--- title: "Blood Clots & Pregnancy: Risk, Prevention & Cord Blood Banking" date: 2018-12-19T03:00:00-05:00 author: Courtney Flickinger canonical_url: "https://www.americordblood.com/articles/blood-clots-and-pregnancy-what-are-the-risks" section: Articles --- ![Red blood cells flowing through blood vessels.](https://assets.americordblood.com/transforms/blogs/72853/blood-disorder-cells-americord_dcd4b851eab0fdc82c7554dc6e8ca81c.png) [ BioBanking Services ](https://www.americordblood.com/articles/biobanking-services) 2 Min Read # Blood Clots & Pregnancy: Risk, Prevention & Cord Blood Banking Pregnant women are about **5 times more likely to develop blood clots than non-pregnant women.** ## What is a Blood Clot? A blood clot is a clump of blood that forms when blood changes from liquid to solid. When blood clots form in the veins, it’s called **venous thromboembolism,** and it’s a very serious health issue. It first manifests as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which are clots that primarily occur in the legs, thighs, and pelvis. When the clot (or part of it) dislodges and travels to the blood vessels of the lungs, it causes a blockage known as pulmonary embolism (PE), which could be fatal. ## What Do Blood Clots Mean During Pregnancy? Pregnant women are more likely to develop blood clots than non-pregnant women because: 1. They experience hormonal changes. During pregnancy, the body increases clotting activity as a way to lessen blood loss during labor. 2. During pregnancy, there is reduced blood flow to the legs as a result of the fetus’ weight pressing down on veins. Pregnant women are at the highest risk of blood clots during their first trimester and the first 6 weeks after delivery. Prgenancy blood clots can cause pre-eclampsia, miscarriage, placental insufficiency, premature birth, and in rare cases, heart attack and stroke. ## Who is at Risk for Blood Clots? There are many factors that can increase your likelihood of developing blood clots. They are: 1. Being over the age of 35 (or advanced maternal age) 2. Being overweight or obese 3. Having had blood clots in the past or a family history of it 4. Having a complicated birth or an operative delivery like a cesarean section 5. Inherited thrombophilia, a condition that makes blood clots more likely 6. Smoking 7. Pre-existing heart disease 8. Having a premature or stillbirth 9. Heavy bleeding after birth 10. Traveling long distances 11. Living a sedentary lifestyle ## How Do I Know if I Have Blood Clotting During Pregnancy? The symptoms of Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism are different. **Deep vein thrombosis symptoms** include swelling, pain, and redness in the legs, larger-looking veins, and skin that feels warmer where the clot is. These symptoms usually, but not always, appear in one leg. The [**symptoms of pulmonary embolism**](https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-topics/pulmonary-embolism) are difficulty breathing, chest pain or constriction, irregular heartbeat, frequent coughing accompanied by blood, feeling seriously unwell, and collapsing. ## Blood Clot Prevention 1. Remain active and maintain a healthy weight 2. Wear compression stockings and use anticoagulant medication prescribed by your doctor 3. Wear loose-fitting clothes 4. When traveling for a long period of time, get up every 2-3 hours and move around. Also, drink a lot of water to prevent dehydration 5. Stop smoking 6. Go for frequent prenatal checkups and follow your doctor’s recommendations based on your individual risks When diagnosed, DVT is usually treated with anticoagulants and compression stockings to relieve pain and swelling. Pulmonary embolism, on the other hand, requires immediate medical attention once the symptoms are experienced. In very rare and severe cases, drugs called thrombolytics are used to dissolve the blood clots. ## Can I do Cord Blood Banking if I have blood clots? **Blood clotting can affect the collection of** [**cord blood**](https://www.americordblood.com/fda-approved-treatments)**.** If the medical staff waits too long to **clamp and cut the umbilical cord**, the blood in it starts to clot, making collection harder and resulting in reduced amounts of cord blood that may not be useful for storage. *The views, statements, and pricing expressed are deemed reliable as of the published date. Articles may not reflect current pricing, offerings, or recent innovations.* ### Cord Blood Banking Preserve your baby’s umbilical cord blood stem cells with CryoMaxx™ Processing and use in 80+ FDA-approved treatments and 100’s of clinical trials including autism, diabetes, childhood leukemia, sickle cell disease, and more. 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[ Read More ](https://www.americordblood.com/articles/what-is-cord-blood-banking) [ ![Prenatal check-up with healthcare provider.](https://assets.americordblood.com/transforms/blogs/8929/cord-blood-banking-worth-it-americord_41a4f2ed037c5ad51696884668d44cc6.png) ](https://www.americordblood.com/articles/is-cord-blood-banking-worth-it) [### Is Cord Blood Banking Worth It? ](https://www.americordblood.com/articles/is-cord-blood-banking-worth-it)As more and more families choose to invest in their newborn’s future with cord blood banking, you may be asking yourself if cord blood banking is right for your family. [ Read More ](https://www.americordblood.com/articles/is-cord-blood-banking-worth-it) [ ![A triangular icon displaying a warning sign on a dark blue background.](https://assets.americordblood.com/transforms/blogs/8353/cord-blood-high-risk-pregnancy-americord_41a4f2ed037c5ad51696884668d44cc6.png) ](https://www.americordblood.com/articles/cord-blood-use-in-high-risk-pregnancies) [### Cord Blood Use in High-Risk Pregnancies ](https://www.americordblood.com/articles/cord-blood-use-in-high-risk-pregnancies)During a high risk pregnancy, which is often caused by a hereditary condition, banked cord blood can be vital to the health of both mother and child. [ Read More ](https://www.americordblood.com/articles/cord-blood-use-in-high-risk-pregnancies)