TTC after DVT/PE - anyone else?

[JBrd]

I had a pulmonary embolism in January (which is normally caused by DVT) and was on anticoagulants for only 3 months after that - since it was pretty obvious that it was the pill that caused it, my consultant thought it'll be safe to limit the course of warfarin/heparin, while making sure I use alternative methods for contraception.
My recovery has been going very well, I feel fit and healthy again and don't seem to have any after-effects of the PE.
While on holiday, I forgot to take the mini-pill (again) within the necessary 3-hour slot, and, being fed up with it, boldy suggested to DH to stop taking it altogether and go for baby no. 2 - and he said yes!
I am delighted, but at the same time, scared - I know that I will have to be under consultant care, should I get pregnant again, I will have to take heparin during pregnancy because of the increased risk of DVT and who knows what it all means for the birth (had an emcs with complications last time). I'm 40, and although healthy, far from my ideal weight (really struggling to lose the babyweight after DS)...

Anyone else who's facing similar problems or has done so in the past?

I haven't had DVT but have Factor V Leiden which means I am thrombophillic and tend to clots. It may have caused my miscarriage.

When I am pregnant I have to inject Clexane daily and visit the haemotology clinic regularly as well as being under gynae consultant care. With both my children I had a planned c-section at 39 weeks and stopped taking the Clexane 24hrs beforehand. It was really straight-forward.

Oh and both pgs were IVF so I had to start taking the Clexane before I was pg but had started the hormones. I had DD at 41 and DS at 42.

It's absolutely doable. Good luck!

I had a DVT after the birth of DC1 (most likely due to c-section). I went on to have 3 VBACs. I was on daily Clexane injections from about half way through each pregnancy. My consultant just told me to stop taking the Clexane if I went into labour. With my last birth I didn't even manage that as labour happened so quickly - Clexane at about 7.30am, DD arrived about 11.00am. Didn't cause any problems. I was reassured that they would happily perform surgery on the prophylactic dose I was on.

I think there was an issue about having an epidural within twelve hours of last injection but as I wasn't planning to have an epidural, I wasn't worried about that.

Definitely possible to have relatively normal pregnancies. Good luck!

Hi ladies, I'm so glad this thread is here :)
I was first diagnosed with bilateral PE in Dec 09 when I was just 23 and as they weren't sure of the cause I was taken off the combined pill and put on the mini pill instead. I was on a course of warfarin for 6 months (no drinking on my wedding day for me?!) then in the following October I was diagnosed with another PE! Which meant another 6 months of warfarin.

Since then everything has been ok (touch wood) and me and DH started TTC in April last year. What I found out after is that the mini pill I had been put on (cerazette) is well known for causing problems with periods and we are no in the process of being referred to our local fertility clinic :(

But after everything that's gone on I always worry about pregnancy. I have been told I will have to have clexane injections and regular check ups but I'm so scared that something will go wrong in pregnancy or the birth :(
But I'm so glad that people in similar situations to me have had good pregnancies it gives me hope.

Any tips for a first timer?

Thanks for your replies, ladies, it's so good to hear from others who are/have been in a similar position! And that there are women that have had successful pregnancies.
Incidentally, I have just been given a clean bill of health from my respiratory consultant today! All looking good, x-ray is clear (apart from a bit of scarring on my lungs, which might never go away, but doesn't bother me), the consultant was very happy with everything.

Priscilla - this must be all so worrying, I didn't know that the mini pill can mess up fertility . Good luck with the fertility clinic, when will you go there, do you know yet?

I am now trying to focus on one step at a time - get pregnant first (took us 8 months for DS), and then will try to take it as it comes (easier said than done, I know!). I've had excellent health care from midwives and hospital last time, so I'm not too worried about that side of things. My last pregnancy was very straightforward, so fingers crossed! And to be honest, I am almost glad that I will get a chance to discuss birth options with a consultant, that will put my mind at ease!
You ladies have reassured me that it can be done post-PE/DVT/warfarin/clexane!