Lovenox and c-section??

happyfarmwife

Are any of you on lovenox and know that you will be having a scheduled c-section? If so how early is your surgery scheduled for (as in weeks).

This is my second baby and my second scheduled c-section. I have been under the impression since day one that we would not go past 38 weeks as it would be bad for me to go into labor with the blood thinners (with my first lo surgery was scheduled at 37w3d). I also live at least an hour from the hospital so I really don't want to have to have an emergency section. Well I got a call yesterday saying that my c-section is scheduled for Jan. 6th only 8 days before my due date. Do you think I should say something to my OB?? I'm kinda worried about waiting so late. This is not the same dr. that delievered my son.

DavezWife

they typically will switch lovenox patients to heparin (another "version" of blood thinner) a week or two prior, because it leaves your system faster. Something to ask about, for sure.

virginiamorse

You should be switched to Heparin, I was always switched around 36 weeks, it doesn't last as long and is safer to be on with a spinal/epidural.  My drs would never schedule a c/s before 38 weeks 5 days (even though I went into labor with #1 at 37 weeks), they just won't do it.

Also I've gone into labor twice while on Heparin - the first time was a vaginal delivery and I was able to get the epidural 12 hours after my last shot.  The second was a c/s scheduled for 38 weeks 5 days, I went into labor at 38 weeks, a few hours after taking a shot.  I went to the hospital and they gave me 3 doses of terbutaline to slow labor (still had contractions though) and wait it out till it had been 12 hours from last shot.  If the terbutaline hadn't slowed labor and they needed to deliver sooner I'd have had to have general anestesia (sp?).

HTH

jenifairies

The new thing is to wait longer - the longer your LO bakes, the better. And most drs will switch you to heparin later in the game because it's out of your system quicker.

I was still on Lovenox when I delivered DD2. I very suddenly came down with HELLP - life threatening for me, and had to deliver ASAP. I'd had my last shot at 10pm, and delivered at 11am. The anesthesiologist and my ob said over 12 hours and we'd be fine for the spinal, and that's what I did. Had it been too short, I'd have had to be under general anesthesia.