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Chillemy S. Epilepsy and pregnancy. Demos Health 2006, 134 p. Approximately 2.5 million people in the U.S. suffer from epilepsy; of these, more than one million are women of child-bearing age. With concerns about everything from medication-related birth defects to falls during seizures, many of these women are fearful of having children. The good news is that, with proper prenatal care, more than 90% will deliver healthy babies.Epilepsy and Pregnancy gives readers the basic facts they need to help them make medical decisions throughout preconception, pregnancy, labor, delivery, and the early days after childbirth. Topics include preconception, fertility, pregnancy risks, risks to the fetus, nutrition, keeping fit, what to expect during pregnancy, fetal development, and labor and delivery.
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Stacey Chillemi and Blanca Vazquez, MD Epilepsy and Pregnancy Blank Page EPILEPSY AND PREGNANCY What Every Woman with Epilepsy Should Know Stacey Chillemi and Blanca Vazquez, M.D. Blank Page EPILEPSY AND PREGNANCY Blank Page Demos Medical Publishing, LLC, 386 Park Avenue South, New York, New York 10016 Visit our website at www.demosmedpub.com © 2006 by Demos Medical Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. This book is protected by copyright. No part of it may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. The purpose of this book is to provide information to readers so that they can make more informed decisions about their own health care. It should not be construed as medical advice and readers should always consult with their doctors. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Chillemi, Stacey. Epilepsy and pregnancy : what every woman with epilepsy should know / Stacey Chillemi and Blanca Vazquez. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 1-932603-15-8 (alk. paper) 1. Epilepsy in pregnancy. I. Vazquez, Blanca. II. Title. RG580.E64E63 2006 618.3'68—dc22 2005028356 Made in the United States of America Blank Page Contents Acknowledgments ix Preface xi 1. Preconception Counseling 1 2. Fertility 7 3. Risks of Pregnancy 11 4. Pregnancy 19 5. Nutrition 29 6. Keeping Fit During Pregnancy 39 7. Fetal Development 53 8. Labor and Delivery 63 9. After Delivery 77 10. Breast-Feeding 81 Appendix A: Organizations to Contact for Assistance 99 Appendix B: The AED Pregnancy Registry 103 Glossary 105 Bibliography 121 Index 129 vii I dedicate this book to my wonderful family: to my husband, Michael, who has always accepted me for who I am and supported me through my highs and lows, and to my children, Mikey, Alexis, and Anthony, whom I love with all my heart and soul. I am blessed to share my life with you. Thank you for being who you are, and for being by my side when I needed your love and support. Thank you for opening my eyes so that I might see the beauty of life in a whole different light. Acknowledgments I would like to convey a special thank-you to my parents for loving me unconditionally, for encouraging me to become a mother, and for giving me the love and support I needed before, during, and after my pregnancies. I am also extremely grateful to Marie, my best friend, who has been there for me since we were kids. I would also like to convey my love and appreciation to my extended family and friends,