Thrombosis in pregnancy

Thrombosis in pregnancy arises when a blood clot forms that blocks a vein or artery, preventing blood from passing through that location.

Although thrombosis can occur in anyone, this complication is more common during the gestation period, since the clotting ability and blood circulation are altered by the hormonal changes that happen and by the compression of the uterus on the blood vessels.

Most common types of thrombosis

A pregnant woman has a 5 to 20 times greater risk of developing thrombosis than someone else, the most common types of which include:

Deep vein thrombosis: it is the most common type of thrombosis, and it affects the legs more frequently, although it can appear in any region of the body; Hemorrhoidal thrombosis: it can appear in hemorrhoids caused by the baby's weight or during delivery; Placental thrombosis: caused by a clot in the placental veins, which can cause abortion in the most severe cases. Learn more about this situation in placental thrombosis. Umbilical cord thrombosis: Although rare, this type of thrombosis occurs in the umbilical cord vessels, preventing blood flow to the baby. Know when it can occur and how to treat umbilical cord thrombosis; Cerebral thrombosis in pregnancy: caused by a clot in the brain, a very serious situation and causes stroke symptoms.

Thrombosis in pregnancy, although rare, is more frequent in pregnant women over the age of 35, who have had a thrombosis episode in a previous pregnancy, are pregnant with twins or are overweight. This condition is dangerous, and when identified, it must be treated by the obstetrician with injections of anticoagulants, such as heparin, during pregnancy and 6 weeks after delivery.

What are the symptoms

Symptoms of thrombosis in pregnancy arise especially in the legs and include:

Pain in the leg, which worsens when walking or bending the foot upwards; Redness and swelling of the leg; Hot skin; Enlarged local veins.

During pregnancy, these symptoms do not always confirm thrombosis, as they may occur due to a greater tendency to retain fluids in the legs, therefore, the pregnant woman should consult the obstetrician to have an ultrasound and to diagnose thrombosis.

In the presence of any of these symptoms, the pregnant woman should immediately call 192 or go to the emergency room, since thrombosis is a serious disease, which can cause pulmonary embolism in the mother when the clot travels to the lungs, generating symptoms such as shortness of breath, bloody cough or chest pain.

When thrombosis occurs in the placenta or in the umbilical cord, there are usually no symptoms, but the decrease in the baby's movements may indicate that something is wrong with the blood circulation, and it is also important to seek medical attention in this situation.

How to confirm the diagnosis

After the physician's clinical evaluation, confirmation of the diagnosis of thrombosis is made by ultrasound examination with doppler, which can identify blood flow and the presence of clots.

How the treatment is done

Thrombosis in pregnancy is curable, and treatment should be indicated by the obstetrician and usually includes the use of heparin injections, which help to dissolve the clot, decreasing the risk of new clots.

In most cases, treatment for thrombosis in pregnancy should be continued until the end of pregnancy and 6 weeks after delivery, because during the baby's birth, whether by normal or cesarean delivery, women's abdominal and pelvic veins suffer injuries which can increase the risk of clots.

How to prevent thrombosis in pregnancy

Some precautions to prevent thrombosis in pregnancy are:

Use compression stockings from the beginning of pregnancy to facilitate blood circulation; Do regular light physical exercise, such as walking or swimming, to improve blood circulation; Avoid lying more than 8 hours lying down or more than 1 hour sitting; Do not cross the legs, as it hinders blood circulation in the legs; having a healthy diet, low in fat and rich in fiber and water; avoid smoking or living with people who smoke, because cigarette smoke can increase the risk of thrombosis.

These precautions should be done, mainly, by the pregnant woman who had thrombosis in the previous pregnancy. In addition, the pregnant woman must inform the obstetrician who has already had a thrombosis, to start treatment with heparin injections, if necessary, in order to prevent the appearance of a new thrombosis.