Planning for a Safe Labor & Delivery
Having epilepsy or taking anti-seizure medications (ASMs) shouldn’t be a factor in choosing how to deliver your baby or cause concerns about increased seizures. Unless you and your obstetrician decide a C-section is best, you can deliver your baby vaginally. Also, most pregnant people with epilepsy don’t experience any change in seizure frequency during pregnancy, including during labor and delivery.
You Can Safely Deliver Vaginally
Epilepsy alone is not a reason for a C-section. Vaginal deliveries account for approximately two-thirds of deliveries in the United States. Unless there’s an obstetric reason for a C-section, people with epilepsy can deliver vaginally.
Common Questions About Labor & Delivery With Epilepsy
Consult With Your Doctor
We understand that going into labor and delivering your baby can be exciting but also scary. Remember, having epilepsy and taking ASMs is unlikely to impact your and your baby’s safety during labor and delivery. Work with your epilepsy and pregnancy care teams to plan labor and delivery logistics, and share this plan with your support system, well before you go into labor.
Consult with your epilepsy care team if you have concerns about labor and delivery. Download our Pregnancy and Delivery With Epilepsy - Questions to Ask Your Doctors, and bring a copy to your appointments to help guide your conversations and get the answers you need.
Use our Epilepsy and Pregnancy Appointment Calendar to track your doctor appointments, key milestones, and upcoming activities all in one place.
Educating yourself on everything involved and making decisions before you try to get pregnant can make labor and delivery easier, less stressful, and safer for you and your baby.
Reviewed by: Laura Kirkpatrick, MD, September 2023