Lovenox Ladies

oops... thread not threat! Sorry!

Aimee,

As you know I am no longer pregnant but I did the Lovenox thing for my last 2 pregnancies. It is hard but well worth it in the end. Let me know if you have any questions for me.

Kathryn

I have been searching the Internet the past day to find out more information on Lovenox and pregnancy. Last Saturday morning I went into the ER because I had strange swelling of my upper left leg. I am 26 weeks pregnant and so they quickly rushed me in without waiting. It turns out I have a blood clot in my upper left leg/groin area. I had to be hospitalized for 3 1/2 days and was finally discharged on Tuesday. I am now on bed rest for the next week at least. I meet with the hemotologist on Wednesday mornign to see how the clot is doing and if I can resume my "normal" activities. I am taking Lovenox shots twice a day and have to continue throughout the rest of my pregnancy and 6 weeks post partum. So far my husband has been kind enough to give them to me because they hurt and I am scared to give them to myself.

I am a little scared and unsure of what will happen, but my little boy seems to be doing well. This is my first pregnancy, and sometimes I am wondering if it will be my last, but we'll see!

I have a few questions for any of you ladies out there who have gone through pregnancy/delivery with Lovenox:

1 - Have any of you had a clot to begin with and how long did it take before you were out of danger with that clot?
2 - Were there any complications during delivery when you were on blood thinners? I know I will not be allowed to have an epidural and now I am nervous about any potential hemoraging.
3 - Were there any risks to the baby during/after delivery? Did you have to stay in the hospital longer? What about the baby?
4 - Were you able to breast feed while on Lovenox postpartum?
5 - It's already a little hard to find "an inch of pinch" on my belly since the skin is so tight...does this get harder as the pregnancy continues? Any suggestions?

Hi there and congratulations on your pregnancy! Even though it is very scary being on Lovenox, it is reassuring to me that I won't be alone. I don't know about delivery, because my clot was found after Ryan was born. However, I do know that it is safe to breastfeed on Lovenox. I was taking the shots twice a day for 3 months after Ryan was born so that I could breastfeed. My clot was in a return vein in my left arm, so it is really close to the heart. After several months of monitoring, they decided that the clot would never resolve itself and it would never move. They took me off of blood thinner completely 4 months after finding the clot. I went a year and a half on no blood thinners at all before I got pregnant this time. In your situation, since you are pregnant, I would bet that they will keep a close eye on that clot. I wanted to be reassured that the clot would never move and I was out of danger. Unfortunately, they can't tell you when that is. Just make sure you educate yourself on the symptoms of a pulmonary embolism (clot moved to the lung). That can be fatal to you.

Hang in there and keep me posted on how you are doing! I have plenty of inches to pinch, so I really don't have that problem. Maybe Kathryn can provide some insight on the delivery and post partum with Lovenox. I will forward this to her!

Good Luck,
Hugs and Love,
Aimee

I have never had a clot before pregnancy either. I think that you will be considered at risk with the clot until it resloves. They will watch it very closely through out the pregnancy. Most of the time with Lovenox clots do resolve. And I hope that yours does also. Usually they keep you on Lovenox about 6 weeks post partum. Some OB's will schdule and induction or c-section and have you stop taking the Lovenox 2 days before so it is out of your system. Then you start up again after delivery.

It is okay to breastdeed with Lovenox. It does not cross into the breastmilk. The hospitals lactation consultant can give you info on that. You do not need to stay in the hospital longer unless you have some sort of problem durin delivery.

There are other places to give Lovenox on the body but I would ask your DR to show you. But I never had a problem pinching on my lower belly.

Always ask your doctor antime you are unsure and never feel afraid to call your OB.

I hope that this helps!

Feel free to ask any more questions.

Kathryn

I just found out that I'm pregnant, for the third time. My two prior pregnancies ended in miscarriage. After the second one I found out I have Prothrombin gene mutation and was given the choice of taking Lovemox for this my third try. I don't have OB appt. unitl Mon. and I thought I was absolutely sure I wanted to get on Lovenox, but now I'm mostly scared. I don't want to have another miscarriage, but I'm terrified of having to give myself a shot everyday. I've read that there it is painful and there is some bruising. I'm also confused about the delivery method. I've read some scary stuff about epidurals and Lovenox. For those of you who have had babies on Lovenox, how was your experience? Any words of encouragement?

Thanks,
B

I have a question... can you get an epi on it? i am 12 weeks pregnant and have been taking lovenox because with my 1st to pregnancy's I delivered at 35 weeks and 36 weeks both with toxemia - both kids are very healthy! I am now pregnant with my3rd and my doctor has put me on high risk. She took some blood tests and didnt tell me what I have (although it is a genetic disease) and I forgot to ask. Needless to say, I am on Lovenox - I am having a hard time with it also because I started the pregnancy 117lbs and have been so sick I have gained only about 3 lbs. I think I hit a muscle the last time I injected. So since I am dragging this on.,, Can I get an epi before delivery and does the shot get easier to give? Also, what happens if I do hit a muscle - will it hurt anything?

Thank you, thank you, thank you Aileigh for starting this thread. Part of my doc's plan of action for me with a subsequent pregnancy includes Lovenox in addition to p17 shots and a cerclage. My Addie was born 15 weeks prematurely but she was too sick to stay with us and we let her go in July 2007. I had an infection a few weeks before Addie was born, but they say that the reason for her coming early is due to an IC. However, I also had bleeding in my first trimester including a subchorionic bleed, which my high-risk doctor tells me can be a misdiagnosis for a blood clot. So my doctor is planning on covering all bases including progesterone shots, Lovenox shots and a cercalge (two stitches) and maybe bedrest. Anyway, I'm thankful that you started this thread so that I know others have had Lovenox during a pregnancy and to read up on what others write when/if I get pregnant again.

Missing Addie,
Cindy