Pregnant women with epilepsy who are taking anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) have an increased risk of pregnancy complications, caesarean section and major malformations of the newborn, says research published in BJOG:
An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Previous studies indicated that women taking AEDs are more likely to develop preeclampsia, gestational hypertension and have premature babies. The latest study found that women with epilepsy who use AEDs had an increased risk of pre-eclampsia, bleeding in pregnancy, induction, caesarean section and major malformations of the newborn. Women with active epilepsy and no AED use had no increased risk of any pregnancy or delivery complications. However, there was an increased risk for vaginal forceps delivery and preterm birth in this group. In women with epilepsy and using AEDs, 6.9% had major congenital malformations compared to 4.5% of women not using them.
