Which risk factor in the postpartum period increases the risk for DVT?

• A. Prolonged immobility
• B. Cesarean birth
• C. Early ambulation
• D. Smoking

Answer: (C)

When a postpartum person is not moving around much, blood tends to pool in the leg veins, slowing venous return. This stagnation favors clot formation in the deep veins, which is the primary way a DVT develops after delivery. Prolonged immobility directly increases this risk because the calf muscle pump isn’t helping push blood back toward the heart.

Cesarean birth adds risk too, since surgery creates tissue injury and often requires a longer recovery period with reduced mobility, both of which contribute to venous stasis and a heightened clotting tendency. Smoking is another factor that raises DVT risk by making the blood more prone to clotting and by affecting vascular function.

In contrast, early ambulation promotes venous return and lowers the risk of DVT, making it protective rather than a risk factor.