As the name suggests, a blood clot is an extra "blood clot" in a blood vessel. Thrombosis occurs due to three factors: slow blood flow, damage to the blood vessel wall, and hypercoagulability. Blood flows in the blood vessels, just like water flows in a river, and if there is sediment in the blood vessels, it will slowly form a blood clot to block the blood vessels, just like a large amount of sediment has accumulated in the river. Small ones may affect the amount and speed of blood flow, and large ones may block blood vessels and block blood flow. Flow to the lungs causes blockage of the blood vessels in the lungs, known as pulmonary embolism. Blood clots can occur in both veins and arteries, and most of them form without obvious symptoms, and once they do, they can be serious or even life-threatening. How to prevent thromboembolism during pregnancy and childbirth?
1. Dynamic assessment of high-risk factors: Dynamic assessment of the risk of thrombosis at different stages of pregnancy and early identification of high-risk factors is an important means to prevent the occurrence of VTE during pregnancy and puerperium.
2. Health education and physical methods for pregnant women and their families are the first choice for preventing VTE during pregnancy and puerperium.
3. Pregnant women with high-risk factors for VTE during pregnancy and puerperium should use prophylactic anticoagulant drugs in a timely and reasonable manner.
4. Guide the specific implementation of preventive measures for maternal VTE:
1. Appropriate exercise: avoid sitting, standing or lying down for a long time, after using the computer, watching TV or playing with mobile phones for a long time, get up and exercise, move the lower limbs, and walk at home.
2. Drinking more water can effectively reduce blood viscosity and relieve blood thickness, so drinking enough water can prevent blood clots. **The normal daily water intake is about 2L, and it can be more during pregnancy, but people with cardiovascular or kidney underlying diseases and advanced age should not drink too much water, otherwise it will increase the burden on the heart and kidneys.
3. Improve living habits: control weight and eat more vegetables and fruits.
4. For high-risk groups, such as patients after cesarean section, they should get out of bed as soon as possible, and if they cannot get out of bed, they can use gradient elastic stockings, ankle extension and flexion exercises or massage.