Injections after section

[ForeverBubblegum]

I had DD by sections on Friday and came home yesterday with some blood thinning injections to prevent blood clots. I'm ment to self inject but I just can't. I sat holding the needle for about 20 minutes and I just couldn't make myself, just ended up crying thinking about doing it.

I know it's irrational, and considering I've been cut open, had bloods taken, and been jabbed by midwifes several times (hate it but can cope) I should be fine with it. But I just can't.

Does anyone know how important the jabs are. I had for the two days in hospital, I'm moving around fine, and have been mobile since a few hours after the op, so I'm hoping the risk is low anyway even if I don't do it.

Hi didn’t want to read and run. I can’t comment on C section but any abdominal surgery puts you at high risk for blood clots hence needing to self inject. The friend I was in hospital with, on an orthopaedics ward, had a car accident and had bowel surgery because of the seat belt, so had to take the injections home too. Unfortunately she couldn’t stand them in hospital either and eventually managed to be discharged with tablets instead because she wasn’t going to be able to face having a friend or family member do it either. Call your doctor first thing because it’s worth to a GP about.

Can you get your partner/husband to do it?

I felt exactly the same (I've given injections to others), I just couldn't do it. DH had to do it.

Yes, it's important. I couldn't do it to myself either, I had to ask DH to do it. If you really can't and don't have anyone to do it for you, speak to your midwife - I'm sure they'd be able to help.

Could you phone the maternity unit and see if a daily aspirin is a suitable alternative?
Although, admittedly, I don't know whether aspirin is contraindicated postpartum

They are very important.

I hated the first one but I found that if I just aimed and shut my eyes while I did it, I could fool myself it was a mosquito or something!

If it's to actually save your life, to save your child's mother's life, just shut your eyes and do it. A split second and it's done. You can do it :)

Please make sure you have them administered somehow. My husband did mine each night; they're painful but necessary.

If you are needle phobic then your midwife may be able to arrange for a district nurse or community midwife to administer it for you each day- or, if you can travel, your GP surgery may agree to have the practice nurse administer them. If I was you I'd ask your partner or another family member to do them for you. They are extremely important so don't skip them- the risk of you developing a clot is pretty small but it's still a risk that could have catastrophic consequences that are easily avoided (or at least hugely reduced) by just following the medical protocol.

I thought I would be able to inject myself but when I got home I was unable to do it! I had to ask my husband to do it for me and I was surprised that he agreed. Does your midwife not visit daily for the first few weeks? If so then she would perhaps do it for you? It's very important so please make sure you do them

I had to have them because of a hemorage (no idea on spelling) but only has three injections (two in hospital, one by partner). Fourth one I was lying there and I just started having a panic attack, called my mum and she tried to calm me down but eventually I called the maternity unit and they said to just see a medical professional in the morning. Midwives come over and I start panicking two hours beforehand so they said to not worry about it as it wasn't worth the stress and just keep an eye out for any symptoms of a clot. Call someone out tomorrow or go back to the maternity unit and see what they say.
The amount of needles stuck in me during my pregnancy, labour, and post natally was ridiculous and I became very needle phobic - ironically the only contraception that works for me is the injection 🤦‍♀️

Let someone else do it. Your partner, a friend, someone you know with diabetes (they know how to inject), a neighbour. I'd happily inject someone if that helps them and I think a lot of people would.

It is very important that you take the shots. I just closed my eyes and forced myself to do it! It wasn’t pleasant but it’s only for a few days and could potentially save your life!

I managed but only because I injected insulin when I was pregnant.

It's honestly ok, I bent a few of the needles (stupid cap) and told the midwife and she said it was fine. I had skipped 3 in total out of 10.

Get your husband to do It they are super important. I had them only for 10 days and then it's done with.

Just finished using the injections for a year during and following my second pregnancy. During my first I developed multiple pulmonary embolisms. Beside the risk of death if you get a clot you could be on the injections for 6 months so using them for another week is definitely your best option.

@ForeverBubblegum I'm in the minority here, and I can't encourage you to do what I did but I can tell you my experience.
I've had two c sections, 10.5 months apart and each time I couldn't do the injections. I was up walking around very soon after both surgeries and I am fine.

Congratulations on your baby x

I got my DH to do mine. Thank goodness I did as I subsequently found out that I had a blood clotting disorder and was unbeknownst to me, at extremely high risk. My DS was diagnosed with type one diabetes aged 8 and had to perform 10 blood tests and six injections a day from that age. I personally felt very ashamed of myself that I had wimped out of injecting myself with blood thinners for a couple of weeks when he has to do that at such a young age, but I do understand that it is really hard to "take the plunge". Get someone else to do them if you don't want to do them yourself, but don't skip them. That would be stupid.