Epilepsy during pregnancy. Epilepsy or seizure disorder is a disorder of the nervous system. People with epilepsy have abnormal electrical signals in the brain. Seizures can cause severe shaking of muscles. Women who have epilepsy tend to have more seizures when they are pregnant. This is especially true in women who already have a lot of seizures. It is important to note that pregnancy does not cause epilepsy but a pregnant woman who has epilepsy may have seizures more often. Medications used to treat epilepsy can work differently during pregnancy. They may not be absorbed as well. Or they may not work as well. Also women who have nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy may vomit the medicine before it has its full effect.

The symptoms for women with epilepsy are different from symptoms when a woman is not pregnant. A woman with epilepsy has frequent or regular seizures with no known cause. In addition to seizures, the most common symptoms include headache, hhanges in mood or energy level, dizziness, fainting, confusion, and memory loss. Some women may also have an aura- a feeling that they are going to have a seizure right before it happens. The symptoms of epilepsy may look like other health conditions. Epilepsy during pregnancy

The diagnosis of epilepsy is based on a health history and physical exam. The criteria for diagnosing epilepsy during pregnancy can only be made after you have had more than one seizure. The  healthcare provider may order tests based on how often a patient experiences seizures. These tests may include blood tests, heart (ECG) and brain wave (ECG) tests, and a CT scan or MRI. The healthcare provider may use as few medicines as possible and at the lowest dose needed to control seizures. Never stop or reduce your seizure medicine unless your healthcare provider tells you to.  APA