Obstetric outcome with low molecular weight heparin therapy during pregnancy

This was a prospective study of women attending a combined haematology/obstetric antenatal clinic in the National Maternity Hospital (2002-2008). Obstetric outcome in mothers treated with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) was compared to the general obstetric population of 2006. There were 133 pregnancies in 105 women. 85 (63.9%) received prophylactic LMWH and 38 (28.6%) received therapeutic LMWH in pregnancy. 10 (7.5%) received postpartum prophylaxis only. The perinatal mortality rate was 7.6/1000 births. 14 (11.3%) women delivered preterm which is significantly higher than the hospital population rate (5.7%, p<0.05). Despite significantly higher labour induction rates (50% vs 29.2% p<0.01), there was no difference in CS rates compared to the general hospital population (15.4% vs 18.9%, NS). If carefully managed, these high-risk women can achieve similar vaginal delivery rates as the general obstetric population.