Neurological Diseases and Pregnancy (PDF)

For a woman of reproductive age, any medical appointment is a pre-conception visit and an opportunity to address pre-existing conditions that affect pregnancy and the maternal-fetal dyad. However, many neurologic conditions are rarely seen in pregnancy, and limited experience and knowledge may prevent the team from developing a shared approach to these complex conditions during pregnancy.

Neurological Diseases and Pregnancy: A Coordinated Care Model for Best Management brings together experts across the disciplines of maternal fetal medicine, neurology, obstetrics, family planning, genetics, anesthesia, psychiatry, neurosurgery, and lactation to provide a multi-disciplinary, comprehensive, protocol-driven guide on best care for patients with neurologic disease before, during and after pregnancy. Each chapter provides a detailed care map on each unique disorder, and discusses the use of neurological medications during pregnancy and in lactation. Through this multi-disciplinary approach clinicians can navigate the complexities of preconception and pregnancy care, and help to optimize outcomes for the mother-infant dyad. Beyond pregnancy care, this volume further serves as a resource on best care for the life-course of women affected by neurologic disease including pre-pregnancy planning, genetic counseling, contraception, and sexuality in neurologic disease, as well as post-partum depression and menopausal neurologic changes.