Narcolepsy can be a scary thought on its own, but if you throw being pregnant into the mix it can come with a plethora of concerns, risks, and precautions. Narcolepsy not only effects your daily routine due to excessive sleepiness but it is a lifelong illness that often leads to further complications.
According to European Narcolepsy Network, depending on what stage of pregnancy you are in, your symptoms will most certainly vary, but here are some facts you need to know first:
Will You Continue Your Medications?
Ideally, all treatments and therapy are recommended to be discontinued due to special risks and periods of higher risk depend on each drug. However, you must consult with your doctor to receive a complete evaluation and consultation.
The need for discontinuation must be fully explained by your doctor. Reduction or complete stop of medication can jointly be decided by the patient and the physician depending on the estimated risks and benefits of your current treatment. If you feel you will not do well off your medication, you must voice these concerns with your doctor so that they may present alternative options to you.
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Can You Deliver Vaginally?
Good news, in a case-control study in women with narcolepsy with cataplexy (NT1) related to pregnancy, delivery, childbirth, and puerperium, data suggested that patients have pregnancy outcomes similar to healthy women.
C-sections, complications during delivery and the perinatal period for infants were similar in both groups. No significant differences in depression during pregnancy or during puerperium were found and breastfeeding lasted longer in narcolepsy type 1 patients. However, the prevalence of gestational diabetes was higher in women with narcolepsy with cataplexy.
In general, cataplexy may occur during delivery but this is rather rare. Most narcolepsy patients have vaginal delivery without complications. Only in rare cases, patients had cataplexy that interfered with delivery, but if a C-section is required there appears to be no increased anesthetic or surgical risks involved.
What Are Your Risks?
The truth is, in any pregnancy risks can arise. However, for pregnant narcolepsy patients, they are more prone to excessive weight gain, which puts them to a higher risk for impaired glucose metabolism and anemia. Typical symptoms of pregnancy such as nausea, cramping, and an increase in appetite may intensify, worsening in 1/3 of patients.
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As soon as patients learn that they are pregnant they should contact their physician and discuss their medication to adapt their dosage to their stage in pregnancy. However, a complete or abrupt stop of treatment is not recommended if it may cause self-injury or endanger your pregnancy.
The benefit/risk ratio should be considered in detail and the dose should be chosen according to the severity of symptoms and the risk of endangering oneself or the unborn child.
For more information on sleep disorders, visit our Health Conditions page on BlackDoctor.org.
Tia Muhammad, BS, is an award-winning freelance content & media creative, copywriter, blogger, digital designer, and marketing consultant. She owns the boutique content and digital media company, jackieGLDN|studio.
