Shawn---
One thing to keep in mind is there is no right or wrong anti convulsant for a woman with epilepsy-- who is pregnant or trying to get pregnant, to be on. Many of my friends have had healthy babies on meds OTHER than tegretol and at varying dosages (in particularly, Lamictal and Keppra). The most important things are to 1) plan a head and 2) communicate with your OB-GYN AND your neurologist and 3) take folic acid (it is a vitamin that lessens the chance of spinal birth defects, and NOT just for women with epilepsy) and a good multi or pre natal vitamin.

The risks for women with epilepsy and birth defects-- even those ON anti convuslants, are not much higher than the general population.

My husband and I have been TTC (trying to conceive) for awhile and while I am not pregnant yet, my drs and I have agreed-- for me, the best thing to do, in terms of meds, if/when I get pregnant to stay on my current med regime.

So, it is a very, very individual thing.....

L2L