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Deep vein thrombosis in pregnancy

by Dr Howard Lee

question
I suffered with a deep vein thrombosis in my last pregnancy and they decided to induce me a month early. My labour was fine, but my daughter had difficulties breathing and spent a week in special care.

I am now pregnant again and was told before that, if I got pregnant again I would be treated as though I had a DVT from week 12. Does this mean that I will have to have heparin injections every day, and does it mean that I will have to be induced a month early again?

If I do have to be induced, can I have steroids to help the baby’s lungs be more mature, so that I don’t have to have the anguish of special care again?

answer

I was also sorry to read of your problems with your first pregnancy. How disturbing for you, at what should have been a totally happy time. Congratulations now.You will certainly be very carefully monitored, I am sure: the sort of treatment you will be offered will depend on your Health Authority Area, and also on any individual Consultants. You certainly may be given some medication, but this may not be Heparin, until near the end of your pregnancy.

You may, as you mention, be induced before your due date. The paediatric team will also be certainly involved at the time of the birth, if not before, in view of the past problems.Steroids may not always be the treatment used, before your baby’s birth. Other agents are available. I hope that all goes well.

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