Blood Clotting in Pregnancy

HI A.,
I had a DVT and a PE (clot in my lung) when I was 9 weeks pregnant with my daughter. It was pretty annoying to have to give myself shots throughout the pregnancy and be on thinners afterward. I did have to increase my dosage a few times and had to give myself the shots 2 times a day at the end. (I have a clotting disorder and hormones seem to make it worse). I will probably have to be on Coumadin or Lovenox forever or at least every time I get pregnant. Although I have only one child, I plan on having 2-3. Will it be a pain to give myself shots throughout my next pregnancy? Yes, but I feel it is worth it in the end. Now if I had already had 3 kids and was toying with the idea of having another, than I might not decide to have anymore. I guess it really depends on if 3 kids is enough for you. Good luck and I hope this helps you a little.

Hi A.. I just went through this with my pregnancy. I ended up having Factor Five Leiden, which is a condition that I will have for the rest of my life. I had no idea I had it, until I ended up with FOUR blood clots during my pregnancy. Three in my legs and one in my groin. I got over having to give myself shots every day, and the bigger issue was finding places on my expanding belly to do the shot. I was on Lovenox as well, and switched to Heparin the last month of pregnancy and then back to Lovenox for six weeks after delivery. I really didn't want to be enduced, and my doctors let me wait it out to see if I'd go into labor myself. I ended up going into labor on my actual due date, but had to have an emergency C section (everything turned out fine).

My OBGYN was great during this time and I had regular appointments with my vascular doctor. I was monitored every other day and had weekely OB visits & weekly blood tests to monitor my levels. I also had monthly ultra sounds. It's a LOT to go through. But because of all the testing and monitoring, I really felt comfortable with the pregnancy. I felt like I lived at the hospital for a while! But all of my doctors were on top of EVERYTHING.

IMO -the compression hose all summer were far worse than the shots!

I hope this helps you. It's kind of a nice to know that someone out there knows exactly what I went through and can relate to me and the experience. Take care.

Why are you being induced?

I have all 6 blood clotting factors...inherited from my dear mother. I lost a pregnancy due to a blood clot. I have been on folic acid since I was very young. My last pregnancy I was on heparin the whole time from beginning until 6 weeks after delivery, and now back to coumadin. I do believe the risk is worth it. If you want another child then that's a choice that you have to make. Good luck in whatever decision you make. I know it's hard to shoot yourself up everyday, but when you see what you created all those fears and bad memories go away.

I too had the same situation as you have. I now have 3 very healthy boys and all were w/ being on the loveknox/heprin shots. And I feel there were no real huge risk involved in having them while taking the shots. I lost my first child due to not knowing about having the clotting issue 8 months into the pregnancy. I was then labeled as High risk when I got pregnant. As long as you follow all the dr's advice and stuff you should be fine.

When pregnant with my daughter 15 years ago, the doctor prescribed Hepran (sp?) which I had to inject every 8 hours in my thighs. My doctor ended up cutting the vein that the blood clot (superficial) was in because it was traveling up my leg and could have killed me (emergency surgery). I developed another one in my main artery (he couldn't cut that one) and I was in and out of the hospital the whole preganancy. Is it worth losing the mother if the child caused the death? I now where a compression stocking on my bad leg, had to take cumadin for over a year and risk the blood clot breaking loose and killing me. They called it Lupis Anticogulant. Not sure if they still call it that. I had my tubes tied so my daughter would still have her mom. Good Luck!

A.,

How did you know you had a blood clot (what were the symptoms)? I ask because I've experienced some strange pain in my leg behind my knee recently and have wondered about a blood clot, but feel like a hypocondriac if I go to a doctor about it. Sorry I don't have an answer for you, but I would love to get a response if you get a chance.
Thanks.

K.

I wan tto thank everyone who responded to this question concerning blood clots and pregnancy. I have a 5 year old son and my pregnancy with him was close to perfect. After delivery with him I has a blood clot in my left leg. I was on coumadin and lovenox for over 7 months and the injections were horrible. 5 years later my husband and I want anohter child. I was told by my OB/GYN that I would have begin blood thinners before the pregnancy and throughout as a precaution. So I recently scheduled an appoinment witha high risk OB/GYN to get a more detailed assessment and find out if there are any other remedies. I am nervous about givnign my unborn child anything beyond an aspirin. If anyone has heard of an alternate therapy for blood clots during pregnancy please let me know. Thanks and God Bless

Hi A.,
I have factor v lieden mutation. A blood clotting disorder only when I am pregnant, surgery and traveling. I had a daughter in April of 2005 and did not know I had this wrong with me until after she was born and went through some extensive test. My husband and I decided at year later in May of 2006 that we felt after seeing three doctors it was just too risky to have another child. The doctors told me I could be seven months pregnant even being on Lovenox and complain that I haven't felt the baby move and something happen to the baby at almost term. They also stated it is very risky to the mother when having this disorder. The blood disorder I have I inherited it from one of my parents, but don't know which one possibly my mom. I also asked the doctor what was the chance my daughter would have it and she said 50/50 chance. I do wish I could of had another child, but we just felt it was very risky. Have you been tested for factor v? If not you might want to ask your doctor about it. I hope everything turns out alright and good luck on your decision to have more children. I was shocked to see someone else had the same problem with them when they were pregnant. If you have more questions feel free to ask!