Calling all IVFers past and present: who did the injections, you or your OH?

[merricat]

I'm on my first round of IVF, and start stimming this evening. I've always thought that I'd be the one to administer the stabby needle, because I can be a bit of a control freak and don't want hubby to feel any pressure or blame if he gets it wrong somehow. If someone is going to get it wrong, I'd rather it be me.

But I just watched a tutorial video on youtube in which a husband was injecting his victim wife, and it I thought it was touching and sweet.

Now I'm conflicted. What did you lot do?

[glasgowlass]

I injected myself. DP is not a fan of needles!

[resipsa]

Me, me, me - you're in control that way and know when to tense/relax!
PS Mine never really hurt.

[maltravers]

I did them myself. No way would I let my husband! Assuming they are in the stomach, they're actually fine. Be brave!

[sj73]

So much better doing it yourself as my fear of injections is not knowing when it's going to go in. It's surprisingly fine! Like a needle going into butter when you find a nice fat roll. I now ask doctors to let me do my own flu jabs.

[RaspberrySnowCone]

DH did first one so that he felt 'involved'. I think we were both relieved when the control freak in me kicked in and I did it myself. Much preferred me to do it.

[Joyfulleastersquad]

Me!

Dp was originally going to do it as I hate needles!! BUT - I quickly glanced at him through squinty eyes and he was actually holding it like a knife in a stabbing action

It's honestly not bad at all

[OrinocoTheWomble]

DH couldn't look when I did it! It's much easier to do it yourself - you never hurt yourself! It honestly doesn't hurt at all.

Good luck!

[MsHighwater]

I did it. Never really thought of doing otherwise. It also allowed me to be more discreet as we were not public about doing IVF and had to inject 2x daily.

[merricat]

Okay, I went with the majority. I did it and it was fine. Didn't even feel it going in actually, though it took me a while to remember to actually plunge the end down with my thumb once it was in. A bit sore afterwards. DH involved himself by putting a hand on my shoulder while I did it.

Thanks everyone!

[CatnipMouse]

I did the first few and then got him to do most of the rest. I found it a lot easier to have help, and I think it helped him to get his head around it, and also made him feel more involved. But it was good to do the first few on my own so that I knew I could do it without him if I needed to.

Well done on your first one! It does get easier.

[Guin1]

I hate needles and DH is a nurse, so he did the injections for my first round of IVF. But then I found it was just easier for me to do my own for the second round.

[Tootsiepops]

I did my subcutaneous injections, but twice a week, I have an intramuscular injection of progesterone in oil. It goes in to my backside and the needle is HUGE so my husband does that one. He's been a great nurse and I love him even more for it.

[Littlemisssunshine75]

Your dh sounds lovely merricat
I think it's much better to do your own, there's no way I could have let dh anywhere near me with a needle!!
Good luck with the IVF

[Joyfulleastersquad]

Ah the shoulder squeeze

[inamaymaybewrong]

Fresh cycle my OH did all but 2 of them. Frozen cycle I did them all myself.

[ChrisQuean]

DH did. To be involved. But I was happy to do them and did. He got very good after 4 cycles and a FET (we have 2 DSs, so all good )

[kickassangel]

The first time he watched me as I was worried I'd mix it up wrong or something stupid just out of nerves. Then I just did it myself. He was hardly ever home at the right time anyway.

[SaltySeaBird]

Far more painful having DH inject me! He did a few times but I find it far better doing it myself.

[Lauren83]

My DP does a few but I do most, he did my first intramuscular one but as I'm on them every day I had to learn, not pleasant but you get used to it

[Blackandwhitecat3]

I was so going to do them myself, but I hate needles (I always look away in blood tests) so DH ended up doing it. When the liquid went in, it really stung. Is that normal? Lots of you said it didn't hurt, so did we do it wrong?

[Lauren83]

Some hurt don't don't, Menopur was fine, cetrotide itched, clexane stung and Gestone aches in my experience but that ones in the muscle. I find some hurt for no reason it just happens don't worry

[Blackandwhitecat3]

My injections are going better now, but I have another question: when you don't have enough drug left in the pen for a full dose, do you really have to stay yourself twice in one night from two pens? If I follow the instructions to the letter, I have 150 units lefts in my pen but my dose is 250 so tomorrow night I will need to inject once with this one for 150 units and then again with a new pen for 100 units?

Or can I assume after my day 6 scan on Monday that my dose will be changed and so I should start a new pen tomorrow night and leave the 150 (which might be used next week in a different dose)?

[Blackandwhitecat3]

Stab

[Lauren83]

It depends how much of it you have left, I never used a pen but when I was using little bottles and they got nearly empty if there wasn't enough for a dose I would just use a spare needle to transfer what was left it on to another, this time I had loads of buserelin so got 'dregs' left in a few bottles I never used

[hawaiibaby]

Ooh I wanted to do it myself! I think it is far easier. DH preps the buserilin and deals with the air bubbles but I did / do all injections, including the stimming.