Factor V folk?

ProjectedProgenitor

My hubby and I are trying to conceive - and, as I indicated in a previous post, we met recently with a genetic counselor and high-risk specialist here in Greater Boston to talk through reducing maternal/fetal health risks that go hand-in-hand with MODY Type II (a genetic predisposition to high blood glucose) and, yes, Factor V Leiden: a blood clotting disorder regularly linked to deep vein thrombosis in moms and miscarriage in would-be kiddos.We've been advised that, in pregnancy, I'll be required to administer daily injections of the anticoagulant, Lovenox. Fun, fun. Looking to hear from (would-be) Factor V folks. How'd your pregnancies shape up? What do I have to look forward to here? Advice? Suggestions?

ginleigh

Hi - I have Factor V Leiden and MTHFR mutation which is also a blood clotting disorder.  I inject Lovenox twice a day, and take a higher dose than many because of the issues surrounding my previous loss.  So far, so good - I am 28 weeks pregnant, which is 4 weeks longer than before.

The shots are not fun, but also not so bad - you get used to them.  I get blood work once a month (more at the beginning) to make sure my levels are where they should be and that all is well and growth ultrasounds every 4 weeks at this point.  I start NST's at 32 weeks, twice a week.  Always happy to answer questions, and best of luck. 

zeptattoo

I did the Lovenox then Heprin shots until my c-section.  Everything went fine and LO is doing very well.  I have returned to my normal baby asprin routine since 6 weeks pp.  We will test LO when he becomes a teen b/c its not necessary before that.

The shots did suck but they are well worth it.

alizabethy

I am Facvor V Leiden (heterozygous). I was diagnosed about 10 years ago after being on birth control pills and developing a DVT and PE. That was very rough, but I was thankful to have learned about my clotting disorder before TTC (even if I learned about it in a hard way)!

I now have a healthy 19-month son.

Before we TTC, we met with the high risk Maternal Fetal medicine group in town here. While TTC, I took an aspirin a day. Once I got my BFP and during my pregnancy, I took once daily shots of Lovenox, until the last month or so when they switched me to Heparin twice daily. After delivery, I went back to Lovenox and stayed on it for 6 weeks.

I had several complications, but don't think they are related to the Factor V. I developed pre-eclampsia and was on hospital bedrest for 2 months. I had gestational diabetes that had to be controlled by insulin. I'm also classified as advanced maternal age (36). But as for the clotting, I had no problems!

My main advice would be to make sure you see a high-risk group from the beginning. A lot of docs say they handle high-risk cases, but the Maternal Fetal medicine doctors see this stuff all day, every day. Even with all my issues, they were not thrown off at all. And the philosophy on treating complicated pregnancies changes on a daily basis, so a high-risk group is going to be more in tune with the latest medical findings.

Best of luck, and let me know if you ever have any more questions!!?

ProjectedProgenitor

Thanks all! I do appreciate the insights!

Wishing/hoping/waiting for that BFP makes all this other not-so-wonderful stuff seem just a little more doable.