Hi everyone. I'm very new to all of this, so please bear with me if I don't know all the lingo and such.
My name is Nicole, I'm 27 years old and currently 29 weeks pregnant with my second child. I was diagnosed just this past Tuesday (10/30/07) as having a seizure disorder. I have partial seizures and have been having them for a good 6 or 7 years, but had never been diagnosed because I didn't realize that's what was happening to me (and therefore never saw a doctor about them).
My neurologist wants me to start taking Lamictal, and because this is all so new to me, and I only know one person who deals with anything similar (except her condition is much more severe), I'm very scared and reluctant to take this medication. I very much wish to breastfeed as it's something very important to me, but I've found little data that shows that taking this medication during pregnancy and breastfeeding is okay.
I am planning on having an at home VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean), and it was my seizure symptoms that prompted my midwife to require me to see a neurologist in the first place. I had an EEG and MRIs almost two weeks ago. The EEG showed abnormalities, and the neurologist is ordering a second MRI (this time with color contrast) to rule out a "dark area" that showed up the first time around. She thinks this dark area (showed up on 2 different cross-sections of the MRI on the right side) is probably just a venous angioma and nothing to worry about right now, but she just wants to be sure.
I guess I'm just really nervous and confused and frustrated because the timing for all of this is terrible. My neurologist wants me to start taking the meds now to get my body used to it and to prevent a possible grand mal seizure (which I've never experienced before) during labor and delivery. But again, such little data and none of it I've seen says anything about the long-term effects of this on a fetus or child later in life. I suppose this drug is just too new?
I could really use some advice and reassurance and would greatly appreciate all positive comments and suggestions. Thank you.
My name is Nicole, I'm 27 years old and currently 29 weeks pregnant with my second child. I was diagnosed just this past Tuesday (10/30/07) as having a seizure disorder. I have partial seizures and have been having them for a good 6 or 7 years, but had never been diagnosed because I didn't realize that's what was happening to me (and therefore never saw a doctor about them).
My neurologist wants me to start taking Lamictal, and because this is all so new to me, and I only know one person who deals with anything similar (except her condition is much more severe), I'm very scared and reluctant to take this medication. I very much wish to breastfeed as it's something very important to me, but I've found little data that shows that taking this medication during pregnancy and breastfeeding is okay.
I am planning on having an at home VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean), and it was my seizure symptoms that prompted my midwife to require me to see a neurologist in the first place. I had an EEG and MRIs almost two weeks ago. The EEG showed abnormalities, and the neurologist is ordering a second MRI (this time with color contrast) to rule out a "dark area" that showed up the first time around. She thinks this dark area (showed up on 2 different cross-sections of the MRI on the right side) is probably just a venous angioma and nothing to worry about right now, but she just wants to be sure.
I guess I'm just really nervous and confused and frustrated because the timing for all of this is terrible. My neurologist wants me to start taking the meds now to get my body used to it and to prevent a possible grand mal seizure (which I've never experienced before) during labor and delivery. But again, such little data and none of it I've seen says anything about the long-term effects of this on a fetus or child later in life. I suppose this drug is just too new?
I could really use some advice and reassurance and would greatly appreciate all positive comments and suggestions. Thank you.
I can understand!
