There is an increase in
thromboembolic complications because of the hypercoagulability that exists postpartum.
Pregnancy itself is a factor of hypercoagulability (pregnancy-induced hypercoagulability) as a physiologically adaptive mechanism to prevent postpartum hemorrhage.
However, when combined with an additional underlying hypercoagulable states, the risk of thrombosis or embolism may become substantial.
Anticoagulants may be necessary during pregnancy to prevent or control the following:
- venous thrombosis,
- pulmonary embolism,
- rheumatic mitral valve disease,
- prosthetic heart valves,
- peripartum cardiomyopathy,
- primary pulmonary hypertension and
- Eisenmenger’s syndrome.
