enoxaparin and natural labour

[Worryingmum101]

Has anyone had a natural labour when on enoxaparin injections. I'm early pregnancy and have started the injections and worried about the labour. I will speak to my midwife, however was wondering if I can have natural labour as an option rather than c section ?

In very general terms being on enoxaparin isn’t necessarily a contraindication to having a vaginal delivery, but the reason for needing it may be. It can make a difference to the pain relief options available in labour/ anaesthetic options in an emergency (there needs to be a 12-24hour window since the last dose before doing an epidural or spinal injection…the exact time depends on the dose of enoxaparin). Usual advice to women planning a vaginal delivery would be to stop taking it at the very first hint of labour starting and contact maternity triage. If I were planning a vaginal delivery and we’re on a heparin id want to be somewhere that had remifentanil PCAs as a pain relief option if an epidural wasn’t possible immediately.

best people to advise you are your HCPs who will be able to help weigh up the risks vs benefits of all the different options in the context of whatever medical problem you have that means you need the medication.