Pregnancy Planning is Essential for People with Epilepsy
People with epilepsy can have safe, healthy pregnancies and healthy babies. However, proper planning and care is essential.
Planning for your pregnancy helps minimize the risk of developmental issues for your baby, while maintaining your seizure control. While you’re planning, it’s critical to remain on an effective method of birth control to minimize the risk of an unplanned pregnancy.
Common Questions About Planning Your Pregnancy
Avoiding Marijuana, CBD, and THC
Using marijuana, CBD or other THC products, or prescription cannabidiol (including Epidiolex®) isn’t recommended during pregnancy planning/pregnancy, because their effects on fetal development aren ’t known. Even when obtained from licensed dispensaries, these products may contain unknown levels of pesticides and fertilizers.
Consult With Your Doctor
We understand how important it is for you to have a healthy pregnancy. And how the combination of planning a pregnancy, having epilepsy, and taking ASMs can increase your stress about managing your pregnancy and delivering a healthy baby. The good news is that there is a lot of research around how to safely manage your pregnancy.
Educating yourself on all that’s involved in planning a pregnancy and making the right decisions as soon as possible can make that journey much easier, less stressful, and safer, for you and your baby.
Download our Pregnancy Planning 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.
You can also use the Epilepsy Foundation Seizure Diary to track your seizures and share the information with your doctor.
Reviewed by: Page Pennell, MD FAES, September 2023