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Hebburn mum's advice on epilepsy
A HEBBURN mum is backing a national campaign to give women more information about epilepsy during pregnancy.
Every year, up to four women with epilepsy die during pregnancy or childbirth, meaning they face a seven times greater risk than women without the condition, warns national charity Epilepsy Action.
But Sue Adams, 38, is keen to show women with the condition that they shouldn't be put off having children – they just have to plan ahead more than most.
Mrs Adams, who has three children with husband Richard, 41, had two seizures before being diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 14.
She has not had many seizures since, and is on medication to control the condition, but still feels she's had to live with the stigma that epilepsy carries, particularly in finding employment.
The part-time teaching assistant said she and her husband did a lot of their own research before having Lucy, 11, Andrew, seven, and Sophie, four.
Although she received very good care during pregnancy, she had to fight for certain things, such as convincing her health professionals that she needed a vitamin K injection after the births.
She said: "Having epilepsy makes you a more determined person because you have to fight that little bit harder for everything."
Mrs Adams advises women to do their research, and see their GP first and foremost, who should be able to provide them with all the information they need.
"There are things you have to do pre-conception, and that is really important," she said.
"You need to talk about to your GP about your decision – you can be pregnant and you can have children. Don't be frightened of it. There are people who will help you all the way through."
Epilepsy Action has launched its Mothers In Mind: Healthy Births campaign during National Pregnancy Health Month this month.
It will work towards giving more mums with epilepsy and their babies a happy and healthy future.
Mrs Adams, from North Drive, added: "If there was a little bit more information out there, that would be more helpful, but it is getting there.
"Campaigns like this create the publicity, which creates more information for parents and professionals."
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Weather for South Shields
Friday 10 February 2012
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