other people on here, who might have the same or similar questions, can get a heads-up for themselves.

Bruce J

RE: I need answer

Submitted by Stephanie on Mon, 2005-05-30 - 17:21

Karina,I have had seizures since I was 18 years old. I did not get married and begin to think of having children until I was 33. All those years, I took phenobarb. When I was ready to have children, I went to my doctor, and he changed my medication to tegretol. This medication was a better fit for me. I have had two healthy, beautiful children without any complications or side effects.Please go to your doctor BEFORE you get pregnant, so you can be on the best medication for you and your future children.All the Best to You,Stephanie