During pregnancy, more blood pumps through your body to meet the needs of your developing baby. More blood flowing through the body means added pressure on your blood vessels, which can cause them to narrow. This, along with hormonal changes, can make you five times more likely to have a blood clot during pregnancy or right after delivery than someone who is not pregnant.

Some blood clotting disorders, such as antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), can raise this risk of blood clots during pregnancy even more, which can cause pregnancy-related problems like miscarriage or preeclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy). This is especially true if you have a history of blood clots.

Talk with your doctor if you have APS and are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. People who have APS can have successful pregnancies. Your doctor may suggest medicines to prevent blood clotting as well as scheduling more tests such as sonograms to check the baby’s growth.

Blood clotting disorders and pregnancy prevention

If you are trying to prevent pregnancy, talk to your doctor about birth control. Birth control with estrogen can raise your risk of blood clots. Some examples of contraception without estrogen include:

• Intrauterine devices (including those with progestin)
• Progestin-only pills or implants
• The barrier method

A blood clot in the deep vein (also known as a deep vein thrombosis or DVT) is a medical condition that typically occurs in the lower leg, thigh, pelvis or arm. When a DVT is left untreated, a part of the clot can break off and travel to the lungs, causing a blockage called a pulmonary embolism (PE). A PE can stop blood from reaching the lungs and can be deadly. Although blood clots are preventable, a PE is one of the most common causes of pregnancy-related death in the United States.

A blood clot occurring in the legs or arms is called deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Signs and symptoms of a DVT include

• Swelling of the affected limb
• Pain or tenderness not caused by injury
• Skin that is warm to the touch, red, or discolored

If you have these signs or symptoms, alert your doctor as soon as possible.

A blood clot in the legs or arms can break off and travel to the lungs. This is called a pulmonary embolism (PE), and can be life threatening. Signs and symptoms of a PE include

• Difficulty breathing
• Chest pain that worsens with a deep breath or cough
• Coughing up blood
• Faster than normal or irregular heartbeat

Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of these signs or symptoms.

Pregnancy and childbirth can increase the risk for blood clots.

A woman is at increased risk up to 3 months after her baby is born.

Risks for blood clots during pregnancy, childbirth, and up to 3 months after the baby is born include:

Women are especially at risk for blood clots during pregnancy, childbirth, and the three-month period after delivery. Here’s why:

• During pregnancy, a woman’s blood clots more easily to lessen blood loss during labor and delivery.
• Pregnant women may also experience less blood flow to the legs later in pregnancy because the blood vessels around the pelvis are pressed upon by the growing baby.

Several other factors may also increase a pregnant woman’s risk for a blood clot:

• A family or personal history of blood clots or a blood clotting disorder
• Delivery by C-section
• Prolonged immobility (not moving a lot), such as during bed rest or recovery after delivery
• Complications of pregnancy and childbirth
• Certain long-term medical conditions, such as heart or lung conditions, or diabetes

• Know your risk for a blood clot. Pregnancy is one factor that can put women at higher risk for developing a blood clot, but other factors can increase your risk for a blood clot, including:
  • A family or personal history of blood clots or a blood clotting disorder;
  • Delivery by C-section;
  • Prolonged immobility (not moving a lot), such as during bed rest or recovery after delivery;
  • Complications of pregnancy and childbirth; and
  • Certain long-term medical conditions, such as heart or lung conditions, or diabetes.

The likelihood of developing a blood clot increases with the more risk factors you have.

• Talk with your doctorabout your risk, and see if you might benefit from a prevention plan to reduce your chances of developing a blood clot.
• Know the signs and symptomsof a blood clot so you can seek medical treatment right away if needed. Early treatment can help prevent a DVT from breaking off and traveling to the lungs as a PE.
  • Although a DVT can occur without any symptoms, the following are the most common signs and symptoms of a DVT:
    • Swelling of the affected limb
    • Pain or tenderness not caused by injury
    • Skin that is warm to the touch, red, or discolored

If you experience any of these signs or symptoms, alert your doctor as soon as possible

• Know the signs and symptoms of a PE and seek medical treatment to prevent death. The following are the most common signs and symptoms of a PE:
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Chest pain that worsens with a deep breath or cough.
  • Coughing up blood
  • Faster than normal or irregular heartbeat

Seek medical treatment immediately when you experience any of these signs and symptoms.

• Move your legs frequently and exercise your calf muscles when you are traveling long distances (more than 4 hours) to improve blood flow in your legs.
  • Get up and walk around if space allows.
  • Do seated leg stretches:
    • Extend your legs straight out and move your ankles to pull your toes toward you and then push them away from you.
    • Pull each knee up towards the chest and hold it there with your hands on your lower leg for 15 seconds. Repeat up to 10 times.