Breastfeeding with epilepsy...

I'm looking for some advice/experiences/whatever on anyone who has successfully breastfed with epilepsy. DD's godmother (and my good friend) has just had her first bub - my friend has epilepsy. One of the main seizure triggers for her is tiredness and she is a little worried about how she will manage at home, specifically overnight.

She has mentioned expressing so that her DH can do the night feeds and I know that this may cause problems with her suppy, as in she will still need to be awake and express overnight if she doesn't want to affect her supply, so this may not even help with her resting.

I'm going to encourage her to feed in bed and maybe go round on the weekend and see if she wants me to help her learn to feed lying down as I think this would be an excellent way for her to rest... DH gets bubs, brings her into mum, who stays in bed, feeds and dozes and DH takes bubs back to her cot/bassinette.

I'm just worried that bf might fall by the wayside - absolutely the most important thing is my friend's health and managing her epilepsy and I know she is getting lots of support from her neurologist on her epilepsy, I'm just worried she might be pushed down the path of "just give her a bottle overnight so you can sleep", without knowing the implications of this sort of thing on her supply etc. While there is nothing at all wrong with this if it is what is best for both of them, I would like to support her if I can in her bf journey, while she is willing to bf and while it all seems to be going well.

If there are any things I can do to try and help her, as much as I can working three days and with two LOs of my own, I want to.

So has anyone else on here encountered anyone who has successfully breastfeed with epilepsy? I know epilepsy medications are very different from person to person so it may be hard for anyone to comment...

(PS... hope I haven't offended anyone with my comments above...)

one of my friends breastfed with epilepsy. I'm not sure how long but she made it to 6 months. She does have mild epilepsy that is controlled enough by medication for her to drive.

Thanks Onyx. I know my friend can take medication that controls hers but it can't be taken while pg or bf. She's been on a more mild form but she had two seizures while pg... And I've just heard she has had a seizure this morning. :(

Can you get your friend (or her neurologist) to talk to a really good breastfeeding-friendly pharmacist (e.g. at Monash Med Centre, (03) 9594 2361) so that they can make an educated decision about the relative risks to bub of some medication coming over vs. formula feeding?
A combination of expressing and suck feeding is usually sustainable in the longer term - and is certainly worth a try. Once bub is a bit bigger, feeding with Mum lying down becomes an option, and then Dad's role can simply be to keep an eye on things.....

My SIL is an epileptic and controls hers with medication (Tegratol). She hasn't had a seizure for a very long time. She has successfully breast fed both her girls till 1yr old. She sees a neurologist as well as her OB during her pregnancy.
Have just sent her a text to ask what meds she was on..will edit my post once she responds.

ETA: Yes she took her Tegratol during pregnacy and BF, she said some you can't take and you need to be monitored by neurosurgeon as levels change during pregnancy.

Thanks gals. I will see what medications she has been taking and what advice she has been given about them and bf...

Rodney Whyte at Monash is a great resource for finding out about whether a drug can be taken whilst breastfeeding.

This website (LactMed Search) can also provide good research on medications and breastfeeding.

My friend has the same...
She had a few seizures in labour quite scary. Anyways she did breastfeed for a little bit, but due to the tiredness factor it was safer for mum and bub to have formula and mum get her rest. It wasn't just the getting up and feeding, but the low medication (that she could take whilst breastfeeding) and the act itself just took to much of a toll on her body.
xoxox -

I have mild epilepsy that is controlled by medication and i have breastfed both my children and intend to bf this baby also. i have sleep seizures, so tiredness is the major trigger for me. My first i fully bf until 51/2mths, then comp fed after i had a seizure but was unmedicated at the time. With DD i fed till 12mths on medication and had no seizures. I take a low dose of Valpro anyway that is sufficent to control my epilepsy.
I think it is something that is very dependant on your friends individual circumstances and how controlled her epilepsy is, i was holding my 5 mth old baby when i had my last seizure ( i was half asleep) and that scared me very badly. He was fine as it was very short but i don't cosleep with my babies and make sure i get as much rest as i can. It is a decision that needs to be made with input from her specialist, it can be done, but ultimately, baby needs a healthy mum the most.
Good luck to her x

I BF while on meds for epilepsy and had some seizures while pregnant. They were put down to hormones. I co slept and fed but still ended up suffering from exhaustion I am now medication free and want another baby. I found taking all the help offered worked well

Having a baby can be tiring whether you breastfeed or not. I have a neuro condition and fatigue makes it worse. For me, breastfeeding and learning to feed lying down worked best for me. In the first few weeks, as i recovered from the birth my DH would often get DD up, change her nappy and bring her to me for feeds. My DH does shift work and works night shift 2 out of 8 days so having bub in my room and breastfeeding made it easier for me to care for her, and get more sleep, than having to get up to organise bottles. Hope your mate finds solutions that work for her.

How is your mate going now, OP?

HotI tbh I haven't checked in on her for a week or so. :redface: I am prompted to ring her right now...