Lovenox / Heparin - induction?

Mrs.Butter · April 2010

I'm currently on Lovenox, will be switching to Heparin at 36 weeks. Are any of you other ladies on blood thinners getting a scheduled induction?

My doctor has not yet mentioned an induction, but in my research it seems to be pretty standard procedure for ladies on Heparin. Apparently my doctor has an "antidote" to Heparin, which they can administer prior to the epidural. At first I thought that was great - but now I'm having second thoughts - I'd rather have a specific date in mind that I know to STOP the Heparin before they start pumping me full of whatever other drugs. Basically, I want fewer drugs in my system as opposed to more, if I can help it.

I'm going to bring it up with my doc at my appt on Thursday, but I'm wondering what others have been told?? Thanks...

MAtoNC · April 2010

I was induced at 39 weeks per my MFM direction. I also switched to Heparin at 36 weeks.

My doc told me that they only use the antidote in emergency situations (whatever that means). It comes with its own risks, I guess.

Heparin has a pretty short half-life, so if you go into labor naturally, chances are that the timing will be such that you will still be able to get an epidural.

Bottom line about inductions is that if you are induced when your body still isn't ready (no progress in cervical thinning or dilation), you will likely end up with a c-section because induction doesn't work very well in this case.

delphinus12 · April 2010

I was on Heparin when I was full-term. They were not planning to induce me. The only thing they told me was to make sure we told the hospital staff when we checked in that I was on Heparin. They said that the half-life was so short that they shouldn't need to do anything special unless my labor went very quickly which was unlikely.

In the end I ended up being induced for Preeclampsia anyway and the Heparin didn't really factor in at all. Unfortunately I have to keep injecting until 6 weeks PP.

MrsMSG · April 2010

Since we have an IUGR baby, and are having u/s every three days, I'm staying on the Lovenox. We will set my c-sec date 48 hours from my last Lovenox shot after my MFM makes the call that it's time for her to come out, and we'll go from there.

Gummybear · April 2010

I was induced at 38w4d. I would have been induced by my due date anyway since my MFM doesn't like MTHFRs to go past due, but low fluid was detected at my monthly u/s. My body wasn't ready really, and I ended up with a c/s. No complication at all though. I may have had a c/s anyway, as my labor was just like my mother's, who also had a c/s.

str8ota · April 2010

I'm currently on lovenox and will switch to heparin towards the end. My ob and mfm both have told me I will be induced and that with heparin it doesn't stay in your system as long as lovenox does which means they can control the situation better. The plan is around 35 weeks for me to have a stress test 3 times a week to determine when to induce.

aglenn · April 2010

I was on heparin and was not induced. I really wanted to go into labor on my own and my doctor said it was no big deal because the heparin would clear my system fast enough anyway (12 hours), as others have said. I was in labor for a million years, so in my case there was plenty of time (I will spare you the gory details, but that 12-hour limit was no problem for me to far exceed).

Bottom line, I wouldn't ask for an induction just because of wanting to get an epidural. Even if you went into labor immediately after taking an injection, chances are slim that the baby will be here less than 12 hours later. If you are lucky enough to progress that quickly, you may not need the epidural anyway!

Mrs.Butter · April 2010

Thanks for the info, everyone! It's reassuring for me to hear what others have gone through in similar situations.

trish62505 · April 2010

I have been wondering this same thing. My Dr. hasn't said anything yet, I'll ask next wk at my appt. My concern is that my labor with my son was bearly 6 hr from the first contraction to when he was born. I know it's not necessarily true for each labor to progress quicker but it makes me nervous with the second one and timing of the heparin! (FYI: I didn't know of my clotting condition until this pregnancy so I wasn't on any sort of blood thinners for my son)

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