Community› The Bump Message Boards› High-Risk Pregnancy
High-Risk Pregnancy
New Discussion

Heparin and Epidurals

PrincessBritt17PrincessBritt17 member
in High-Risk Pregnancy
I am hoping some of you ladies have some insight on this...I am currently on Lovenox and have been told by one doctor that I will switch to Heparin at 36 weeks while the other wants to keep me on Lovenox.  I will be headed for a scheduled repeat c-section after having an emergency c-section under general anesthesia with my first pregnancy.  My issue is that I have read a lot of studies regarding epidural hematomas and paralysis with epidurals done after Lovenox/Heparin.  I know there is a waiting period and that I will stop either one within the allocated time frame, but I am actually thinking I would prefer general anesthesia versus risking the epidural.  Has anyone asked this question of their doctor?  
Report Reply to Post

Re: Heparin and Epidurals

  • YlvelillYlvelill member
    I have not asked yet, but will when I get closer to my due date. I do not want the general anesthesia because I want to be awake for the birth, but I am interested in hearing what you decide and what the doctors say :)
    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • alohamelalohamel member
    @princessbritt17 - I am in a similar boat as you. Can I ask why you had an emergency C-section with your first baby? My doctors are keeping me on Lovenox and said I can not have an epidural for that reason. If I need a c section I will go under general anesthesia. I am terrified of going under general anesthesia -- I havent ever had a surgery before! Is it terrible? What is it like? 
    Report Reply
  • YlvelillYlvelill member
    It isn't bad at all. I have been under 4 times last year :) you just go to sleep and then later wake up with a sore throat from the intubation. It normally takes a few hours to snap out of it.
    Report Reply
  • PrincessBritt17PrincessBritt17 member
    @alohamel - With my daughter I developed severe pre-e at 30w6d and went into labor.  They decided the pre-e was severe enough that they were not going to stop my labor and, after a lovely 17 hours, I had a full placental abruption and ended up needing an emergency c-section.  Right before I abrupted they placed an epidural, but it never took effect so they had to put my under general.  I had been under general once before and was nervous then, but the c-section all happened so fast I didn't have time to be scared.  Granted you are a bit groggy for awhile after, but if I can avoid possible paralysis I am apt to go that route again.  I guess at this point I am more afraid of the epidural than I am of the general! 
    Report Reply
  • ERDRmama1ERDRmama1 member
    I had an epidural with my first baby and was on Lovenox.  They scheduled me for an induction and stopped the Lovenox 2 days prior.  It shouldn't be a problem unless it becomes an emergency section due to the half life of the drug.  Also, some doctors talk about placental blood supply deterioration after 36-38 weeks, prompting them to switch you to heparin.  What they do with your meds depends on the reason you are on Lovenox (blood supply with the placenta vs DVT/PE)
    BFP#1: MMC - Trisomy 16 - D&C 9/11/11
    BFP#2:  Beautiful Boy 7/23/12
    BFP#3:  EDD 7/25/14

    Me: Thrombophilia, Hetero MTHFR, IC
    Lovenoxing, cerclaging... good times
    image


    Report Reply
  • PrincessBritt17PrincessBritt17 member
    Well, met with my doctor today and it sounds like I will be having a spinal.  I asked about just doing general and he said the risks with a spinal are MUCH lower than with general.  I mentioned that during labor the first time they tried to place an epidural and it never worked.  He said a spinal is much more effective and there is close to a 99% success rate with getting the correct amount of blockage.  Now I will just have to make sure they give me something to take the edge off before the spinal so I don't panic during surgery!
    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"