Neurological Diseases and Pregnancy A Coordinated Care Model for Best Management

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.

Dr. Emma Ciafaloni received her medical degree from the University of Milano, Italy, and completed her neurology residency and neuromuscular fellowship at Duke. Her clinical research focuses on experimental therapeutics and clinical trials in pediatric and adult neuromuscular disease and she has a special interest in pregnancy outcome in rare neuromuscular diseases.

Dr. Cheryl Bushnell received her medical degree from Medical College of Wisconsin, and completed her neurology residency at Duke University. She received her master's of clinical research and completed a cerebrovascular research fellowship at Duke, as well. Her career has been dedicated to stroke in women, with a special emphasis on stroke in pregnancy. She is currently Professor of Neurology at Wake Forest Baptist Health and Director of the Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Stroke Center.

Dr. Loralei Thornburg received her medical degree from Wayne State in Detroit, and completed her neurology residency and fellowship at University of Rochester. Her career has been dedicated to care of high risk women during pregnancy, including education of fellows and residents regarding optimal care of these women and their families. She is currently an Associate Professor of Ob/Gyn at University of Rochester Medical Center, where she directs both the Maternal-Fetal Medicine division and fellowship.