Gram Research analysis of a 2026 case report finds that the rat poison bromadiolone can cause severe clotting failure in pregnant women and may cause fatal bleeding in the fetus. In the reported case, a 19-year-old’s blood did not clot normally until she received plasma and vitamin K1, and her baby died shortly after birth.
Gram Research analysis of a 2026 case report describes a rare and dangerous event: a 19-year-old woman at 37 weeks of pregnancy took bromadiolone, a long-acting rat poison, about 12 days before she came to the hospital. The poison stopped her blood from clotting normally, and her baby showed signs of severe bleeding and later died shortly after birth. The mother’s blood did not begin to clot normally until doctors gave her fresh frozen plasma, which contains clotting proteins, and vitamin K1, a nutrient the body needs for clotting, over an extended period. Because the study describes only one patient, it cannot show how common this problem is. It does show that poisoning can be hidden, that the baby can be harmed even when the mother seems only mildly ill, and that careful history-taking matters. Doctors are advised to consider this poison when a pregnant patient has unexplained bleeding problems.
Key Statistics
A 2026 case report published in the International Journal of Surgery Case Reports described one pregnant woman, age 19, whose blood took longer than 150 seconds to clot after she swallowed bromadiolone rat poison.
In the same 2026 case report, the mother’s clotting problem improved with treatment of fresh frozen plasma and vitamin K1, but her baby died shortly after birth, illustrating the risk of delayed fetal harm even when maternal symptoms appear minimal.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: What happens to a pregnant woman and her unborn baby when the woman swallows bromadiolone, a long-acting rat poison, and how doctors can treat it.
- Who participated: One pregnant woman, age 19, who was 37 weeks along in her first pregnancy. The study does not report any other participants.
- Key finding: The mother’s blood stayed unable to clot for a long time, even though her platelet count (the cells that start clotting) and fibrinogen (a clotting protein) were normal. This pattern pointed to the poison blocking the body’s ability to make clotting factors. Treatment with plasma and vitamin K1 corrected the problem, but the baby died shortly after birth.
- What it means for you: Anyone who may have swallowed rat poison, especially a pregnant person, should get emergency medical care right away, even if they feel fine. Hidden exposure can cause serious bleeding in both mother and baby. Keep rodent bait locked away from people, pets, and children.
The Research Details
This is a case report, which means the authors carefully described the medical history and treatment of one patient rather than testing a large group of people. The woman arrived at the hospital with belly pain, and an ultrasound showed the baby was in distress. Doctors performed an emergency cesarean delivery, a surgery to deliver the baby through the belly. The baby died soon after birth, and the team saw bright red blood in the baby’s airway during a breathing tube placement.
After the surgery, the mother’s blood tests showed she could not clot normally. Doctors only learned about the poison after taking a more detailed history, when the woman admitted she had swallowed bromadiolone bait 12 days earlier. The team then compared her test results to the usual patterns seen with clotting problems caused by pregnancy complications, and the pattern matched a vitamin K deficiency caused by the poison rather than a different condition.
The authors could not run a toxicology test to measure the poison in her blood, and no autopsy was performed on the baby. Their conclusion rests on the exposure history, the clotting pattern, the bleeding seen in the baby’s airway, and the mother’s response to vitamin K1 treatment.
A case report is useful for spotting rare dangers that larger studies may not capture yet. Because bromadiolone poisoning in pregnancy is so uncommon, a single well-documented case can alert doctors to a diagnosis they might otherwise miss. The detailed timeline, from the poisoning to the bleeding to the treatment, helps other clinicians recognize the pattern.
The case also shows why a careful history matters. The poisoning was only revealed after repeated questioning, which suggests doctors should ask directly about possible exposures when a patient has unexplained bleeding.
This report describes one patient, so its findings cannot be generalized to all pregnant people. The strongest evidence is the detailed, consistent clinical picture. However, the lack of toxicology confirmation and autopsy means the link to bromadiolone is strongly suspected rather than proven. Case reports are generally considered an early level of evidence, useful for generating hypotheses and raising awareness, but not for setting treatment rules on their own.
What the Results Show
The mother’s blood tests showed severe clotting problems. Her prothrombin time (a test of how quickly blood clots) was longer than 150 seconds, and her international normalized ratio (INR, a standardized version of that test) could not be measured because it was so high. Her activated partial thromboplastin time, another clotting test, was also prolonged. These results mean her blood took far longer than normal to form clots.
Her platelet count and fibrinogen level were both normal. This matters because many other causes of serious bleeding in pregnancy, such as a condition called disseminated intravascular coagulation, usually lower platelets or fibrinogen. Because those were normal, the authors concluded that the problem was more likely a deficiency of vitamin K-dependent clotting factors, which the poison appears to block.
The mother was treated with fresh frozen plasma, which supplies clotting proteins, and then with vitamin K1 over an extended period. Her clotting improved with this treatment, which the authors saw as further support for the poison as the cause. The baby, however, had already been severely harmed. The team observed bright red blood in the airway, and the baby died shortly after birth.
The ultrasound showed mild enlargement of fluid-filled spaces in the baby’s brain, called ventriculomegaly, along with fluid around the lungs and heart. These signs suggest the baby was bleeding or under stress before birth, which may have been caused by the poison crossing from mother to baby through the placenta.
The mother had only minimal symptoms at first, which is important. The authors note that fetal harm can occur even when the mother appears only mildly unwell, so a calm presentation does not rule out serious danger to the baby.
The case also highlights the need for psychosocial support. Intentional poisoning in pregnancy usually signals serious emotional distress, and the authors recommend that care teams include mental health and social support alongside medical treatment.
Bromadiolone and other long-acting anticoagulant rodenticides are known to cause bleeding and to cross the placenta, but reports of poisoning during pregnancy are rare. This case fits with existing knowledge that these poisons block vitamin K recycling in the liver, leading to clotting factor deficiency. It adds a detailed example showing how the poison may affect a pregnancy, including fetal bleeding and death, which is not widely described in the literature. Standard management of these poisonings, including vitamin K1 and plasma when bleeding is severe, is consistent with current toxicology practice.
The most important limitation is that the study describes one patient. Its results cannot show how often this happens, what the exact risk is for a pregnant person who swallows the poison, or what the best treatment dose and duration should be. The poison was not confirmed by a lab test, and no autopsy was done, so the link to bromadiolone rests on the story, the test pattern, and the response to treatment. The timing of the poison ingestion was based on the patient’s own report, which may not be fully accurate. Finally, the baby’s exact cause of death could not be confirmed.
The Bottom Line
Doctors should consider rat poison exposure when a pregnant patient has unexplained, severe bleeding or clotting problems, especially when platelets and fibrinogen are normal. Treatment with vitamin K1, and plasma when needed, appears to help, and the authors recommend continuing vitamin K1 for an extended period. Because this comes from a single case, confidence in these specific recommendations is moderate, though the general approach is consistent with established poison treatment.
For the public, the clearest message is that any suspected poison exposure should be reported to emergency services or a poison control center right away, even when a person feels fine. Confidence in this advice is high because delayed treatment is the main risk.
This research is most relevant to emergency physicians, obstetricians, midwives, toxicologists, and anyone caring for pregnant patients. Households with rodent control products, and people who may be at risk of self-harm or who live in stressful situations, should also be aware of the danger. People who are not pregnant and do not handle these products have little direct need to act on these specific findings beyond general poison safety.
Vitamin K1 can begin improving clotting within hours in many cases, but the authors describe treatment lasting an extended period because long-acting poisons stay in the body for a long time. Recovery of normal clotting may take days to weeks. Harm to a developing baby cannot be reversed by later treatment, which is why early care matters so much.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can rat poison cause bleeding in a pregnant woman?
Yes, according to a 2026 case report, bromadiolone rat poison can cross the placenta and disrupt clotting. The reported patient had a prothrombin time over 150 seconds, while her platelet count stayed normal, pointing to a vitamin K-dependent clotting deficiency.
What is the treatment for bromadiolone poisoning?
Treatment described in a 2026 case report included fresh frozen plasma for active clotting support and vitamin K1 taken over a prolonged period. The patient’s clotting improved with this approach, though the study cannot confirm the best dose or duration for all patients.
Can a baby be harmed if the mother swallows rat poison but feels fine?
Research reviewed by Gram describes a case where the mother had minimal symptoms, yet the baby showed signs of bleeding and fluid buildup before birth and died shortly after delivery. Any suspected poison exposure during pregnancy should prompt immediate emergency medical evaluation.
What should I do if I think someone swallowed rodent bait?
Call emergency services or a poison control center right away, even if the person seems well. Bring the product packaging if possible. Long-acting rodenticides can cause delayed bleeding, so prompt medical evaluation is important for a safe outcome.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Log any suspected or confirmed exposure to rodenticides or other household toxins, including the date, product name, and time since exposure. For pregnant users, record any bleeding, bruising, belly pain, or changes in fetal movement each day, and note the time you contacted a medical professional.
- Store rodent bait in a locked cabinet, out of reach of children, pets, and anyone at risk of intentional harm, and keep it in its original labeled container. If you think someone has swallowed rodent poison, call emergency services or a poison control center immediately, even if they seem fine. If you are struggling with thoughts of harming yourself or someone else, reach out to a crisis line or emergency services right away.
- Build a simple long-term log that tracks prenatal appointments, any medications or household chemicals that enter the home, and symptoms such as unusual bruising or bleeding. Share the log with your care team at every visit. Review it regularly so that changes are noticed early.
This article summarizes a single case report and is for general education only. It is not medical advice and cannot replace care from a doctor, midwife, or poison control expert. If you think you or someone else has swallowed rodent poison or any other toxic substance, especially during pregnancy, call emergency services or your local poison control center immediately. If you are having thoughts of harming yourself or someone else, contact a crisis line or emergency services right away.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.