Refusing Clexane after C section

[MolesOnPoles]

Has anyone refused Clexane (blood thinning) injections after a c section?

I’m fine with injections usually, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it on myself after DD was born. It sounds mad but trying to force myself to do it was by far the worst but of my C section recovery. DH would be useless at helping, but I’ll rope him in if I need to.

I’ll be having another C section in the spring, and I’m wondering about discussing whether I can avoid taking them with the consultant.

I know that the risk of a blood clot doubles after a c section, but I can’t find anywhere what the absolute risk is which would be really useful to know.

I will discuss it with a doc, but has anyone else done this?

You could ask if there’s anything else. I didn’t have clexane. Unfortunately I don’t remember what I did have, but it was only a couple of injections while I was still in hospital.

I did a couple myself but really didn't like it, DH did the rest which made it much easier.

Please talk to your midwives about this OP, I’m sure this is a very common fear and they must be able to suggest some ways around it. I had an ELCS with DC2 and had two rounds of these injections afterwards. It kind of amazed me how quickly I got used to it (even though I categorically didn’t enjoy it!).
I actually found it easier doing it myself as I was in control. I just used to count to 3 and then without hesitation plunge it in. Not fun but not the horrendous thing I’d geared it up to be first time around. Please speak to your midwife, I do think it’s worth taking them as a precaution.

I had a spinal so that I could be repaired in theatre after my son was born. I remember the fear of the Fragmin I was told I had to inject afterwards. I was so scared of it (and my husband has a needle phobia) that the midwives arranged someone to come round every day and do it for me 😂🤦🏻‍♀️ I was, and am still, very grateful that they offered.

Hi op I'm 2.5 weeks post section. I'm absolutely petrified of needles and I absolutely dreaded these every single day. Like to the point of tears. I asked if there was a tablet alternative or if I could administer in a different location than my dish

*than my stomach
But was told no. They were the worst part of the recovery for me as well but I wouldn't take the risk of developing a clot. I was able to make myself administer insulin through my pregnancy due to gd but couldn't with this due to the needle size and shape. My dh gave it to me every day while I bit a pillow. On the 10th one we went out for buns after to celebrate it being over. That's how much I hated it. But, I think it's a necessary evil and throwing a clot and ending up unwell or back in hospital would be worse in my eyes. I think get your dh to administer so you don't need to think about it.

The latest mbrrace (Nov 22) report still shows deaths from thrombosis or thromboembolism as the highest cause of death in pregnant/recently delivered women.

Ask if your community midwife can accommodate daily injections. It's for 10 days so with a mixture of home visits/you attending clinic they will accommodate if you tell them you won't be having them. I certainly wouldn't take the risk.

Gosh, that is disappointing to read. I have been retired several years now, but back in 2000 - 2012 there was so much work done in this area that it really did look as if we were winning. I think perhaps additional risk factors are influencing outcomes. Possibly people not taking their injections too.

I had to have them after a spinal with DD's delivery. I couldn't do them I had to get DH to do them in my thigh and not tell me when he was going to do it. I cried every time not because of the pain but I just got myself so worked up before it, I really hate needles and it's so much worse since giving birth. I'd still rather have to go through that again than risk it though.

@endofthelinefinally very sad...I agree though I think it's likely the rising high risk population coupled with the increased IOL and CS rates and maybe some non compliance thrown in there for added measure.

I was on clexane throughout my pregnancy and for 6 weeks after. I was a complete needle phobe too. The first week or so was hard, I'd spend ages mentally gearing myself up and the longer I took, the more panicky I got. In the end I just counted to 10 and did it. Pinch a good chunk of skin, inject slowly and it's not too bad. Some sting more than others. After a few weeks I could do them without looking. I still hate other people injecting me and now would much rather do it myself. I couldn't have let dh do it. I have a high risk of blood clots so there's no way I wouldn't not do it. I knew I just had to suck it up as the risks were too high. Your situation is different but I think the fact they seem to give it as routine to everyone after a c-section suggests there are known increased risks.

I got a dvt at 8 wks due to hyperemesis and had to take the injections from then til 6 wks after my section, take the shots. The pain in my leg was bloody awful and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

Urgh I feel you OP. Injections don't usually bother me but I truly hated having the Clexane ones after my sections. They stung and interrupted precious baby free time and were very much the straw that broke my exhausted, hormonal camel's back. Every day

Definitely do the thigh and get your DH to do them, it's the least he can do.

OP, just a thought, do you know anybody who does the monthly bloodtests for the ONS covid survey? They will have spare unused little automated lancets you could use to practice on a finger (it's not like a needle; but would harmlessly help you overcome your hesitation to deliberately prick yourself.).

Me. I declined them after my section.

I worked on the PN ward & we switched brands of anti coag during my pregnancy. We had an absolute spate of wound dehiscence - it was grim. So I declined them. My colleague (& surgeon) persuaded me to have them whilst I was an in patient because ‘mate, you are a bit fat’.

I would never refuse them now.

Well I have to do 5 injections a day for life, it’s not pleasant but sometimes we just have to toughen up and get on with things don’t we? After childbirth the clexane was child’s play.

Have a look at the chart posted up thread to see what risk factors you score for. It's your choice, but I would, and did, take them. Postnatally, I scored 2 for my first pregnancy. A whopping 6 with my second. Both with hospital admission beforehand too.

It's a momentary discomfort, once a day for 10 days. A very small price to pay when the alternatives, if you do develop a clot, can be devastating. The build up and anticipation is far worse than the injection itself. It also hurt far less if I did them myself. But for being a big brave girl, I still earned myself a chocolate after each one.

Dammit. Hit post too soon. Still going to post my joke anyway.

The "carrot after the stick" as it were.

I got a DVT from sitting at work and I'm a long distance runner. It's your calf muscle that pumps blood around the legs so if you aren't moving for long periods the blood in your legs effectively stops moving and thickens up.
There are no warning signs. Just do it.
I found to stop it stinging so much pinch the skin, and administer very very slowly. Barely felt it. Woman up

I made DP do it. I had to go through all the agony of pregnancy, labour and surgery, the least he could do was a bit of aftercare.

Oh gosh, please take the injections.

I know it's horrible, and you'll probably be ok without them... but some People are not.

Pulmonary embolism is the biggest killer of healthy young women. Please, for your husband and children, don't take the risk.

I had it done by the midwives for the first 7 days (I was on the ward for 13 days) and then that’s it. They did say that because of my BMI they recommend that I take the prescription to take it home and do it for another 2 weeks or something like that. I said definitely not, I’ll just take the risk. No one would do it for me at home and I certainly wasn’t going to do it for myself.

That was in April and I still lived to tell the tale🤷‍♀️ I’d say mention it to a doctor to hear what they say/recommend but just make your own decision

Please take them. I had a PE as a fit, active, non-smoking 20 year old so have had to do daily injections of Fragmin or Clexane throughout three pregnancies and for 6 weeks after. Pregnancy is a major risk factor for clots and the risk is highest immediately post-partum. Major surgery, like a c-section, is also a major risk factor, as is age.
As PP have mentioned there are ways to make it less unpleasant- you can get someone else to do it for you, inject in your thigh if you can't face doing your tummy, numb the area beforehand with an ice cube, take a deep breath in and breathe out slowly as you insert the needle and again as you push down to inject. I do mine first thing when I wake up to get it out of the way. I still dislike it even after doing it hundreds of times but it is over within a few seconds.
I think it's fair enough to ask about absolute risk but you could also look at it this way: you might be just fine, of course, but you won't know if you're one of the unlucky few who will develop a clot until it's too late. If you get this wrong the consequences could be horrendous- at best, even if you make a full recovery, it'd likely be a very frightening experience for you and your loved ones and will probably mean having to take blood thinners in any future pregnancy and elevated risk and worry if you need any kind of surgery, or even if you just need to take a long-haul flight. Compare that to the downsides to taking the Clexane - at worst you will find it painful and absolutely hate doing it, but you will be done after ten days.

I’m a slim non smoker who’s had 3 sections (at 29, 31 and 34) and I’ve done 10 days each time. In the thighs - did them myself as DH has a thing about needles. I too found them to be one of the worst things about the sections but did them all anyway because as horrible as they are it would be far worse to leave my children motherless owing to being a wuss. But yeah stabbing yourself with something sharp is awful, you really have to overcome some kind of mental block every time. And then the pain when you push the plunger in. And the big bruise afterwards. I do sympathise!

Yeah this is my opinion too. I just had a caesar 6 weeks ago and felt like they sprung the injections on me so I had no time to ask questions. No one mentioned it before hand, I literally didn't know until I was filling a painkiller prescription on the way home and was handed a box of needles! 😲
I am normally a pita about discussing risks and refusing things...

I decided to do them all because I'm nearly 40, overweight and had just spent a month on bed rest. But, I'm not bothered by needles.