pregnancy while on meds

Krissyb - I have two grown healthy children. When I was pregnant I took dilantin. The alternative of course is to go off your meds and seize. Obviously this is bad for the baby. I understand your concern, but if you are seizure free with medication, just hope for the best. Get your medication level checked often, as weight gain and changing hormones will affect your level. If you were to have a seizure, go to the emergency room right away, call your doctor, and have a sonogram or what ever tests are necessary to insure the safety of your baby. The most important advice is do not stress over what the seizure medication might do to your baby, when in fact it might save your baby's life. Gwen

I just switched to Lamictal from Depakote because the chance of problems is way lower with Lamictal. I think my doctor told me that the risk of any defects is about 4% with Lamictal vs. a "normal" pregnancy having a 2 - 3% risk. With Depakote, they have now found that it's a 20% risk of problems (birth defects and problems later on, such as developmental delays, etc). And, while cleft lip/palate is certainly not desirable, it can be corrected with surgery. Depakote can cause neural tube defects (like spina bifida) which are lifelong. My doctor recommended going to a high-risk OB for extra monitoring. You may want to look into that. Plus, he will have me come in every month to adjust my meds. Also, you should start on prenatals and extra folic acid if you are not already.