Tampa, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/23/2018 -- Pregnant women run an increased risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and other potentially fatal blood clots. Pregnancy itself, combined with prolonged bed rest or sitting — common in the latter months — tends to increase the risk of clots that can cause heart attack, stroke and pulmonary embolism.

Many pregnant women are prescribed blood thinners to prevent clotting, but these can cause complications and must be ceased before labor. A less invasive option is pneumatic compression.

Greg Grambor is president of Vascular PRN, a national distributor of pneumatic compression therapy equipment.

"Pneumatic compression in some cases can reduce or eliminate the need for dangerous blood thinners," Grambor said. "It's an option all pregnant women and their doctors should take into consideration."

The risk of clots during pregnancy recently received some high-profile attention with the release of HBO's series "Being Selena" about star tennis player Serena Williams. In it, Williams discusses how her delivery earlier this year could have ended in tragedy.

Williams wanted to avoid a C-section due to her known high risk of blood clots. In fact, she had already suffered a pulmonary embolism in 2011. However, complications during Williams' delivery made an emergency C-section necessary.

Unfortunately, Williams suffered another pulmonary embolism in the weeks following the C-section. She describes waking up unable to take a deep breath. The embolism was found and treated, as were subsequent clots discovered in her legs. In the end, Williams counts herself lucky to be alive.

"Serena's story brings some much-needed attention to the risks pregnant women face, which are significant but highly manageable with modern tools," Grambor added.