{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,30]],"date-time":"2026-09-30T14:02:06Z","timestamp":1790776926980,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":41,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,28]],"date-time":"2026-09-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1790553600000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/page\/policies\/text-and-data-mining-license"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["journals.sagepub.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Obstet Med"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Epilepsy in pregnancy is common, but it remains a major risk factor for maternal morbidity and mortality. Over the last decade, neurological causes have remained in the top three indirect causes of maternal death in the UK. National reports, including the recent maternity care bundle, have emphasised the importance of preconceptual counselling to optimise maternal health and reduce complications for epileptic women during pregnancy and postpartum. This study is a retrospective medical record review, examining records of epileptic women of childbearing age, taken from a general practitioner (GP) surgery covering more than 17,000 patients. It aims to assess whether documented preconceptual counselling is taking place for these patients. It was found that, excluding those on a legally required sodium valproate risk record, 93% of the patients did not have documented preconceptual counselling. A recommendation for a set of concise questions for GPs to utilise to normalise pregnancy planning and prompt referrals is proposed.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1177\/1753495x261490376","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,28]],"date-time":"2026-09-28T15:36:04Z","timestamp":1790609764000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/sage-journals-update-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Preconceptual counselling for women with epilepsy \u2013 is it happening? A retrospective observational medical records review"],"prefix":"10.1177","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0005-9290-6006","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Alanna","family":"Downey-Orr","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"University Hospitals Sussex"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mary","family":"Guirguis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University Hospitals Sussex"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ruth","family":"Mason","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University Hospitals Sussex"},{"name":"Sussex Maternal Medicine Network, Sussex, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0005-1815-4475","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Suneeta","family":"Kochhar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"NHS Surrey and Sussex Integrated Care Board, Sussex, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,28]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_3_2_2_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.321.7262.674"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_3_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1001\/jamaneurol.2024.2375"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_4_2","unstructured":"Felker A Patel R Kenyon S et al. Saving Lives Improving Mothers\u2019 Care Compiled Report - Lessons learned to inform maternity care from the UK and Ireland Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths and Morbidity 2021\u201323. Oxford. Epub ahead of print 2025. DOI: 10.5287\/ora-4javr692x."},{"key":"e_1_3_2_5_2","unstructured":"Felkner A Patel R Kotnis R et al. Saving Lives Improving Mothers\u2019 Care Compiled Report - Lessons learned to inform maternity care from the UK and Ireland Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths and Morbidity 2020\u20132022. Oxford https:\/\/www.npeu.ox.ac.uk\/assets\/downloads\/mbrrace-uk\/reports\/maternal-report-2024\/MBRRACE-UK%20Maternal%20MAIN%20Report%202024%20V2.0%20ONLINE.pdf (2024 accessed March 1 2026)."},{"key":"e_1_3_2_6_2","unstructured":"Knight M Bunch K Felker A et al. Saving Lives Improving Mothers\u2019 Care Core Report - Lessons learned to inform maternity care from the UK and Ireland Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths and Morbidity 2019\u201321. 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NG217 https:\/\/www.nice.org.uk\/guidance\/ng217 (2025 accessed January 5 2026)."},{"key":"e_1_3_2_10_2","unstructured":"Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG). Epilepsy in Pregnancy Green-top Guideline No.68 https:\/\/www.rcog.org.uk\/media\/rzldnacf\/gtg68_epilepsy.pdf (2016 accessed April 12 2025)."},{"key":"e_1_3_2_11_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eplepsyres.2019.106260"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_12_2","article-title":"Preconception care: A strategic intervention for the prevention of neonatal and birth disorders","volume":"15","author":"Khekade H","year":"2023","unstructured":"Khekade H, Potdukhe A, Taksande AB, et al. Preconception care: A strategic intervention for the prevention of neonatal and birth disorders. 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Maternal and child nutrition: nutrition and weight management in pregnancy and nutrition in children up to 5 years. Nice Guideline. NG247 https:\/\/www.nice.org.uk\/guidance\/ng247 (2025 accessed November 4 2025)."},{"key":"e_1_3_2_23_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1212\/WNL.0000000000209279"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_24_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1097\/AOG.0000000000003013"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_25_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S1059-1311(03)00085-2"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_26_2","unstructured":"National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Epilepsies in children young people and adults (NICE Guideline NG 217 https:\/\/www.nice.org.uk\/guidance\/ng217 (2025 accessed July 29 2026)."},{"key":"e_1_3_2_27_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.seizure.2015.05.009"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_28_2","unstructured":"Epilepsy Action Epilepsy Research Institute UK Epilepsy Nurses Association et al. 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