The treatment of the expectant mother with deep venous thrombosis

Experience with 12 expectant mothers with DVT from 1978 to 1983 supports heparin therapy. After early experience with four patients with various doses of intravenous and subcutaneous mini-heparin both in and out of the hospital, we have selected a program of outpatient, self-administered adjusted subcutaneous heparin. There has been no maternal or fetal mortality. There have been no serious bleeding or post-phlebitic complications, although two patients have had flare-ups of superficial phlebitis during the follow-up over the last four-and-a-half years. There have been three subsequent pregnancies, two of which were first trimester miscarriages and one uneventful term delivery of a normal infant.