Every woman who’s given birth will experience post-partum bleeding. And every woman who’s given birth may experience blood clots. Don’t be afraid. Some post-partum bleeding and some blood clots are perfectly normal for women who have just given birth. Also, most blood clots occur after the delivery, but some pregnant women may experience a risk of blood clots during pregnancy. Clots can last up to six weeks after delivery and in most cases, there are no causes for concern about the health and wellbeing of the mother. However, there are a few things to consider, when it comes to the risks associated with developing blood clots.
What is a blood clot you might ask?
Bleeding is fairly common in the postpartum period. That means that your body is healing from childbirth and there’s shedding of the uterine lining. However, there’s one pretty accurate way to recognize a blood clot from regular bleeding in the postpartum period. That’s according to the look. A blood clot is a mass of blood that sticks together and forms a jelly-like structure or mucus. Regular postpartum bleeding is not so viscous and doesn’t have a jelly-like structure.
There are two main types of blood clots that women may experience after birth.
The first type is one that’s passed through the woman’s vagina after birth. The one we already described. That’s because there’s a lot of shedding from the womb’s lining. And of course, because of the removal of the placenta post-delivery. This type of clot is completely harmless and it’s expected to exit the woman’s body through the vagina entirely.
The second type of clot is a bit more dangerous but also very rare. It’s a type of clot that happens inside the woman’s veins and it should be treated by medical professionals. The medical term for this clot is a Deep Vein Thrombosis or DVT and it’s a bit more serious. It typically occurs in the woman’s leg, arm, thigh, or pelvis and if untreated can cause plenty of medical problems.
What Are the Risk Factors for Deep Vein Thrombosis?
Here’s the thing. A woman can develop DVT during pregnancy, in childbirth, and ever after the delivery. And there’s not just one single profile of women that can develop DVT. However, the risk of developing DVT in pregnancy increases if the woman has a genetic predisposition to blood clots or has had them in the past. Increased maternal age, obesity, and decreased mobility are additional factors, but also if the woman has some pre-existing health conditions. Conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes are big risks when it comes to developing DVT.
But what about the symptoms? How can you tell if you’re developing blood clots?
If you are pregnant, or just had a baby be mindful of symptoms like shortness of breath, fever, pain (when you walk or stand) and swelling. Also, veins that look larger than normal or discoloration, and redness on your skin may indicate a development of blood clots so be mindful about those possible symptoms.
What to Do to Prevent the Development of Blood Clots?
If you are pregnant or have recently given birth there are a few things that you can do in order to prevent the development of blood clots. Movement may help with the prevention. Doctors may advise to avoid sitting still for longer periods, and that applies after delivery. We know it’s hard, but you’ll have to force yourself to move a bit more. The medical team may advise you to walk even right after delivery, to prevent the formation of blood clots. Yes, we know. You’re swollen, tired, and in pain, and the last thing you need is walking. However, it may do you more good than harm.
However, if you do develop blood clots, your healthcare professional will recommend you the right treatment.
Try to stay calm during this period. The medical team that guided you through your pregnancy and subsequent delivery will ensure you don’t develop blood clots. But if you do, don’t worry. There is an efficient treatment for it, and there will not be any long-term effects for you or your baby.