Blood Clot Prevention During Pregnancy

• Pregnancy is a blessing but can come with a price. A woman’s body changes both physically and hormonally. One change to be especially aware of is the risk of blood clots during pregnancy. While many of the risks are minor, some blood clot formations can break loose and travel to the lungs
• If the vein or artery clot is severe enough, your doctor will prescribe a blood thinner to help improve circulation. The blood naturally thickens when pregnant so a blood thinner will help with blood clot prevention
• Some risk factors include: obesity, lack of exercise, a poor diet and heredity. Let your doctor know if you have a family history of blood clots

Being pregnant is one of life’s greatest joys. However, it does come at a price. A woman’s body goes through extreme changes both hormonally and physically. These changes are usually minor and they are dealt with as a normal course of nature. There are some times however when these changes can be more than a nuisance. There can be serious complications to the Mother’s health during pregnancy which should be monitored and treated promptly. One important change to be aware of is that pregnancy causes blood clots. Most of these cases are minor; however there are some that need attention. Some blood clots threaten to break loose and travel to the lungs in what is called pulmonary thrombosis. This can be a life threatening condition and should be treated as an emergency. In order to stay healthy the mother should be aware of the signs of blood clots and takes steps for blood clot prevention.

Some of the signs for blood clots include general paleness in the legs. When blood is not flowing normally there is less blood going through the vessels in the legs, therefore there is not much visible color. Other signs of blood clots include the leg being cool to the touch, painful and swelling areas of the legs, or red streaking visible. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms you should contact your doctor immediately so he can evaluate your situation.

If the blood clots formation is severe or needs attention your health care professional will probably prescribe a medicine called a blood thinner. Because the blood thickens during pregnancy, these medications will help in preventing blood clots. They also work to dissolve blood clots. It is imperative to dissolve blood clots before they break away from the walls of the veins and cause problems in other parts of the body. If the blood clots formation is moderate it might be enough just to add more blood thinning foods to your diet.

Some of the risk factors for developing blood clots during pregnancy are obesity, lack of exercise, and poor diet. It is essential not only for preventing blood clots but also for the overall health of the mother and the child. Daily walks and a balanced nutritional diet will go a long way for preventing blood clots. In some cases however, blood clots seem to be hereditary. In these cases it is important to let your doctor know about your family history so he can take steps to prevent blood clots and to use medication to dissolve blood clots as they appear.

Serious blood clots during pregnancy are rare but serious. If you or your doctor suspects blood clots he or she will have you get an ultrasound to determine if you have blood clots and if you do determine how severe these blood clots are.

One of the medicines used to dissolve blood clots is heparin. Heparin is safe for the mother and for the baby so it is the most common medication for pregnant women. There are other medications that have been shown to harm the fetus. Your doctor knows what these medications are and will not prescribe them to you.

Avoiding blood clots during pregnancy is important.

The information supplied in this article is not to be considered as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.