It’s normal to pass some blood clots vaginally—or jelly-like clumps of blood that have turned into a solid state—after giving birth. It’s a major concern, however, when you develop postpartum blood clots in your deep veins, as it can lead to serious health issues, including two related conditions:
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs when a clot (thrombus) forms in your lower leg, thigh, or pelvis, but can also occur in the arm
- Pulmonary embolism occurs when a DVT moves to your lung, causing a blockage of blood flow that can interfere with you getting enough oxygen.
Pregnancy increases the risk of developing a DVT, and pulmonary embolism, DVT’s biggest complication, one of the leading causes of maternal deaths in the developed world. As a result, paying attention to any potential symptoms during pregnancy and after giving birth is important.
The symptoms of DVT, an often silent condition
Only about half of people with DVT have symptoms. When they do, symptoms can include:
- Swelling in your foot, ankle, or leg, usually on one side
- Cramping in the affected leg, usually beginning in the calf
- Severe, unexplained pain in your foot or ankle
- An affected area that feels warm and may turn pale, reddish, or bluish
You can also develop a DVT clot in your arm. When that happens, symptoms can include:
- Neck or shoulder pain
- Swelling in the arm or hand or weakness in the hand
- Pain that moves from the arm to the forearm
- Bluish or darker-tinted skin
The symptoms of a pulmonary embolism
For some people who never experience any DVT symptoms, the first indication that they have DVT may be a dangerous complication known as a pulmonary embolism. This is a life-threatening situation that can cause major damage to your lungs and more due to an artery becoming blocked by a clot.
The symptoms of a pulmonary embolism can include:
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Sweating
- Chest pain that gets worse with coughing or deep inhalations
- Shortness of breath
- Rapid heart rate
- Coughing up blood
- Clammy or bluish skin
Don’t wait to seek help
If you experience symptoms of either DVT or a pulmonary embolism, contact your healthcare provider immediately or go to the nearest emergency room. Seeking medical attention right away is important as a pulmonary embolism caused by DVT may require emergency interventions.
Treatment for both DVT and pulmonary embolism typically involves anticoagulants or blood thinners to thin the blood, keep clots as small as possible, and prevent new clots. If blood thinners don’t work, however, your healthcare provider may prescribe intravenous thrombolytic drugs, which can break up clots.
Other potential treatments include:
- Filters to stop clots from entering your lungs
- Surgery to remove large or damaging clots from your arm or leg
- Catheter-directed methods of removing or dissolving a pulmonary embolism
- Surgery to remove a pulmonary embolism, if necessary]
Reviewed by the Ovia Health Clinical Team
Sources:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). About Venous Thromboembolism (Blood Clots). https://www.cdc.gov/blood-clots/about/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/dvt/facts.html. Accessed July 17, 2024.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). May 28, 2024, Pregnancy-Related Deaths: Data From Maternal Mortality Review Committees in 36 U.S. States, 2017–2019, https://www.cdc.gov/maternal-mortality/php/data-research/mmrc-2017-2019.html
