Heparin in Pregnancy – Is It Safe to Use?

Heparin is an anticoagulant which prevents blood clotting. It is often used prior to surgery to prevent blood clotting. The use of Heparin in pregnancy is prevalent since long. However, some experts hold opposite opinion as well regarding the effectiveness of Heparin during pregnancy. Continue reading to know whether the use of Heparin in pregnancy is safe or not.

What is Heparin and Why Is It Recommended during Pregnancy?

Heparin, medically known as Unfractionated Heparin (UFH), is an anticoagulant which is used to stop . It is used to treat several medical conditions of blood vessels, heart and lung conditions, and to prevent blood clotting in patients who need to take bed rest for a long time. During pregnancy, heparin is prescribed to avoid potential blood clots, also to deal with the critical complications arising due to blood clotting such as birth weight, opener”>disruption of placenta and loss of the foetus.

There is another kind of Heparin, which has been recently recommended by doctors to pregnant women and in general to stop blood clots. It is known as Low molecular weight Heparin (LMWH).

How Safe it Is to Use Heparin While Pregnant

In general, the risk associated with the low molecular weight heparin in pregnancy is very low or negligible to both, i.e., the mother and baby. However, the use of other blood thinners such as Warfarin and unfractionated heparin (previously used type) may pose threat to the health of the mother as well as the baby. Although, the low molecular weight heparin is considered safe to use with regards to pregnancy, the Unfractionated Heparin version used before had several health risks associated with it. Therefore, precaution should be taken before using any blood thinners, especially, if you are pregnant.

Which Pregnant Women Benefit Most From Heparin In Pregnancy?

Women who are aware of their blood clotting problems are recommended to check with their doctors first and start the medication as prescribed. There have been several cases of miscarriage or child loss due to not taking effective steps at the right time regarding blood clotting. LMWH (Low Molecular Weight Heparin) is mostly recommended because it never crosses the placenta and therefore no side effects are caused to the child. Women are also recommended to take LMWH after baby’s birth as the risk of blood clots are high during the six weeks post-birth. It is also deemed safe for women to breastfeed when on LMWH injections.

Pregnancy Complications Caused by Heparin?

While LMWH has the least cases of side effects during pregnancy, there have been cases where complications have been caused due to Unfractionated Heparin. Some of the most common Heparin side effects during pregnancy include:

1. There have been cases of blindness and deafness in the infants due to improper heparin dosage and administration.
2. It has been found that complications with regard to CNS (Central Nervous System) are caused in the foetus. In extreme conditions, death has also been recorded.
3. It is also found that rate of n and miscarriage is increased in women taking Unfractionated Heparin.
4. It also induces Thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) in the mothers. This condition is not that serious and is reversible through treatment.
5. In rare conditions, the mother might also suffer from Alopecia and Osteoporosis.

How Effective is Heparin during Pregnancy?

Heparin injection during pregnancy is usually sought after to control the blood clotting. Some women might already be taking the injections and some might begin during their term of pregnancy. Since LMWH does not cross the placenta, experts recommend it as it causes no side effects to the foetus. Also, the Heparin is usually administered around the abdomen area where the fatty layers of the stomach do not permit the needle far enough to harm the foetus. As the risk of losing blood is high during and post pregnancy stages, Heparin is considered largely effective to stop blood clots.

There have been studies which conclude that usage of Heparin, in general, is harmful to both the child and the mother. Research supports this, through various experiments conducted on animals and their results. However, all these adverse effects are caused due to unfractionated Heparin and other blood thinners. The discovery of LMWH has indeed been a boon to many mothers suffering from blood clotting problems as blood clotting does pose a major threat during the period of pregnancy. Either way, before taking any steps, we advise you to have a thorough discussion with your doctor and only then proceed further.