Orfarin Use In Pregnancy & Lactation

Warfarin crosses the placenta. Maternal warfarin therapy may cause warfarin embryopathy (nasal hypoplasia and chondrodysplasia punctata) if warfarin is administered during the organogenesis (weeks 6 t 12 of pregnancy), and even after the abnormalities in the development of central nervous system are possible. Warfarin can induce fetal hemorrhage, which has relevance especially during delivery. Warfarin embryopathy has been estimated to occur in 4 to 6% of pregnancies, if warfarin is used throughout the pregnancy, and its likelihood increases if larger than 5 mg daily doses are used. Warfarin is contraindicated during the week 6 to 12 of pregnancy and after the middle of the third trimester. During other phases of pregnancy, the risks to the fetus from warfarin use must be carefully weighed against the risk to the mother and fetus from not using warfarin. Antithrombotic therapy during the pregnancy must be individually planned under the supervision of a specialist clinician.
Since warfarin is not excreted in the breast milk, breast feeding can be continued during warfarin therapy.