Pregnant women are at higher risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) due to hormonal changes, reduced blood flow, and immobility. Symptoms include pain, swelling, and warmth in the affected area. Compression stockings and frequent movement can help prevent DVT, and heparin is the preferred treatment for pregnant women.
When a blood clot forms in a vein deep inside the body, especially those in the legs, it can result in a condition known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Anyone can develop this condition, but pregnant women are at higher risk simply because of the pregnancy itself. Other risk factors for deep vein thrombosis during pregnancy include a history of DVT or problems with clotting and immobility.
When a woman is pregnant, her blood flow slows down dramatically. This is partly due to hormonal changes associated with pregnancy, which can cause blood to thicken and clot more quickly than normal. As pregnancy progresses, the growing fetus also puts pressure on the large veins in the pelvis and upper legs, further reducing blood flow. The risk of deep vein thrombosis during pregnancy doesn’t end until about six weeks after delivery, when a woman’s hormone levels and blood flow return to normal.
Anyone who has previously developed deep vein thrombosis during pregnancy is more at risk of another DVT occurrence. Even if the patient has no family or personal history of bleeding disorders, she can develop blood clots during pregnancy. If a woman’s history includes bleeding disorders, she is more susceptible to DVT, even if she has not developed the condition in previous pregnancies.
Immobility can also lead to deep vein thrombosis during pregnancy. Women with difficult pregnancies are often told by their doctors to limit their physical activity to some extent. The most limiting restriction, often known as “bed rest,” confines the patient to bed for a period of time that varies according to the woman’s specific complications. Bed rest greatly increases the chance of DVT, as lack of movement can cause blood to pool in the legs. A woman with a healthy, low-risk pregnancy may also develop DVT from shorter periods of immobility, such as those experienced while travelling.
Symptoms of deep vein thrombosis include pain and swelling at and below the site of the clot. Deep vein thrombosis during pregnancy can cause the vein to swell so much that a doctor can feel it through the skin. The leg may also become red and warm to the touch in the area surrounding the clot.
Compression stockings, tight-fitting stockings that reduce the risk of blood clots forming, may be helpful in preventing deep vein thrombosis in patients on bed rest. Even women who have had a previous deep vein thrombosis during pregnancy can wear compression stockings as a preventative measure. Pregnant women should take frequent breaks to stand, stretch, and walk when traveling or during any other period of prolonged immobility. This light activity keeps blood flowing and reduces the risk of DVT.
Warfarin, a blood thinner, is the preferred method of treating deep vein thrombosis. However, this drug cannot be given to pregnant women, as it may cause excessive bleeding for the woman and the fetus or affect the development of the fetus. Instead, heparin, a drug that keeps the blood clot from getting bigger and allows the body to dissolve it, is the typical method of treatment for pregnant women with DVT.
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