Blood Thiners During Pregnacy

I have a blood clotting disorder that I normally take a coumadin pill for daily. Several months prior to ttc and then throughout pregnancy I have to switch over to shots. It is beyond critical for the health and survival of your baby to stop taking coumadin prior to ttc. Coumadin causes major birth defects most often resulting in fetal death.

I had to take Lovenox shots twice daily for 3 years. (We lost several babies between our two daughters.) I have to tell you those shots feel like you are injecting draino...uggg, the pain would literally bring tears to my eyes. They will most likely transition you to heparin shots at 36 weeks. Heparin doesn't stay in your system as long as lovenox does so they switch you to ensure a safe delivery should any problems arise. My firstborn was a 56 hour drug free labor and delivery. Drug free was not by choice, they would not do an epidural because of the blood thinners on board....they didn't want to go into my spine. My second baby was only 12 hours but again drug free because of the blood thinners. (That may be on a case by case basis as well depending on your own health and the risks involved. In my case I am NEVER allowed to not be on blood thinners because I continue to clot even on the meds.)

Because of my disorder I also had to do weekly sono's during my pregnancies. The HD sono's (I think their called level 3) are amazing. Every week they would check every square inch of my baby from the umbilical cord all throughout her little body making sure there were no clots developing. If your current OB is not a Perinatologist then I recommend having him/her refer you to one for a consult prior to ttc. I am blessed to live within 90 minutes of Johns Hopkins and University of Maryland hospitals. I have an OB team made up of several of the perinatologists working in their Advanced Fetal Care departments that coordinate everything with my local OB who is also a perinatologist. Every single decision made during my pregnancies literally went through 6 doctors review (not joking, we held weekly conference calls from whichever doctors office I was at that week.) and they would collectively determine the best course of action.

I've been on blood thinners since 1999 when 1st diagnosed. I have suffered no side effects from the medications. As for my babies, both are very happy and healthy princesses. I will tell you both of my girls were small babies at birth. According to my OB team it was not due to the meds but because of my disease, protein S & C deficiency. Every case is different just like every pregnancy is different. Believe me when I tell you I've been through it all with clots and pulmonary embolisms over the years. One thing you may wish to do is consult a hematologist if you haven't already. You should really have them run blood panels to determine there are no underlying hereditary disorders that caused you to clot in the first place. Most of those tests need to be run without any blood thinning medications in your system to see what your actual levels are. So seriously consider having this done prior to ttc.

Also wouldn't hurt to inquire about a greenfield filter. That is a very small device surgically inserted where your main veins from your legs meet. Basically it works like an umbrella so any clots that form in your legs travel up the veins but are stopped in this umbrella filter so they can not make it to the upper half of your body. This prevents them from entering your lungs, heart or brain. The clots remain at the filter until the body naturally dissolves them. It is a very simple pain free procedure.

Honestly I know it all seems very daunting... but safe, healthy pregnancies can be achieved on blood thinners. You just have to be properly diagnosed and be vigilant in your own health care and the care of your baby. Once you know exactly what you are dealing with you can make a more informed decision. Never be afraid to ask questions. Even the most minor detail in a pregnancy is important in your baby's overall health.

I say if you want to expand your family there is no reason not to pursue all your options.

Peace and Blessings,
TheresaB

Hi with all three of my pregancies I had to on a blood thinner. I believe I was on Hepurn. This is not the correct spelling but the correctway to pronounce it. It was safe taking while pregnant.

I was on Lovenox injections & Baby Aspirin till 36wks, then just Heparin injections till deliver, them back on Lovenox for 6wks post delivery after my last pregnancy (I was found to have 2 clotting disorders after 2 miscarraiges between my boys). Lots of monitoring and baby was born healthy at 38wks. Small, but healthy :) I also take seizure meds though and they were different with that pregnancy than with my first, so I don't know if the blood thinners played a role in his size or the seizure meds, but he was healthy and thats all that matters :) Good luck!

My daughter's friend has had to take blood thinners for 2 of her pregnancies.... I think she ended up with a blood clot during the second pregnancy, and had to stay on it for the rest of that pregnancy. When she got pregnant just this last year, she had to go back on blood thinners then, also.

They will monitor you closely, and most likely schedule an induction just ahead of the due date. She had to stop the blood thinner the day before the delivery, and started it up right after. I think she also had to stay on blood thinners for a couple of months after she delivered, also, but I'm not sure. Much of this may depend on individual situations.

i think it's a typical thing to be put on...my cousin had to give herself shots everyday because she'd had a stroke previously. she also had to see the dr more often while pregnant (every two weeks i believe it was). so it will cost more this time around. something to think about.

Heparin, the anti-coagulant most commonly prescribed during pregnancy is safe for the fetus. However both anticoagulants and thromboembolism are potentially dangerous for you. You need to speak with your physician about the specific risks and whether they are acceptable to you. You now have someone who relies on you so I would think long and hard before taking that sort of risk.

This is something to discuss with your doctor. My sister wound up with a blood clot due to birth control. She was on the blood thinner Kumeden for months. She was told if she ever got another clot, she'd be on Kumeden for life and if that happened (fortunately is has not happened), she could not have babies. She was told by two different doctors that she could not get pregnant because it would cause birth defects and other issues with her pregnancy.