What do they do for a blood clot?

coachiek

Just wondering...at my appt today, my Dr didn't like my right foot being twins with the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man and said it was past the 'safe' threshold...so I have a doppler for it this afternoon to rule out a blood clot.  What if it is one though, I didn't even ask him what the treatment would be!  Anyone experienced this?

manda_mullins

Meds and/or surgery

peachypear

Blood thinners, I believe.

2bejunebride06

I had the same problem around 37 weeks.  My left foot was double the size of my right foot and my doctor sent me to the hospital to have a doppler done immediately.  While they didn't tell me at the time, I was later told that as long as I was full term they would just deliver the baby because the meds they would ordinarily give you can't/shouldn't be taken during pregnancy.  I don't know what they do if you aren't full term though.  Luckily it wasn't a clot.  Good luck at your doppler.

med2663

Sorry I'm late to the party.  I've had a pulmonary embolism, so I thought I'd weigh in.

First, it is very common to have benign swelling during pregnancy on the right only.  It's because your vena cava runs down that side.   Things get squished, and your circulation is affected, more so on the right.  You are, more than likely, fine.

Anyway, if you do have a clot, they will determine it's location and size.  They would probably do one of three things:  1) put you on anticoagulants (that are safe for both you and baby) and have you on bedrest (at home or perhaps in the hospital) to keep from dislodging the clot, 2) deliver the baby (since you are far along) and give you a clot-busting drug (not so safe for baby), or 3) deliver the baby and perform surgery to remove the clot (only if it were huge and in a bad location).

I am not a doctor, but these are all certainly likely outcomes.  I was on option 1, and it worked out fine for me; however, I was also not pregnant. Now that I am pregnant, I take two shots a day of anticoags to prevent clots...perfectly fine for baby.

From what I understand, they really don't give out the clot-busting drugs very often and they rarely perform surgery.  Option 1 is the most often used treatment.  Unfortunately, it works to prevent further clotting while your body takes care of the current clot--it doesn't directly work on a clot you already have.