While the risks for a first-time venous thromboembolism (VTE) or pulmonary embolism (PE) increase with each trimester of pregnancy, they peak during the postpartum period when they are five and 15 times greater, respectively, than during pregnancy, according to the findings of a 30-year population-based study of 50,000 women. 

The authors of the study did caution that their findings may not be generalizable to the entire population; their study population was 98% white.  

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While the risks for a first-time venous thromboembolism (VTE) or pulmonary embolism (PE) increase with each trimester of pregnancy, they peak during the postpartum period when they are five and 15 times greater, respectively, than during pregnancy, according to the findings of a 30-year population-based study of 50,000 women.