When Vitamin K is not made available, these clotting factors are not manufactured, and blood clotting is impaired. The liver requires Vitamin K for the manufacturing of certain key proteins in the native clotting mechanism.
Warfarin acts by impairing the utilization of Vitamin K. Fortunately, there is no known association between heparin and birth defects.ĭietary Considerations in Warfarin Patients Some pregnant mothers with heart problems or clotting problems will be placed on heparin shots for many months before the birth of their child.
Antidote for warfarin skin#
Heparin cannot be given by mouth, and must be administered by shots under the skin three times per day, or by continuous intravenous infusion. However, if anticoagulation is required during pregnancy for any reason, it is best to administer heparin instead of Warfarin. Nearly all of these valves can be used without the need for Warfarin. If possible, a tissue heart valve design should be used in this setting. Intervention may require heart valve surgery even during the later half of the pregnancy.įortunately, the fetus tolerates heart surgery remarkably well and spontaneous loss of the pregnancy is rare. Some of these mothers will not survive delivery if the heart disease is left untreated. The most common form of heart problem discovered during pregnancy is mitral stenosis (from prior rheumatic fever). Occasionally a woman is diagnosed with heart or vascular problems during pregnancy. Prevention is far better than dealing with the consequences after a pregnancy has occurred. A longer acting form of birth control should be used (consult your GYN provider), since daily birth control pills could be accidentally or purposefully discontinued, risking an unwanted or unexpected pregnancy while taking Warfarin.Įducational services like Planned Parenthood can assist in selecting birth control methods that are acceptable to the patient and their lifestyle and/or values. If Warfarin is still required for clinical reasons, then birth control intervention must be prescribed as well. For some patients, this might mean daily shots with heparin, another anticoagulant medication which cannot be given by mouth. In younger women anticipating a new or enlarging family, Warfarin should not be prescribed if any other possible choice can be used.
For the woman who is not planning or desiring further children, sterilization by tubal ligation or hysterectomy would be the most reliable preventative step. If a young woman needs to start Warfarin during the child-bearing years, it is very important to educate the patient on the potential harm to the unborn child and establish an effective birth control plan.īefore starting therapy, female patients should be asked about their intent to bear children in the future, their birth control methods at present, and their religious beliefs. However, there are situations in women of child-bearing age where Warfarin is still the mainstay of therapy, such as recurrent pulmonary emboli. If possible, another anticoagulant regimen should be used. In most circumstances, Warfarin should be avoided in women of childbearing age unless there is no other option. The actual degree (or percentage) of risk to the unborn child is not known. There is apparently a link between some birth defects and Warfarin taken by the mother during early pregnancy. However, one of the drawbacks for Warfarin is the potential for birth defects and/or hemorrhage in the offspring of mothers taking the drug. Indeed, oral anticoagulation is a vital treatment for certain conditions, such as those listed on the Indications page of his symposium. Warfarin is a safe drug when administered and monitored properly.
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