What You Need to Know
A guide to help you understand your condition and feel confident during pregnancy
Factor V Leiden is a gene change that makes your blood clot more easily than usual.
Your body naturally forms blood clots to stop bleeding when you're injured. Factor V (say "Factor Five") is a protein that helps blood clot.
The Leiden mutation changes how this protein works. This means your blood may clot when it shouldn't.
About 5 out of every 100 people have this gene change. Many people don't know they have it until they're tested.
✓ Having Factor V Leiden does not mean you will have problems during pregnancy. It just means we will watch you more closely.
Pregnancy naturally increases the risk of blood clots for all women. This is your body's way of preparing to prevent too much bleeding during delivery.
When you have Factor V Leiden AND you're pregnant, these two factors work together. This slightly increases your chance of developing a blood clot.
Important to know: Most women with Factor V Leiden have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies. We monitor you carefully to keep both of you safe.
We will create a care plan designed just for you. This plan focuses on prevention and watching for any early signs of problems.
✓ You are not alone. We have experience caring for many pregnant women with Factor V Leiden. We know how to keep you and your baby healthy.
Being informed helps you partner with us in your care. Here are the things we watch for:
Blood clots can form in veins, usually in the legs. This is called deep vein thrombosis or DVT. Less commonly, a clot can travel to the lungs.
Some research suggests Factor V Leiden may be linked to pregnancy complications like preeclampsia or placental problems. The research is still unclear, but we monitor for these conditions.
Remember: These are possible risks, not guaranteed outcomes. The vast majority of women with Factor V Leiden deliver healthy babies without these complications.
✓ We are watching closely for any signs of problems. Early detection allows us to take action quickly if needed.
Thromboprophylaxis means steps we take to prevent blood clots from forming.
Based on your personal history and risk factors, we may recommend blood thinning medication. The most common choice is low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), which is safe during pregnancy.
How it works: You give yourself a small injection under the skin once or twice daily. Most patients find this easier than expected.
✓ We will teach you everything you need to know. You'll have support every step of the way.
Monitoring helps us catch any concerns early when they're easier to manage.
Your visit schedule depends on your individual risk. You may have more frequent appointments than a standard pregnancy. This extra attention is a good thing.
✓ These visits are opportunities to ask questions and make sure you feel confident in your care plan.
We start talking about delivery plans in your third trimester. Planning ahead reduces stress and ensures everyone is prepared.
Most women with Factor V Leiden can deliver at full term. We only consider early delivery if there are specific medical concerns.
Having Factor V Leiden alone does not mean you need a cesarean section. You can plan for vaginal delivery unless there are other medical reasons for a C-section.
We work with your delivery team to ensure they know about your condition. If you're on blood thinning medication, we'll plan when to stop it before delivery.
Anesthesia planning: If you want an epidural for pain relief, we time the stopping of blood thinners to make this safe. We discuss this plan with you well before delivery.
If you're taking medication to prevent clots, we typically stop it 24 hours before a scheduled delivery. For unplanned labor, we assess the timing and plan accordingly.
You have options for pain relief. Epidurals are usually safe, but timing matters if you're on blood thinners. We work with the anesthesia team to keep you safe and comfortable.
We monitor you closely in the hours after birth. This is when the risk of bleeding and clotting both need careful attention.
Your delivery team knows your history. We communicate your care plan to everyone involved in your delivery.
✓ The goal is a safe delivery for you and your baby. We have done this many times and know how to care for you.
The weeks after delivery are actually the highest risk time for blood clots. This is true for all new mothers, and especially for those with Factor V Leiden.
We typically restart blood thinning medication within 12-24 hours after delivery. You'll continue this for at least 6 weeks postpartum.
Breastfeeding: Blood thinning medications like heparin are safe while breastfeeding. They don't pass into breast milk in significant amounts.
We'll see you for regular postpartum checks. We want to make sure you're recovering well and that you know when to stop medication.
✓ Most of your pregnancy care team will continue caring for you after delivery. We're here for the whole journey.
You have a team of specialists working together to care for you:
Expert in high-risk pregnancies. Coordinates your overall pregnancy care plan.
Blood disorder specialist who manages your clotting risk and medications.
Provides routine pregnancy care and delivers your baby.
Available to answer questions and teach you about medications and self-care.
Communication between team members happens regularly. Everyone stays updated on your care.
✓ You are at the center of this team. Your questions and concerns guide our care decisions.
✓ Yes! Most women with Factor V Leiden have successful, healthy pregnancies.
You'll have more medical appointments than some pregnant women. You might need to take medication daily. But you can still:
You know about your condition, which means we can take steps to keep you safe. Many people with Factor V Leiden don't know they have it until a problem occurs. You have the advantage of prevention.
Your role matters: Taking medication as prescribed, attending appointments, and reporting symptoms quickly all contribute to a healthy outcome.
Call us right away if you notice any of these symptoms:
When to call 911: Sudden severe chest pain, difficulty breathing, or coughing up blood requires immediate emergency care. Don't wait.
It's always better to call about a symptom that turns out to be nothing than to wait on something serious.
Yes. Factor V Leiden is inherited, meaning it runs in families.
If you have Factor V Leiden, each of your children has a 50% chance of inheriting it. Your siblings and parents may also have it.
We don't routinely recommend testing family members unless they have symptoms or specific risk factors. Talk to your doctor about whether testing makes sense for your family.
Even if your baby inherits Factor V Leiden, most children with this gene change have no problems. It typically doesn't cause issues until adulthood, if at all.
✓ Knowing you have Factor V Leiden helps us make informed decisions for your health and potentially helps your family members too.
1. Factor V Leiden increases clotting risk, but most women have healthy pregnancies.
2. Prevention is key. Medication and lifestyle measures reduce your risk significantly.
3. Close monitoring helps us catch problems early. Extra appointments mean extra safety.
4. You have a team of specialists. We work together to care for you and your baby.
5. Know the warning signs. Call us if you notice symptoms of a blood clot.
6. The highest risk time is after delivery. Continue medication and stay active postpartum.
✓ You are not defined by Factor V Leiden. It's one part of your health that we manage together.
We're here to answer your questions and address your concerns.
Keep our contact information handy. Call with questions about:
No question is too small. If something is on your mind, we want to hear about it.
✓ We're partners in your care. Together, we'll help you have the healthiest pregnancy possible.
Thank you for trusting us with your care.