By Sar Terver
From fears about pregnancy to concerns over breastfeeding, many women living with epilepsy are quietly asking the same questions: Will my child be safe? Will my medicine harm my baby? Can I be a good mother? —TheNewspad online spoke to experts who provide clear, reassuring answers.
For many women living with epilepsy, the struggle is not only about managing seizures. It is also about the quiet, often unspoken worries that follow them through life.
Worries about how their monthly cycle might influence their condition. Worries about whether their medications will harm a baby during pregnancy.
There are questions some are too afraid to ask out loud: Will my child be safe? Can I breastfeed? Will anyone marry me if they know? These are the kinds of fears that can keep women silent, feeling alone in their journey.
Some do not know that hormones can play a role in seizure patterns, or that—with proper care— they can live healthy, fulfilling lives. Others are left in the dark about what is safe and what is not during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
To shed light on these concerns, the Newspaper sought the insights of epilepsy experts.
The questions posed were direct: Can epilepsy alter a woman’s monthly cycle? Are anti-seizure medications safe during pregnancy? Will the baby in the womb be safe? Can a woman with epilepsy breastfeed? And what kind of support do these women truly need?
Angela Asemota, an epilepsy specialist from Edo State, says epilepsy itself does not alter a woman’s menstrual cycle.
However, she notes that seizures can be triggered by hormonal changes. “Most times when a woman is close to her monthly cycle or she’s on it, the seizures become more frequent,” she explains.
According to her, seizures may also affect hormones, leading to lighter-than-usual menstrual flow for some women. The impact, she says, is more about timing and seizure patterns than about epilepsy directly changing the cycle.
When it comes to pregnancy, Asemota is clear that certain medications need to be adjusted. “There are antiseizure drugs that may not be taken during pregnancy,” she says.
“That’s why neurologists often ask patients to inform them if they plan to start a family, so they can change the medication accordingly.”
She adds that a woman with epilepsy can have a safe delivery unless she sustains a serious injury during a seizure, such as falling hard on her abdomen, which could harm the unborn child.
On breastfeeding, Asemota reassures mothers that most epilepsy medicines pass into breast milk only in small amounts and are generally safe, especially if the mother is stable on her treatment. “Women with epilepsy can breastfeed their children without problems but with precautions,” she advises.
These precautions include monitoring the baby for unusual sleepiness, poor feeding, or irritability, breastfeeding in a safe position to prevent dropping the child during a seizure, and discussing medication adjustments with a doctor before and after birth.
Asemota also highlights the importance of medical support, such as regular follow-ups with a neurologist, safe and effective anti-seizure medications tailored to pregnancy or breastfeeding, and preconception counseling to plan safe pregnancies.
Beyond medical care, she emphasizes the need for emotional and social support. “Encouragement from family, friends, and support groups can make a big difference,” she added.
Education for patients and caregivers, assistance during seizure episodes, and reducing stigma through community awareness are also vital according to the expert.
She further advocates lifestyle support—advice on sleep, stress management, and nutrition—as well as help with baby care during periods when seizure risk is high.
In Benue State, Mr. Terdoo Apeshi, an epilepsy expert at Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University Makurdi, adds his perspective.
He agrees that epilepsy itself does not usually shift a woman’s monthly cycle but warns that some medications, such as sodium valproate, can cause polycystic ovarian syndrome, leading to irregular periods.
Apeshi also cautions that sodium valproate and similar drugs may have teratogenic effects, meaning they can cause birth defects, especially at high doses or when combined with other medications. Still, he notes that most epilepsy drugs are safe when prescribed carefully.
“The child in the womb can be at risk of congenital malformations or neurodevelopmental delays. But research has shown that, with proper management, it is safe for the baby even when the mother is on medication”, he said.
For women living with epilepsy, these insights offer reassurance and guidance. Motherhood, though more complex in the face of seizures, is not out of reach.
With the right medical care, emotional support, and lifestyle adjustments, they can navigate pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding with confidence.
In the end, the experts agree on one thing: knowledge is power. The more women know about their condition and the support available to them, the more they can live not in fear, but in hope, and embrace the possibility of a healthy, happy family life.
