Epilepsy, Pregnancy and Birth with Jewel Gibson
07/22/20 • 15 min
In this bonus episode we get to hear some more of my chat with mom, wife, teacher and blogger, Jewel Gibson. I asked Jewel to tell me a bit more about the specifics of have a baby when you have epilepsy.
Last time, we heard about Jewel’s path to an epilepsy diagnosis, and her personal challenge of running the New York Half Marathon to raise epilepsy awareness. We also heard that Jewel is diagnosed with ‘catamenial seizures’ - seizures that are affected or triggered by changes in hormones.
But I was also really interested to learn more from Jewel as a mom. As well as her blog, Jewel has also done a short podcast series called Well Fit Mama. So what does it take to be a Well Fit Mama? And how did epilepsy affect her pregnancy? I asked her about what steps she had to take to make sure both she and the baby were safe, and whether there was anything she wanted to say to other women with epilepsy who want to have children.
Jewel was already a Mom, but she didn’t have epilepsy when she was pregnant the first time.
A QUICK WARNING: Jewel does talk about the later stages of childbirth and aspects such as epidurals in semi-graphic detail around 7.30 minutes after the start of the actual conversation.
Disclaimer: Jewel does talk about specifics with medication and birth choices. She is talking about her personal experience with pregnancy and childbirth whilst living with epilepsy. Other’s experiences and situation may vary.
VISIT JEWEL'S BLOG:
WELL FIT MAMA PODCAST:
SUPPORT THE PODCAST:
Become a patron to support the podcast and continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure. Sign up for as little as $3 a month (that’s $1.50 per episode - less than the price of a coffee!!). Find out more at patreon.com/seizeyouradventure.
TRANSCRIPT ON ITS WAY.
I am working to try and get accurate transcripts for all the Seize Your Adventure episodes. In the meantime, you can find most episodes on YouTube for auto transcription.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
This podcast is an independent production - costs of the show are covered by me (Fran) with the support of patrons. If you want to help support the show financially, head to patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. This will help me to continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure.
Or, support the show for free by sharing it on socials! Find us on Instagram @seizeyouradventurepod.
Seize Your Adventure is part of the Tremula Network - adventure and outdoor podcasts off the beaten track. To find out more, head to tremula.network
Get full access to Seize Your Adventure at seizeyouradventure.substack.com/subscribe
In this bonus episode we get to hear some more of my chat with mom, wife, teacher and blogger, Jewel Gibson. I asked Jewel to tell me a bit more about the specifics of have a baby when you have epilepsy.
Last time, we heard about Jewel’s path to an epilepsy diagnosis, and her personal challenge of running the New York Half Marathon to raise epilepsy awareness. We also heard that Jewel is diagnosed with ‘catamenial seizures’ - seizures that are affected or triggered by changes in hormones.
But I was also really interested to learn more from Jewel as a mom. As well as her blog, Jewel has also done a short podcast series called Well Fit Mama. So what does it take to be a Well Fit Mama? And how did epilepsy affect her pregnancy? I asked her about what steps she had to take to make sure both she and the baby were safe, and whether there was anything she wanted to say to other women with epilepsy who want to have children.
Jewel was already a Mom, but she didn’t have epilepsy when she was pregnant the first time.
A QUICK WARNING: Jewel does talk about the later stages of childbirth and aspects such as epidurals in semi-graphic detail around 7.30 minutes after the start of the actual conversation.
Disclaimer: Jewel does talk about specifics with medication and birth choices. She is talking about her personal experience with pregnancy and childbirth whilst living with epilepsy. Other’s experiences and situation may vary.
VISIT JEWEL'S BLOG:
WELL FIT MAMA PODCAST:
SUPPORT THE PODCAST:
Become a patron to support the podcast and continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure. Sign up for as little as $3 a month (that’s $1.50 per episode - less than the price of a coffee!!). Find out more at patreon.com/seizeyouradventure.
TRANSCRIPT ON ITS WAY.
I am working to try and get accurate transcripts for all the Seize Your Adventure episodes. In the meantime, you can find most episodes on YouTube for auto transcription.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
This podcast is an independent production - costs of the show are covered by me (Fran) with the support of patrons. If you want to help support the show financially, head to patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. This will help me to continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure.
Or, support the show for free by sharing it on socials! Find us on Instagram @seizeyouradventurepod.
Seize Your Adventure is part of the Tremula Network - adventure and outdoor podcasts off the beaten track. To find out more, head to tremula.network
Get full access to Seize Your Adventure at seizeyouradventure.substack.com/subscribe
Previous Episode
A Chat with Jewel Gibson: Catamenial Seizures and Running with Epilepsy
Jewel Gibson is a mom, a wife, a teacher, and a blogger from Brooklyn, New York. Her Instagram and blog, Life's A Jewel, focuses on motherhood and encouraging women to live healthier lives, experience fulfilling relationships and conquer parenthood fashionably. She also uses her platform to talk about the day-to-day challenges navigating a seizure disorder.
Jewel was an athlete and runner in highschool, so when she saw an advert from The Epilepsy Foundation of Metropolitan New York about running the United Airlines Half Marathon, she figured it would be fun to try. She wanted to run to help eliminate the stigma about epilepsy and seizures, as well as raise awareness within the community.
But when Jewel started training, she realised that her seizures and epilepsy were going to make running more difficult than she remembered! Jewel couldn't find any information on running with epilepsy, and how this might affect the way you train. She had to figure it out on her own and learn how to run without aggravating the condition.
In today's episode Jewel talks about:
- Her first seizures and difficult EMT experience
- The confusion between pseudo/non-epileptic seizures and epileptic ones
- The difficulty getting to her diagnosis of 'catamenial' seizures
- How her family supported her through her diagnosis
- Learning to accept help when her seizures were bad
- Hiding her epilepsy at work
- Starting a blog because she didn't see other Black people talking about epilepsy
- Why she decided to do the NY Half
- The COLD New York weather during training!
- How running makes her feel free
- The anxiety around seizures and when they might happen
- Deciding what to tell her students when she has a 72 hour EEG
- Balancing being a mom/wife/woman/teacher
- How the 'adventure' question made her realise how adventurous her life is!
- And more...
DEFINITIONS:
Catamenial seizures - seizures that are affected or triggered by changes in hormones
Pseudoseizures - Now more commonly known as psychogenic seizures, which are not caused by electrical activity in the brain. Also called Non-epileptic seizures (NES), dissociative seizures, non-epileptic attacks. The name 'pseudoseizure' is an older term. In the UK it is not used because it suggests the person is not having 'real' seizures.
VISIT JEWEL'S BLOG:
WELL FIT MAMA PODCAST:
SUPPORT THE PODCAST:
Become a patron to support the podcast and continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure. Find out more at patreon.com/seizeyouradventure.
MUSIC:
Kev Rowe on Soundcloud | Creative Commons Attribution License
TRANSCRIPT ON ITS WAY. In the meantime, autotranscripts are on YouTube.
This podcast is an independent production - costs of the show are covered by me (Fran) with the support of patrons. If you want to help support the show financially, head to patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. This will help me to continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure.
Or, support the show for free by sharing it on socials! Find us on Instagram @seizeyouradventurepod.
Seize Your Adventure is part of the Tremula Network - adventure and outdoor podcasts off the beaten track. To find out more, head to tremula.network
Get full access to Seize Your Adventure at seizeyouradventure.substack.com/subscribe
Next Episode
A Chat with Chris Winwood: Endurance cycling, backcountry hikes and working in adventure with epilepsy.
Chris is an Epilepsy Education & Outreach Worker for the British Columbia Epilepsy Society and in summer last year Chris also raised money for BCES by cycling from Prince George to Jasper - a distance of 375KM - in just two days.
(N.B. I can't add up and in the podcast I say 275KM... Sorry Chris!)
Chris is a hardcore adventurer. I was introduced to Chris about a year ago, via the British Columbia Epilepsy Society. Chris is an Epilepsy Education & Outreach Worker for the BCES.
As well as his work for BCES, he’s also a ski instructor, and he did a BA in Nature Based Tourism at university. His Facebook page always shows beautiful pine forest, trees and rocks and rocks and trees and the odd lake.
Chris' lifestyle, his career and his independence really relies on being healthy and able drive.
We talked about:
-His first seizure when he was 21 years old
-Having to give up driving
-Depression due to epilepsy
-Reaching a moment of crisis due to depression
-How his friends, family and colleagues supported him (and how some didn't...)
-Laughing about his own condition
-Working for British Columbia Epilepsy Society
-His Facebook videos talking about epilepsy
-Mitigating epilepsy risks in the backcountry
-Leaving a trip line when going on solo adventures
-Finding good friends to adventure with
-Hiking the Chilkoot Trail in the Yukon
-Turning to road cycling because he couldn't drive
-His 375km cycling challenge...
-And (of course) bears!!
CONTENT WARNING: Chris talks about depression due to epilepsy, misuse of alcohol and a moment of crisis in this episode. If you want to skip that part of the chat, the conversation about his adventure life starts at 20 minutes.
CONTENT WARNING 2: There is the smallest swearword in there.
Disclaimer: Please remember this is Chris' personal experience. We take no responsibility for individual decisions made with regards to adventure sports or medical conditions.
If you have depression, or would like to talk to someone about your mental health and how you feel, if you are in the UK you can contact Mind for information and support or contact the Samaritans if you are in crisis. Those in Canada can contact Crisis Services Canada.
VISIT CHRIS' FACEBOOK PAGE:
The Diaries of an Epileptic Dirtbag Otaku
SUPPORT THE PODCAST:
Become a patron to support the podcast and continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure. Sign up for as little as $3 a month (that’s $1.50 per episode - less than the price of a coffee!!). Find out more at patreon.com/seizeyouradventure.
MUSIC:
Kev Rowe on Soundcloud | Creative Commons Attribution License
This podcast is an independent production - costs of the show are covered by me (Fran) with the support of patrons. If you want to help support the show financially, head to patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. This will help me to continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure.
Or, support the show for free by sharing it on socials! Find us on Instagram @seizeyouradventurepod.
Seize Your Adventure is part of the Tremula Network - adventure and outdoor podcasts off the beaten track. To find out more, head to tremula.network
Get full access to Seize Your Adventure at seizeyouradventure.substack.com/subscribe
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