PRECAUTIONARY CARE FOR PREGNANT WOMEN WITH EPILEPSY

Blog home
Recent Posts
Categories
Blog Archive
Popular Posts

• 20 Jun

  Guidelines produced by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists recommend that "women seek proper advice before pregnancy on their care".

  

  "Between 2009 and 2013, 21 women died during pregnancy as a result of epilepsy and in most of those cases, their seizures were found to be poorly controlled."

  Experts also say, "the risk of death is ten times greater in pregnant women with epilepsy than those without the condition."

  Nevertheless, "around 2,500 infants are estimated to be born to women with epilepsy every year in the UK", reports the BBC.

  Issues such as managing seizure control, managing tiredness and risks linked to some epilepsy medicines like Sodium Valproate which can be detrimental to the health of unborn babies, should be looked into prior to pregnancy.

  Here are some precautionary measures that should be taken according to the RCOG guidelines for GP's, midwives, Consultants and women in this condition:

  • Seek advice from GP's before conception
  • Should be given the lowest effective dose of the most appropriate epilepsy medication
  • Take a higher dose of folic acid to reduce the risks of spinal defects in the baby
  • Give birth in a consultant led unit if at risk of seizures during labour
  • Receive support after birth to minimise the risk of seizures from obstruction and stress

  Louise Silverton, director of midwifery at the Royal College of Midwives, said:

  "It is vital we remember that women with epilepsy are classified as high risk during the course of their pregnancy. However, the majority of women with epilepsy will give birth safely."

  What do you think? Please tweet comments @suppsolutions

  For more details, visit the BBC

  By Abimbola Duro-David

Related articles

• 03 Nov

  

  

  THERE IS AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS WHO WAIT LONG HOURS IN AMBULANCES BEFORE BEING ATTENDED TO

  Reports by The Guardian shows details from the FOI requests which found that:According to the shadow health secretary, Jon Ashworth:"These figures show an ambulance service pushed to the brink by...

  By Abimbola Duro-David
• 08 Aug

  

  

  DATA REVEALS THAT OVER 40% OF MATERNITY WARDS IN ENGLAND REJECTED EXPECTANT MOTHERS AT LEAST ONCE LAST YEAR

  The data which was the outcome of a Freedom of Information request reveals the following:Jonathan Ashworth, the Shadow health secretary, said:"These findings show the devastating impact which Tory...

  By Abimbola Duro-David
• 04 Aug

  

  

  PARENTS AND CHILDCARE PROVIDERS ARE FINDING IT DIFFICULT TO ACCESS SERVICES ON THE "CHILDCARE CHOICES" WEBSITE

  Many parents have reported problems while using the Childcare Choices website in May and struggled to register on it. However, HMRC apologised for the inconvenience, saying it had improved the...

  By Abimbola Duro-David
• 01 Aug

  

  

  HOSPITAL BUILDING PLANS TO CLOSE FOR A YEAR DUE TO FIRE SAFETY PROBLEMS

  After a review of buildings, 52 inpatient beds will be moved from the trauma unit of John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, on the 4th of August.According to the NHS trust overseeing the site, a...

  By Abimbola Duro-David
• 26 Jul

  

  

  THERE IS INSUFFICIENT CARE AVAILABLE FOR CHILDREN WITH SERIOUS MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS

  New figures on mental health showed the following:The author of an EPI report on children's mental health, Emily Frith, said:"Being in hospital for a mental health condition can be a disturbing...

  By Abimbola Duro-David
• 20 Jul

  

  

  REPORT WARNS THAT VULNERABLE ADULTS ARE BEING LET DOWN BY SOCIAL WORKERS AND CARE PROVIDERS

  According to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman review:Local government and social care ombudsman, Michael King, said:"While I appreciate the complex emotional and practical decisions...

  By Abimbola Duro-David
• 14 Jul

  

  

  ONE OF SCOTLAND'S LARGEST HEALTH BOARDS HAS OVERSPENT ON CARE SERVICES

  Prior to a meeting of the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board (IJB) today, the following figures emerged:The entire NHS Lothian budget shows a funding gap of £22.4m and the IJB agreed to savings of...

  By Abimbola Duro-David
• 07 Jul

  

  

  SURVEY FINDS THAT MENTAL HEALTH DEMANDS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE THIS YEAR

  The poll by NHS Providers suggests the following:Louise Rubin of the charity, Mind, said:"We are concerned that people coming forward and seeking help for mental health problems are not getting the...

  By Abimbola Duro-David
• 16 Jun

  

  

  ADASS ISSUES GUIDANCE FOR SOCIAL WORKERS ON HOW TO PROTECT VULNERABLE ADULTS FROM SCAMS

  The guidance by the ADASS includes the following:Vice President of ADASS, Glen Garrod, said:"Carers, families and neighbours need to be more aware of abuse, which can see older and disabled people...

  By Abimbola Duro-David
• 07 Jun

  

  

  THE WELSH GOVERNMENT PAYS BACK TO FAMILIES WHO WRONGLY PAID CARE HOME FEES

  A Welsh Government spokesman said:"Earlier this year we introduced an amended process in order to accelerate the speed at which claims are processed."We have also developed common reporting criteria...

  By Abimbola Duro-David