Family history of DVT

[splendide]

I have to see a consultant because my father had an unexplained DVT. Does anybody know what the appointment would involve? And whether I can just be midwife led apart from that one appointment?

I would expect you to have a blood test to see if your blood naturally has a high clotting factor. Did your father ever have this done?

I assume he did, he was admitted to hospital and is now on warfarin. So hopefully I will just need a blood test and it might be ok. Thanks

I would think they will test your blood repeatedly during pregnancy. DVT is a rare complication in and shortly after pregnancy.

I would be really glad this is followed up and taken seriously.

They may offer you aspirin (low dose) to take daily. Worst case, a daily injection (you do yourself, its not bad at all!).

Its a wonder of modern science... Slashes risks to you and your baby, but a simple tablet you can get in any chemist!

It's great it's all so thorough and I am grateful. It was just disappointing because everything else was nice and low risk!

I had a DVT last year out of nowhere which led to a pulmonary embolism and the NHS really did look after me. Hope you father is also doing ok, OP.

I'm sure you are a low risk, and I hope you get the midwife-led care you want.

Yeah he's fine now thank you although I think will be on warfarin for the rest of his life. It was very odd, he just woke up with a hugely swollen leg then dithered about it for about 3 hours before waking my mum (who is a nurse) who drove him to A&E at once. She was so cross!

Yes, well, I was dithering about on the Drunk Thread on MN when mine was happening .... Luckily I was also told to get to A&E!

Best of luck with your pregnancy.

Changed back to a more recognisable username.

Spendide, being on Warfarin for life is not so bad. The alternative (DVT and PE) is not really one to contemplate.

I too had a PE after undiscovered DVT when my baby was 6 days old, and was on Warfarin for 6 months. Even breastfed.
They might want to you to take Heparin. I gave myself injections for 2 months before Warfarin was deemed safe for bf, and would have happily done it all the way through pregnancy to avoid what came after.

Despite this you can probably have ml care. It is just something to keep an eye on. Should not spoil your pregnancy one little bit!

I have a family history too. When I had a dvt myself, we found out that we have factor v leiden in the family (a blood protein that makes it clot).

I've been under a consultant for 15 years for it, and now I'm pregnant I'm injecting heparin daily.

The Heparin (Clexane) injections are a doddle once you've done it a couple of times. Even my teenagers had a go at jabbing me!

Oh yes, the drunk thread

It is very rare, OP. In all the time I went for blood tests at the hospital (constantly when on Warfarin) I never ever saw anyone else there who was remotely of childbearing age. And apart from Liney I don't know anyone with a DVT/PE and I know loads of mums (have 3 dc, eldest is 15).

So keep it in mind but don't panic.

I also have a family history. My mum is on her 2nd round of warfarin following a second post-operative blood clot. I'm on low dose aspirin anyway as it was a standard thing at my fertility clinic.

I imagine they'll test you for a blood clotting disorder. If it's negative, they may put you on baby aspirin (very low dose) which you would take daily throughout pregnancy, and then possible heparin injections post-partum. The consultant will be able to assess the risks - the above route is what I go through, as DM has thrombophilia (factor v leiden, as someone upthread also mentioned). I'm negative for the disorder but DM has had 2 DVTs, one after giving birth, so according to my consultant having that history is what makes them consider treatment more than her having the disorder or the fact that I'm negative. You may have slightly less treatment if they consider your father's DVT to not carry as much risk (eg if he has no disorder, no other history in the family) but I'd be surprised if you'd have to go through more than that, unless you test positive for a disorder.

Most hospitals, if not all, are very up to speed on these things and do a lot to combat the risks so you'll be fine I had a few extra consultant appointments but they lasted no more than 5-10mins, just checking how I was feeling and checking my legs. I had one postpartum after my supply of injections was finished, to discharge me. The syringes were pre-filled, just jab and go, and I was given a small sharps box which was collected from the house once I was done. It was about the size of a Saxa salt tub so not big at all.

PS I was still MW-led and gave birth in a birthing centre, the consultant left instructions in my notes to collect the supply of syringes and to show me how to do it, so before I was discharged from the centre the MWs did the first injection so I knew how to do it. The general appointments were still MW-led, I just had extra ones for the haemotologist.

Fwiw I also see an endocrinologist, and have a first appointment with the obstetrician too, so technically during pg I see 3 consultants, 2 on a regular basis. I'm still considered low risk however! It's more procedural and avoiding risk, a consultant doesn't necessarily make you high risk

Thank you so much for all the info - that's really reassuring.