Getting pregnant after having pulmonary embolisms

livingmiracle · May 2012

Hi, I am new here but I am hoping someone can help me out. In April I had multiple PE's. There are many theories as to what caused them, but at this point, we do not have any answers. (I had just had a cardiac ablation to correct SVT, I was taking birth control pills and I have a family history of clotting disorders) I am seeing a hematologist next week to start genetic testing, but in the mean time was sent to see my gynecologist to talk about family planning options while I am on the blood thinners. I was expecting to hear about the options that were safe for me, what I got instead was the recommendation to have a tubal to prevent any pregnancies because I would be considered "ultra-high risk" and the risk would out weigh the benefits of having a baby. I was completely shocked and did not expect to hear that at all. Has anyone been in that situation before?

I have an appointment with a hematologist already scheduled for next week and I plan on getting a second opinion with a different gynecologist but I was just wondering if anyone else has been in my shoes and has any words of advice or thoughts that can help me through this?

Thanks!

SpruceGrouse · May 2012

I have not had PE but I have had 2 major strokes. They were also not able to determine the exact cause but their best guess is a flap/hole between my atria. I was put on blood thinners for the rest of my life.

I am pregnant now and considered very high risk also. I had a lot of appointments with specialists before getting pregnant to make sure it is something I can go through.

Before we started TTC I was switched from warfarin to Lovenox 2 times a day. I will stay on this until I am in labor which is when I will stop taking the injections. The doctors don't want to induce at all because they want labor to go as natural and fast as possible because they think that will be safest. This means I can't have an epi but I'm ok with that, if I can survive strokes I can survive childbirth pain. Their main worry is the risk of bleeding during delivery, clot risks are reduced from my Lovenox.

I wish you the best, it is possible, everything has been going really well, baby is very active and healthy. Your doctors will discuss your situation with you, my guess is they will want you on safe blood thinners before you even get pregnant.

Good luck.

itsmevkb · May 2012

Can you go see a maternal fetal medicine specialist instead of just a regular ob? They would probably be more familiar with your situation.

Obviously, some of the suggestions will be based on what exact clotting disorder/s you have as some are more serious than others.

After the birth of my daughter I developed a blood clot in my leg that thankfully never made it to my lungs. The cause is assumed to be the elevated hormones (specially estrogen) produced during pregnancy so obviously getting pregnant again puts me at risk of developing more clots. After my clot was found I was put on Coumadin (warfarin) and was told that it was not generally safe to get pregnant while taking that. When I began ttc again, I switched to Lovenox which I inject twice a day. I used Lovenox throughout my last pregnancy and had a successful outcome, mearning, I had a healthy baby and I didn't develop any clots. I am doing the same with this pregnancy. I also take a daily baby aspirin, while pregnant or not.

Getting pregnant will definitely put you at a higher risk for developing more clots but hopefully you'll find a hematologist or other doctor who will give you options and let you weigh the risks and make a decision that right for you and your family.

MAtoNC · May 2012

See a maternal fetal medicine specialist before taking such a drastic step as a tubal. My mfm specializes in thrombophilias. Maybe you could get a referral from your hematologist when you meet with him or her. Good luck!

lulamagoo · May 2012

I agree with PP, I would get a referral for a perinatologist.

I had 2 PE's and am pregnant. Mine were the result of an autoimmune disease effecting my kidneys, but they do not know what caused the autoimmune disease.

I am on Lovenox and am considered high risk. It took a long time (2 years, so really not thaaat long) for my doctors to give us the green light to get pregnant. I would definitely keep that in mind, they may suggest you wait until they can determine or at least rule out a few things.

Best of luck to you!

ETA: There is a copper IUD that does not secrete hormones and should be safe for you to use while abstaining from Pregnancy.

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