It must be stressed that the evidence is not all bad. Some of the studies involve such small numbers that no valid conclusions can be drawn.
An epileptic woman who stops taking drugs because she becomes pregnant is at risk of having convulsions. The convulsion with the associated lack of oxygen during the fit may, in itself, be dangerous to the foetus.
Besides, most women do not know they are pregnant until four or six weeks after conception.
The developing foetus has already been exposed to the drug and stopping it when pregnancy is confirmed may be too late, if in fact, the drug does have harmful effects.
All life is a risk and, at the moment, it appears there is a greater risk to the baby if the epileptic woman stops her medication during pregnancy than if she continues it.
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