Tammy

I am 29, 28 when I got pregnant. At 17 and then at 19 years old I got a small blood clot in my left leg which was then simply chalked up to being on birth control and smoking at the same time. I took aspirin to get rid of them and that was that. At 28 I got pregnant. I had a full 40 week pregnancy with not one single complication.

I delivered my son in a birth tub at a birthing center because there was no reason to classify me as a high risk pregnancy.

I went home the same day he was born and two days later I began to notice pain and warmth on my leg. The same one the other two clots had been in. I recognized this as an issue and went to the doctor. After tests and spending the night in the ER, I was sent home on Lovenox. I was 5 days postpartum, emotional as all get out, and dealing with giving myself a shot and this huge clot that ran the entire length of my leg, from groin to ankle. It was confirmed recently that I do indeed have hetero Factor Five. It was superficial thank goodness but I still had to have it treated and am still dealing with it.

The clot is gone, but I have to be aware of the risks now. So, in conclusion, I had a healthy pregnancy and full term birth with Factor Five Leiden. I did not even know I had it. Now that I know, even though I am aware of the possibility to have a healthy baby, I think I will choose not to get pregnant again. I just don't think I can give myself a shot every day for 9 months or have the burden on my mind that long that something might happen. BUT, my son is proof it can be done.