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Bell's palsy is more common in pregnant women than in women
who are not pregnant. Developing Bell's Palsy during pregnancy
does not automatically indicate the presence of a more serious
underlying condition.
The 7th Cranial Nerve (VII)
passes through a complex and tortuous route in the skull before it
gets to the muscles and other structures it innervates. Some of the
openings that the nerve must pass through are extremely narrow.
One of these openings in the skull, called, coincidently,
the Fallopian Canal (no relationship whatsoever to the
fallopian tubes); is comparatively long in relationship to the nerve
itself and therefore any swelling of the 7th Cranial Nerve can
result in compression and impaired functioning of the nerve itself.
This results in temporary loss of function in those
muscles and structures which are 'powered' by the nerve.
High blood pressure, diabetes, influenza or flu-like illness,
middle ear infection and dental work, have all been associated with
Bell's Palsy.
During pregnancy, Bell's palsy is sometimes
associated with pre-eclampsia, a condition that affects women
at an advanced stage of pregnancy, noted by high blood pressure,
swelling of the ankles and protein in the urine.
This possibility should be investigated by the physician. Pre-eclampsia
is a serious condition and careful management is required should
this be the case.
The condition, Bell's Palsy, poses no risk to the unborn infant,
however it should always be investigated to eliminate any underlying
conditions. |
