Anyone pregnant after history of DVT / blood clots?

[Avocuddles]

Hi,

I'm roughly 5wks pregnant (not certain because of irregular cycle) with my first pregnancy. Roughly ten years ago I had a serious DVT in my upper leg / groin region. I'm not on any medication now though took warfarin for a year at the time. I'm a bit scared now as know that pregnancy increases your risk of clotting. Does anyone have experience of pregnancy after DVT / know if it will mean any different medical treatment throughout the pregnancy and birth?

When you have your booking appointment the midwife will do a risk assessment on you to check for likelihood of DVT. If you score 4 or above you will be referred to a consultant at hospital and they will assess you. I was going to have to administer warfarin for all of my pregnancy but the hospital stopped my score from a 4 to a 3! I hope that helps in some way xx

Hi I had a serious DVT in my arm in my brachial vein. It was directly from a cannula
Being left in too long after a bad miscarriage and hospital stay rather than a blood
Disorder.
This was 8 years ago and at the time I had to inject clexane everyday for 6 months, I still have to take if I go on a flight over 4 hours as a precaution.
Even though it was so long ago and cause by trauma my consultant had me on clexane from 26 weeks till 6 weeks postnatally with my 1 year old.
I’m nearly 17 weeks and am
Sure it will be same this time round as they want to cover themselves.

Thanks @Masha31 and @kelly14 , it's comforting to know there are others out there who've been in the same boat. I've got an appointment with my GP tomorrow and should get my midwife booking appointment sorted whilst I'm there. I'm excited but constantly nervous too, hoping I can get through the first trimester and then relax a bit!

Warfarin is dangerous in pregnancy.
You will be referred to a haematologist, risk assessed and most likely have clexane or similar injections during your pregnancy and 6 weeks after delivery. You will be taught how to self inject. It is straight forward. Don't worry.
Congratulations.

I had a pulmonary embolism previously, so had to have daily clexane injections from about 16 weeks until 6 weeks after birth.

It was fine, I did them in my thighs and it stung a little for a few seconds.

My apologies, I meant clexane, not warfarin xx

I have a clotting disorder, no history of clots / dvts, but I will probably be given something to prevent them. In your case I imagine you definitely will see a consultant - it’s probably a good idea to be tested for a disorder if you haven’t already been. That could change your treatment drastically.

Thanks everyone. Spoke to my GP this morning, my initial midwife appointment isn't until May 30th but the doctor has already contacted the hospital to flag that I be seen by the haematology department so hopefully will get an appointment through soon.

Hey, I had a stroke last year (no cause found) so I've been on aspirin ever since. Had my booking in yesterday (8+5) and got appointment with consultants on Monday to move me to heparin injections (I'm presuming clexane is a brand?) which I'll have to self administer til at least 6 weeks post partum xx

I developed a DVT this pregnancy in left calf, no previous history. I am on clexane now for the duration.

Sounds like it will be clexane for me too then!
How have you all found the injections? I'm a bit squeamish when it comes to needles

It's honestly fine. Clexane stings a little but the injection itself is quick to learn.

Hi all received my appointment through for the antenatal haematology unit and it's in three days time! My midwife booking appointment isn't for another fortnight so impressed how quickly it came through, though also a little nervous that that suggests a high level of risk....

I had my consultant appt yesterday and started on innohep today. It stings! Hoping I'll get used to it, as I have about 9 more months on it

@Nervousdave I'm guessing I'll have the same? I haven't actually been on warfarin for 9 years, but as the only risk factor at the time was the combined pill then that sends me into the high risk category with all the potential pregnancy hormones on their way. How far along are you? I think I'm 6 weeks but won't know for sure until dating scan. Do you have to have any other special treatment besides the daily injections?

Happy to find a thread on dvts and clots. I recently suffered with clots in the superficial veins in my leg. I also suffer with severe varicose veins and they think this could be a factor. I was treated for a dvt as the clots were close to the junction into my deep veins. I had 30 days of clexane which I then became allergic to and ended up on rivaroxaban for 56 days. I had to stop breast feeding. The only thing I would say is don’t rub the area after injecting as this hurts more and try and get a good squishy bit of flesh lol. It can bruise quite a bit.

Sorry you've had such a bad time recently @StyleOfTheTimes. It's all quite scary but glad you're ok. I agree it's a big relief to find other people with similar experiences! Being pregnant is scary enough even before the clotting issue, though I'm sure with the close attention I'll be getting from the hospital everything will be ok from a haematology perspective. I should have no problem finding squishy bits to inject - plus side of my current biscuit habit!

@avocuddles I also got measured for what I imagine will be the sexiest pair of maternity tights ever, which they would like me to wear every day....
I'm 9+4 today, because of my history and high VTE score (6) with my varicose veins in one leg and (stupid meaningless) BMI of 30.5, will be under consultant obstetrician. He needs to check with neurology consultant and anaesthetists that labour etc wont be too dangerous, but I really dont want a c section so fingers crossed!
I'm glad there seems to be a few of us in this awful blood clot club, its reassuring already to hear that other people are going through similar x

@Nervousdave I wore the sexy made to measure stockings for a year after my DVT, in fact I think I still have them in a drawer somewhere, grim but if they do the job hen they'll be worth it! I'll let you know what happens at my appointment on Friday. I'm a bit nervous especially as it's such early days but fingers are crossed!

@avocuddles good luck! You'll be fine I'm sure. It will probably just be paperwork and maybe a blood test x

@Nervousdave so I had my neonatal haematology appointment this morning. As I suspected / feared I'm now in daily heparin injections. I really struggle with needles so think my husband might have to do the honours initially but hopefully I'll learn in time. A midwife did my first one today which made me wince then I burst into tears at the thought of almost a year of this to 'look forward to!'. Next appointment with the consultant is in four weeks time, think I'll be in at least every four weeks for the duration of pregnancy which isn't great on one hand but on the other means that I'll be very closely monitored! My DVT risk without treatment would apparently be greater than one in ten

@avocuddles we're twins then 😊 I'm doing my own but I burst into tears after my first when it stung and I knew I had to carry on for at least 9 months. It seems to hurt less as the days go. I find putting the needle in quickly but doing the injecting really slowly helps xxx