Written By

Stacey Chillemi

Did you know that women with epilepsy have fewer children than any other women?  Yet feeling insecure about ourselves is perhaps the most common drawbacks with women who have epilepsy.   Researchers think “Women with epilepsy have a higher rate of menstrual cycle irregularities and other gynecological problems that may interfere with fertility.”  This is not true .    More than 90% of women with epilepsy who choose to become pregnant have healthy babies. 

Secondly, the reason for such a small amount of people with epilepsy having babies could be because of personal choice.  Having your first child brings out many fears because you do not know what to expect and is going to happen.  Women with epilepsy do have a greater risk of having a baby with certain kinds of birth defects.  The rate is 4 - 6% for women with epilepsy, compared with the rate of 2 - 3% in the general population.

In the past, they discouraged women with epilepsy from having children and sometimes were sterilized against their will to prevent pregnancy.  However, now the public’s understanding of epilepsy has grown, and the medical community has useful information to share with women who have seizures and want to become pregnant.  

Epilepsy has not stopped me from having a two beautiful babies and a wonderful family.  I can be the best mother ever with epilepsy.  Epilepsy has not interfered with my life in any way shape of form.  To survive and live happily, you need to think positively and have faith, faith in yourself.