Pregnant? Learn about blood clots.

Pregnant or recently delivered a baby? Know your risks for a pregnancy-related blood clot. Learn how to reduce your risks for a blood clot with new, free educational tools from the Stop the Clot, Spread the WordTM campaign.

In collaboration with the National Blood Clot Alliance (NBCA), theDivision of Blood Disorders at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has added new educational materials to its renowned Stop the Clot, Spread the WordTM campaign.

What is Stop the Clot, Spread the WordTM?

Launched in 2015, the Stop the Clot, Spread the WordTM digital campaign was designed to increase public health awareness about life-threatening blood clots to the general public and various high-risk groups. Since its launch, the campaign has reached up to 300 million media impressions. This year, the campaign has released new educational tools to raise awareness of the risks of blood clots in women during pregnancy, childbirth, and up to three months after a baby is born.

Why are these new resources important?

In the United States, up to 900,000 people can be affected by blood clots in their legs, pelvis, or arms (deep vein thrombosis or DVT) or in their lungs (pulmonary embolism or PE). Although anyone can develop a blood clot, women who are pregnant or have recently had a baby are at a higher risk for developing a life-threatening blood clot. Women are 5 times more likely to experience a dangerous blood clot during pregnancy compared with women who are not pregnant. Knowing the signs and symptoms of a blood clot can help pregnant women and mothers who recently had a baby to know when it may be important for them to seek medical attention.

What can women do to help increase their chance of having a safe pregnancy and delivery?

Pregnant women are encouraged to know their risks for a blood clot and to talk with their doctors to see if they might benefit from a prevention plan to reduce the risk of a blood clot during pregnancy, delivery, and recovery after childbirth. Visit CDC’s webpage on blood clots and pregnancy to find a suite of digital health education resources to help pregnant women and new mothers learn more about pregnancy-related blood clots and to start the conversation about them with their healthcare providers. The campaign includes

A downloadable list of factors that increase the risk for blood clots;
A short video about how pregnancy and childbirth can put a woman at risk for a blood clot;
A campaign infographic to learn the facts about pregnancy and blood clots; and
Additional information to help expectant mothers and mothers who have recently delivered a baby learn more about blood clot risks, signs and symptoms, and prevention tips for a safe pregnancy, childbirth, and recovery.

What can you do to help us Stop the Clot, Spread the WordTM?

Learn more about blood clots
Visit CDC’s website on blood clots and pregnancy
Share the links in this feature with friends and family who are expecting or have recently delivered a baby
Watch the video on blood clots and pregnancy
Use the hashtags #stoptheclot #spreadtheword when tweeting about the campaign or sharing messages about the campaign on your social media channels