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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

jabs after c section

28 replies

Shez1981 · 16/01/2014 16:15

Hi im pregnant with my 3rd and have been hearing of women having to have jabs for 6 weeks after a c section birth. Is this right as I never had them with the first two and they were both c section babys.

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CatchesTheNightTrain · 16/01/2014 16:17

Depends what the jabs are and for what reason.

I imagine they are clexane (low molecular dose heparin)
Which is given to women who meet the criteria for being high risk of a DVT?

NorthEasterlyGale · 16/01/2014 16:26

I had LMWH jabs after my c section and will have them again this time when I have DC2 in 5 or so weeks (another c section), but they're only for a week. It's due to DVT risk 'cause I'm fat. Very fat.

MaebyF · 16/01/2014 16:39

I had clexane jabs for about a week in 2012. I was under the impression that everyone was just given them.

Shez1981 · 16/01/2014 16:41

I had my youngest in 2010 and had jabs for DVTB but only for the 3 days while I was in hospital.

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Showy · 16/01/2014 16:46

They're trying to roll out all women self-administering blood thinners for a week after a CS regardless of DVT risk because of research showing it reduces DVT incidences. Our hospital introduced it for all CS patients in 2010. I had DS in 2011 and am a size 8 with a low BMI and no risk factors. I injected for a week. Actually dh did it. Mine were tinzaparin iirc. They give you full training on how to do it. It's nothing to worry about.

eatyourveg · 16/01/2014 16:58

Only had jabs for both cs for the first few days in hospital too - that was back in the dark ages

kazza446 · 16/01/2014 17:04

I've just had a c section and had to administer clexane injections for 5 days. They are to prevent Dvt's. Very simple to do! Wouldn't worry about it!

Velve · 16/01/2014 17:05

Our hospital routinely gives women who have c-sections a week's dose of clexane to take home. One jab in the tummy everyday. OH did mine for me.

HRHwheezing · 16/01/2014 17:08

It doesn't hurt just a few days after the section at home. Mw took away the sharps for me.

MW in hospital did the injection too close to my belly button where the skin is tight. God it hurt.

TheMumsRush · 16/01/2014 17:13

I had jabs for a week administered by my dh to stop dvt

TheMumsRush · 16/01/2014 17:14

I must be a wimp as I didn't find the jab itself hurt but it stung quit a bit after Confused

Thurlow · 16/01/2014 17:25

Same here - injection didn't hurt, but it did sting a lot for a few minutes afterwards.

CatchesTheNightTrain · 16/01/2014 20:56

If a woman meets the criteria she may also be prescribed clexane after a vaginal birth.

Length if time you are prescribed it for various.

As stated after a section it is becoming increasingly routine to prescribe clexane for 1 week, as section itself is a risk factor.

I only know of one woman who was prescribed 6 weeks of clexane and that was because of history of DVT and raised BMI, having also had a section.

kiwiscantfly · 16/01/2014 23:53

I had a week if jabs in 2011 and while the ones the nurses gave me hurt and left bruises, the ones DH did were fine.

kiwiscantfly · 16/01/2014 23:54

Of jabs, stupid fat fingers on phone!

McPheezingMyButtOff · 16/01/2014 23:57

I had them too

Although we had a mare getting rid of the sharps box, because nowhere would take it Hmm

browneyesblue · 17/01/2014 00:24

This just popped up in Active convos - I had to use clexane for the first couple of trimesters, so not exactly the same scenario. I am the world's biggest coward when it comes to needles though, so I tried everything to make it easier and thought I'd share what I found:

I found it easier if I or DH did the injection, rather than the midwife. We went for slow and steady, rather than the fast approach.

If you rub (or in any way fiddle with) the injection site after the injection, it will sting horribly. Sit on your hands, take up knitting, clap very loudly, anything other than touch the area.

I used a children's ice pack (a Boo-Boo Buddy - go ahead, laugh at me!) to numb the area before injecting. Lots of people are fine without as it is an extremely fine needle, but I am phobic, and quickly ran out of unused injection sites, so it helped.

If for whatever reason you really do struggle, you can always ask for a prescription on emla cream, a topical anaesthesia. I found it a bit of a faff to use, but if you have the patience it may help.

As mentioned above, never go too close to the belly button, but use as large an area of fat as you can grab, alternate sides, and avoid moles and visible veins.

The midwife or HV should take the sharps bin.

It may not be pleasant, but the routine use of clexane after c-sections has reduced the incidence of DVTs.

Best of luck with your new baby :)

amandine07 · 18/01/2014 02:34

Think I had 7 days of Clexane in total.
Self-administered once home.
Stung like a bugger despite it being a fine needle!

I was happy enough to do it myself once I was back home- MWs on the PN ward seemed to draw blood each time they literally stabbed me with it- ouch!

amandine07 · 18/01/2014 02:35

We have to take sharps bin to a pharmacy, not got around to that yet!

GreenFirefly · 18/01/2014 03:01

I was surprised about it in August after my 2nd c-sec but it wasn't too bad. except when I tried my thigh rather than tummy. definitely stick with flabby bits of belly.
I had to phone the council to collect the sharps bin.

amandine07 · 18/01/2014 03:48

I opted for thigh for all the jabs & really hurt and still have the bruises!

Tummy felt too tender but maybe it would've been a better location and wouldn't have hurt so much...?!

2blessed · 18/01/2014 04:14

I had the jabs for a week after my emcs. Opted for thigh also, no problems and got dp to administer.

Gooseysgirl · 18/01/2014 04:23

I had 7 days of clexane jabs after both sections. I administered them to the left or right of my belly button alternately. I pinched the skin at the injection site as I was doing it which helped. Your midwife/GP/health centre all have access to medical waste bins so no reason why they shouldn't take your box of sharps after.

nooka · 18/01/2014 04:36

I'm glad this wasn't standard when I had my c-sections! dh is needle phobic and whilst I am OK with injections I get very faint if I look at the site when I'm injected/have blood taken, so it would have been very tricky. I didn't have any injections in hospital either, but this was back in 1999/2000.

MoominsYonisAreScary · 18/01/2014 04:56

I had 7 days of clexane