What's in a Name?

The short answer? Possibilities!

Choosing a name for the child to be can be simple for some and stressful for others. There are so many things to take into consideration.

Probably one of the biggest considerations is finding a name both parents (of course this doesn't apply to all familial makeups) can agree on. Depending on nationalities, backgrounds, upbringings, and beliefs finding a commonly loved name can come easily or it may take some compromise and creativity. I ran into this myself when naming my first son with his father's input. We finally both made lists of names we liked and found a common one on both lists.

Problem solved!

Another issue that comes into play is the use of either unique names or spellings of the name you choose for your child. If the spelling deviates from the "norm" be prepared for your child's name to be misspelled constantly. As far as unique or newly created names, spelling and pronunciation conflicts may ensue.

When choosing a unique or differently spelled name, keep in mind that it can influence your child's future. If the name is difficult to pronounce, it may cause embarassment as your child goes through school and can possibly affect being called in for job interviews.

There are countless baby name websites to scour over, and many can be searched for by theme such as rustic, unique, southern, popular, etc. They can be very helpful for those struggling to even start!

This is baby three for me and the first for my husband. We had initially settled on a name rather easily, but no longer liked it after the ultrasound. He suggested asking my mom for names she liked and we fell in love with one of her choices: Logan.

Logan: Gaelic meaning "hollow" or "from the hollow"
(The inspiration for my blog's name.)

Ultimately, it is completely up to you in the end. As long as you love the name and are comfortable and confident in how the name sounds and flows, that really is all that matters.

Epilepsy and Pregnancy

So many women face obstacles during pregnancy that many people don't even realize. These obstacles can pose concerns and risks for both mom and baby.

For me, it is epilepsy.

I don't have the falling down-passing out-body jerking Grand Mal activity that most people associate with seizure activity. No, my seizures are much more subtle in nature but are dangerous nonetheless.

I am plagued with complex partial seizures and due to the wide range of seizure activity "symptoms" I have, it took years to finally get a diagnosis.

The biggest threat I face during this pregnancy is of course damage from the seizures themselves. My complex partial seizures often lead to loss of consciousness which put me at risk for dangerous falls especially. I do get a bit of an "aura" prior to the event, which so far has given me just enough time to sit down, sometimes on the floor when I am in places where seating is unavailable.

Medications also pose risk to the developing fetus. I currently take Lamotrigine (Lamictal) and am closely monitored by both my neurogist and Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) doctors.

Lamotrigine is considered a Class C drug and usually the benefits of taking it outweigh the risks. The greatest risks to the developing baby when the mother takes Lamotrigine during pregnancy are cleft lip and cleft palate.

According to my neurologist, Lamotrigine is considered one of the safest seizure control medications available to take during pregnancy. I'm grateful I've had luck responding to it favorably and have not needed to switch to a more pregnancy risky medication.

I am currently 19w3d along and had my anatomy scan last week. We were all relieved to see that baby looks awesome developmentally with no indication of any noticeable birth defects.

Being pregnant while epileptic can be scary so making sure we don't miss appointments or medications is crucial. I'm blessed to have such amazing doctors looking out for me!