dvt and pregnancy

DVT and Varicose Veins during Pregnancy

DVT and Varicose Veins during Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a risk factor for the development of a blood clots with an incidence that is 4 to 50 times higher compared to non-pregnant women.  Increased risk for development of a blood clot is highest in the postpartum period, with the most common occurrence of clot formation in left lower extremity and pelvis.

A blood clot, or venous thromboembolis (VTE) can manifest during pregnancy as a lower extremity deep vein blood clot, or it can break off from the lower extremities and travel to the lung, which is called a pulmonary embolus (PE).  Pulmonary embolus is the seventh leading cause of maternal mortality or 9 percent of maternal deaths.   Therefore, early detection of DVT during pregnancy is critical to preventing deaths caused by PE.

Pregnancy and the postpartum period are marked by the increased presence of components which contribute to the increased risk of DVT in pregnancy.  Venous stasis of the lower extremities occurs during pregnancy because of two factors: increased blood volume, and hormonal changes to the lining of the veins.  During pregnancy, lower extremity veins are subject to increased blood volume. Increased blood volume pared with hormonally induced dilation of the lower extremity veins leads to pooling of blood and causes incompetence in the valves.  It is the pooling of blood in the veins that causes clots to form.
Read More

How to Avoid Varicose Veins During Pregnancy

By Jilanne Rose, DNP ANP-BC | Jan 13, 2016

Congratulations, you are pregnant! Your bundle or bundles of joy are on the way to change your life forever! The body changes quickly during pregnancy, and some of these changes are not so wonderful! Varicose veins are a common occurrence in pregnancy. There are a number of reasons for this: blood volume increases, hormones shift,…

Read More

About Jilanne Rose, DNP ANP-BC

Jilanne is Phoenix Metros only Doctorate Nurse Practitioner that has been trained extensively by a Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgeon, an Interventional Radiologist, and an Interventional Cardiologist. Dr. Rose is highly regarded by patients and physicians who seek her out because of her expertise in vein disease, her commitment to compassionate care, and her excellent success rates. As a peripheral vascular specialist that has performed well over 10,000 vascular interventions, Dr. Rose is dedicated to helping patients achieve a pain free, healthy and happy life.