[pppc]

Hi just wondering what options are out there in regard to preventing blood clots during pregnacy. We have a girl but just lost our son at 36 weeks and have found out his loss was probably due to small clots forming between me and the placenta walls reducing blood flow and then the placenta dying causing his death. Am really worried this will happen again but am told will be closely monitered next time. Need to be successful as we can't cope with the pain of losing another baby.

[protart roflcopt...]

I was on IM injections of Heparin with my first 2 pregnancies and then Fragmin with my last (easier to use, came in ready to shoot syringes, no need to draw up). These are the safe forms of anti coagulants in pregnancy (warfarin is a no no).

You really need your Ob to refer you to a haematologist for a full work up. I wouldn't have known that I had a genetic condition (thanks Mum) that makes me v susceptible to DVTs and clotting if I hadn't been tested following a family history of DVTs. I believe many people have no idea they have the condition as it is not tested for in the norm.

My legs and tummy were a mass of haematomas by 40 weeks and injecting myself was not fun, but 3 healthy babies were delivered. I think there are many members here who have had the same or similar drugs in pregnancy.

[librablonde]

OP, I have no experience with blood clots but I just wanted to say my heart breaks for your loss. During one of my IVF cycles I took low dose baby aspirin, but I don't know what OB's would say to that once you're already pregnant. I hope you have lots of people around you to support you during such a terrible time. Fly free, little angel xoxoxox

[mumto3princesses]

I'm sorry for your loss OP.

I had a huge DVT (ankle to belly button) when I was pregnant with my twins which was discovered at 9 weeks. I was on Clexane injections twice a day all the way through my pregnancy up until 1 month after they were born. (It did need to be stopped a certain amount of time before I had them and they told me there was something they could give me if I did end up going into labour early to counteract it) I was under the care of a Haematologist and my OB.

I have no known genetic condition even though there have been members in my family who have had blood clots over the years. (Haematologist was intriged but couldn't find a genetic condition) I ended up with a pulminory embolisim and blood clots in my lungs when my twins were 5yrs so I'm now on warfarin for life which of course can't be taken during pregnancy.

This post has been edited by mumto3princesses: 10/08/2012, 12:29 PM

[peebs]

I'm so sorry for the loss of your son. How heartbreaking.

My FS and physician believe clotting to be the cause of my infertility, early losses and miscarriage. I have been tested for everything in relation to clots and everything comes back clear, so they believe it to be strictly pregnancy related in my case (or 'something we're not smart enough to test for yet') and I've never been given a name for what it actually is.

To conceive my DS it ended up being fairly straightforward once we worked the clotting out. To conceive (along with non clotting related medications) I was on Aspirin daily and stayed on it until 36 weeks, and at six weeks I went on daily Clexane injections which I took until 3 days post birth.

With my miscarriage the baby was small for dates but perfect with a perfect heartbeat, until I miscarried 8 days after my final scan (about 7.5 weeks). With my DS the exact same thing started to happen, only he wasn't AS small for his dates as my miscarried baby (we believe this was because I was on Aspirin with DS). So when I started to miscarry DS my FS put me on Clexane and he immediately (within 24 hours) stopped miscarrying (bleeding and cramps stopped suddenly) and he started catching up with dates within 2 days and had caught up a week in growth two weeks later.

After 10 weeks I was referred to a physician who I saw for the rest of my pregnancy, and she and my OB monitored me with blood tests (not sure what they were testing for exactly?) and monitored my Clexane use. I was considered high risk for the birth.

I had no further complications once my Clexane was worked out (I was induced for GD and low amniotic fluid at 39 weeks but this was completely unrelated). DS was born by emergency CS and the midwives and OB inspected the placenta and said it looked good and that the Clexane had done a great job getting him to full term and born safely. However on my birth report (which I only read after leaving hospital) it said the placenta was 'gritty'. I've never followed this up because I forgot to ask at my 6 week check up. I'm not sure how normal 'gritty' is for a description of a placenta (considering in theatre they said Clexane had done it's job) but I will be asking my FS when we start TTC again.

I hope to have another baby in a few years and will be following the same routine to deal with the clots although in order to avoid the initial miscarriage attempt which is very likely to occur again I will be starting Clexane either from conception or during the TWW (which may help us conceive in the first place in my case because clots seem to prevent implantation which cause my early losses).

Good luck.

[nothing123]

I think what you might be referring to is a concealed abruption, which has to do with the placenta coming away from the wall of the uterus. When it happens in the middle of the placenta but the edges are still attached, a blood clot will form in the space where it has detached. So I don't know if blood clotting is actually the cause of the problem or just part of the scenario. You should be able to find out more by talking to your Dr. Especially whether it can be prevented in a future pregnancy.

I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. Just tragic.

[sparkle77]

I am so sorry OP. My son died due to the same thing. When I went to the local fetal medicine unit pre pregnancy clinic, I was advised that as I have come back negative for all blood clotting disorders, that it was best practice NOT to be treated with either clexane or aspirin during the next pregnancy, but that I would be monitored for baby and placenta size and blood flow through the cord next time. I still wonder if I should be on at least aspirin, and I know different Os would have a different opinion.

Please firstly get screened for all blood clotting disorders, then go from there.

Many hugs, PM me if you want to talk more.

[pppc]

I was on IM injections of Heparin with my first 2 pregnancies and then Fragmin with my last (easier to use, came in ready to shoot syringes, no need to draw up). These are the safe forms of anti coagulants in pregnancy (warfarin is a no no).

You really need your Ob to refer you to a haematologist for a full work up. I wouldn't have known that I had a genetic condition (thanks Mum) that makes me v susceptible to DVTs and clotting if I hadn't been tested following a family history of DVTs. I believe many people have no idea they have the condition as it is not tested for in the norm.

My legs and tummy were a mass of haematomas by 40 weeks and injecting myself was not fun, but 3 healthy babies were delivered. I think there are many members here who have had the same or similar drugs in pregnancy.

Thanks was on clexane injections twice a day till 32weeks then reduced. This was supposed to help prevent the clots but I guess nothings perfect. I also can thank my mum for this wonderful condition as she has factor 5 which i have heard is quite common but not known by a lot of carriers. Am just feeling a little dejected with the injections if they are not gaoing to prevent this from happening again why bother!! Sorry to rant just angry at the moment. thanks again for your reply.

[Mousky]

Please get a referral to a heamatologist, or better still, a specialist OB who also focuses on heamatology. I know a few IVF OBs do this (they don't just treat for IVF). Go on IVF companies websites and read the doctors profiles, it will give you a good idea on what they specialise in.

This post has been edited by Mousky: 10/08/2012, 06:25 PM

[pppc]

Please get a referral to a heamatologist, or better still, a specialist OB who also focuses on heamatology. I know a few IVF OBs do this (they don't just treat for IVF). Go on IVF companies websites and read the doctors profiles, it will give you a good idea on what they specialise in.

Thanks will try whatever I can for the right outcome!!!