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?

I had them for six weeks post partum and I agree they are seriously awful. But I have to agree with this PP. You can try to justify yourself through the medium of google, but ultimately an expert says this could save a life-threatening incident. Just fucking do it.

Wow, I had two C sections and I didn't have any blood thinners. I didn't even know it was a "thing". The nurses had me on my feet (with support) within 24 hours so maybe that's why.

I used emla numbing cream - game changer

Just googled Clexane and apparently it's a relatively new recommendation - as of 2016. I had my DC about 20 years ago. I think it seems a very good idea to have it!

I had pulmonary embolism during my second pregnancy. Was 32, fit and healthy and had no issues in my first pregnancy. Risk factors are just that, you might be an unlucky one and PE is one of those very deadly things. It’s your choice

I’ve had to take them daily throughout pregnancy due to having a blood clotting disorder, that wasn’t picked up till I did IVF and I had tests to work out why I had, had multiple losses and ivf failure.

I’m still taking them now and will have to take them post c section now. I know you are looking for stats to let you off taking them, and I understand why, but it’s not worth even the tiniest risk to leave your baby behind motherless.

You are brave I know you can do it, pregnancy is hard, c sections are hard, you can do this too!!

My tips are to do it on the top of your thigh, ice first (i use the flexi ice packs) wrap in one layer of a T-shirt, when the skin feels icy inject, my doctor friend told me to do it on slight angle, and that makes it bruise and hurt less. I find after you Inject, give in a little circular rub and putting the ice back prevents bruises and lumps.

another tip, do it when you have something you find comforting on the telly (I use the symptoms, and I get my partner to do it, but talk to at me about something pleasant loudly, and asking questions distracts me from any pain.

Good luck mama, from one needle hater to another

(I use the simpsons), autocorrect doh!

I was never offered or given these. I e only learned anklet them since my 2 sections by reading about them on here. I was encouraged to get up and walk the next morning after my section though which the fist time round was irrelevant more than 12 hours post OP. Possibly why it wasn't considered to be needed?

I inject in the area I’ve circled, and then gentle pinch a nice face bit

the other photo is the ice I use

Agree with this

Couple of injections....or death?!

I had them for both pregnancies. Went through multiple rounds of IVF so done hundreds of injections on myself. Some things you just have to suck up - if I had to take 10 injections a day to ensure I a) had a baby and b) increase the odds of being around to see them grow up I know what I would do

Please do them. I know someone who almost died of blood clot post section.

To those asking why some are and aren't offered, it's based on a scoring system and will likely vary between trusts. You need to meet a certain score to need them and then some need a 10 day course, others 6 weeks. Depends on things like previous section/PPH/ family history of clots/BMI/smoker and other stuff

All our section ladies qualify automatically I think off the top of my head

Wasn't a fan of these either, I had to do 6 weeks. I found the best way to do it was to inject in my stomach where it was numb from my section so it was least painful. I found that was easier than getting my oh to do it. Not worth the risk, and as others have said if you're in hospital get the nurses to do it, hopefully then you won't have many to do yourself.

I can't do them at all. I have a needle phobia and I just can't do it. I had to get someone else to do them for me, either my mum or my DH.

I really wish there was a better way of delivering the drugs than expecting women who've potentially just been through a traumatic labour and delivery and are now trying to keep a tiny human alive to stick needles in themselves. I found there was very little preparation, just 'here they are and off you go'. I really really struggled to do them

I had them for 6 weeks after my first emergency c section and yes it was horrible, I use to do it just before love Island came on so I got into a routine. The more skin you pinch the less it stings.
However, with my elective I had such little blood loss I didn't need them so you may be ok.

I’m in Australia and we only do then when an inpatient, so 2-3 doses. I’m also a nurse who regularly teaches patients how to do their own post joint surgeries. Ask for apixaban instead, it’s an oral tablet and as long as your kidneys are healthy then it’s essentially the same.

Ask for apixaban instead, it’s an oral tablet and as long as your kidneys are healthy then it’s essentially the same.

They will not offer this, it is not licensed not recommended by the RCOG.

Apixaban not recommended of breast feeding or during pregnancy.

IF breast feeding.

Nothing to do with blood loss. It is to prevent pulmonary embolism.

My sister in law died from a blood clot following a c section. Left brother with a 10 day old baby and a severely disabled toddler.

it was heartbreaking.

It happened 20 years ago and the sadness is still there for the kids and him despite life going on.

Can the midwife train your husband or a friend to do this for you? Easier to have some one do it rather than having to do it yourself.

But please please do them.

I had to have them after my c section 4 years ago. I was in hospital for 5 days so had the midwives do them, then I needed to do the other 5 at home. My husband had to do them for me because I couldn't. Each one took over an hour of me screaming and crying, being on the phone to my mum, holding a pillow over my face etc but in the end I did each one because the thought of leaving my newborn son was too awful.

I avoided a c section this time because of those injections but ended up needing them anyway because I was an inpatient for 5 days 😤 this time I just sucked it up without the dramatics and my husband did all 10. I surprised myself at how much braver I was this time. They were no bother.

The evidence for using it so widely actually isn’t very good. I was watching a YouTube video by a consultant obstetrician recently who was saying that she thinks national recommendations may soon change saying not to give heparin to women just because of a lscs but only if they had other risk factors. In fact she might have said that it had changed. She definitely made a comment saying she thought most hospitals would carry on giving it regardless as it felt wrong not to. 🤷‍♀️ Which I thought was odd if medicine is supposed to be evidence based practice.

khn.org/news/article/doctors-debate-use-of-blood-thinners-to-prevent-clots-in-women-after-c-sections/

Personally think you'd be really daft not to. Risk of blood clots increase with any surgery regardless of how healthy you are. My Midwifes view was that they couldn't force me to take them, but having seen new mothers with pulmonary embolism they strongly, strongly recommended it.

The needles are tiny and once you get used to it, they are easy & painless. In the midst of c-section recovery it really is a minor inconvenience & least of your worries.