According to a latest medical research, during pregnancy, the risk of a severe blood clots may be lofty for 12 weeks after the birth of a child. In case, a lady becomes pregnant, she must be aware of blood clot and as to how she can adopt preventing measures.
A report of the Weill Cornell Medical College says that the women with the highest risk of blood clots during or after pregnancy includes those with chronic high blood pressure, pregnancy-related high blood pressure, older women, smokers, women who are overweight, and women with previous blood clots or blood disorders.
Typical changes within a pregnant woman’s body may contribute to elevated clot risk. For example, higher estrogen levels could increase her risk.
This is why women on estrogen-based oral contraceptives also have a higher chance of developing a blood clot. Physical changes like the compression of a woman’s organs as her unborn baby gets larger, also contribute to clot risk.
The Weill Cornell study found a woman’s risk of a blood clot may remain elevated for up to 12 weeks postpartum, researchers found that most clots occur within the first three weeks.
During that time, women have 18.3 times the normal clot risk. Between four and six weeks after giving birth, the chance dropped to about four times the baseline risk. From weeks seven to 15, the risk was about only twice the regular risk.
It also noted that though the chances of a blood clot during or after pregnancy are higher than usual, the risk is still fairly low. Approximately one in 4,100 women developed a clot within six weeks, and just one in 17,800 had a clot appear between seven and 12 weeks postpartum.
But, a blood clot during pregnancy is not always preventable; there are ways to lower your risk. Staying hydrated is important during pregnancy for many reasons, including preventing your blood from getting too thick, so always keep some drinking water nearby.
While, it can be hard to get up ore move, if pregnancy has given you a sore back and swollen ankles, but even then it is important to stay active.
Continuously moving will keep your blood flowing, helping to lower your chance of a clot. If your doctor advises bed rest or you are sitting for hours on a long trip, wear compression stockings and move your legs often. If possible, try to walk for a few minutes every hour.
Keep yourself in contact with your doctor about your blood clot risk and ask for further advice in order to reduce it.
