Possible Complications during Pregnancy Women with epilepsy are considered to have high risk pregnancies. There are several complications which occur more often to women with epilepsy, one of which is know as eclampsia . Eclampsia is a serious complication of pregnancy which, in its final stages, can result in brain hemorrhage, coma and death. Pre-eclampsia is an earlier stage of this vascular disease. At the first sign of pre-eclampsia, a physician will prescribe preventative measures, including sedation, rest and the use of specific antihypertensive drugs.
Placental problems figure more prominently in women with epilepsy.
Other complications involving the placenta include early spontaneous rupture of the membranes and, conversely, an increased need to rupture the membranes artificially in order to begin delivery. The birth of a normal baby without birth defects is a primary concern for all parents. Since all drugs present a possible danger to a developing fetus, women with epilepsy who are taking anticonvulsants are understandably concerned that anticonvulsant medication may pose possible risks to their baby's development. To put birth defects into perspective, it is helpful to look at the statistics. Pregnant women who are controlling their seizures with anticonvulsants will have 6 to 10 chances in 100 of giving birth to a baby with a birth defect.