ABSTRACT

Normal physiologic changes associated with pregnancy, combined with pathophysiological processes unique to pregnancy, predispose women to develop a stroke during pregnancy and the puerperium. Pregnancy and the postpartum period are associated with a marked increase in the relative risk and a small increase in the absolute risk of ischemic stroke and intracerebral haemorrhage, with the highest risk during the puerperium. There are three terms that seem to be interchangeable: fits, convulsions, and seizures. In a convulsion, the body muscles contract and relax rapidly and repeatedly, resulting in uncontrollable shaking. Cerebrovascular disease during pregnancy can be categorised into: thrombosis/ischaemia; and haemorrhage. Usually the patient has a history of epilepsy’ however, it may rarely present for the first time during the pregnancy. The frequency of seizures does not increase during pregnancy in the majority of women with epilepsy.