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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Dont know how to give myself clexane i jection

26 replies

mummyneedinganswers · 17/08/2015 19:39

Okay 25 weeks and found out last night I have a clot in my leg. They gave me a clexane injection last night at a&e and then gave me one to take tonight by myself at home. I don't mind injections or needles at al as I'm used to being poked and prodded at as my veins are shit. Only problem is I can't physicAlly inject myself at all, I just can't bring myself to do it. My partner is a type one diabetic and he could have done it for me but he's at work and my injection is due at midnight so a shit time to get anyone else to do. Mums a nurse and bloody useless she just keeps say stick it in and push the syringe but I don't think she realises I've no training what's so ever in this.

.what am I going to do I'm petrified of injecting it wrong or something.
What should I do ?

OP posts:
Original poster
mummyneedinganswers · 17/08/2015 19:40

Oh and does it have to go into my tummy as its so sore injecting into bump. I don't want to call my MAU and sound so ridiculous

OP posts:
TheCowThatLaughs · 17/08/2015 19:47

I think you're meant to do it in your upper thigh when pregnant, not into your bump. Just pinch about an inch of flesh between your fingers, put the needle straight in, push the plunger when the needle is fully in. The needle retracts itself with these injections afaik, so once you've pushed the plunger the needle will come out by itself.
Might be worth looking at a few YouTube videos? Have you only got one injection to do or is it a course of several?

TheCowThatLaughs · 17/08/2015 19:49

And it's a subcutaneous injection so it doesn't need to go into a vein btw, in case you're worried you need to find one Smile

Cheshirehello79 · 17/08/2015 19:51

Hi mummy I'm on then since week 21 as had terrible swelling on my legs and mw recommended it. Though it's recommended you inject tummy - you can inject on your thighs too and that's what I've been doing just in case I inject tummy and pike beanster's eyes or something!

I find and area more like on the side of the thigh with a bit of meat and inject it in diagonally make sure all the needle is in and press. We
Hen it's fully in it will click and just pull it out - it's as straight forward as that.

Good luck I'm just injecting mine now x

Purpleball · 17/08/2015 19:53

I'm on Fragmin and inject into thigh. I don't feel the needle go in if I do it quickly, the stuff hurts a bit when you plunge it.
Take a deep breath, grab a handful of flesh and do it quickly. You'll be fine Smile

Blackandwhitecat3 · 17/08/2015 19:56

Hi Mummy if you numb the area first with an ice cube, you won't feel it so much.

It really is mind over matter so just concentrate on how important the injection is and a bit less on the needle if you can. You'll do it x

madsaz76 · 17/08/2015 19:58

Hi Mummy - you don't need to give it at midnight - giving it a bit earlier wont make a big difference to your anticoagulation and will make it a bit more bearable - plus your OH may be around to help.

The first time you inject yourself is odd, but then you soon get over it - perhaps doing it with your other half helping a bit. if you really can't do it and can't get help you could ring your A&E and see if they will give it tonight, while you work something out more sensible tomorrow.

Occaionally we have to get distrct nurses to administer but reckon you can do this, and maybe just need a bit more help/ support :)

Original poster
mummyneedinganswers · 17/08/2015 20:09

Thanks everyone it's just they said it HD to be in tummy 3over and 3 down from belly button whatever that means. Dp is working night shift and won't be here ND they said 24 hours from last injection which was midnight last night. I'm really scared I don't mind needles it's just the thought of injecting myself. Going to have to man up and just do it xx

OP posts:
GoooRooo · 17/08/2015 20:14

I do daily Clexane injections and have done for months. Pinch a big bit of skin on your tummy, put the needle in and push the plunger. Hold the skin tight and it doesn't sting as much.

Don't rub it afterwards or it will bruise like hell.

TheCowThatLaughs · 17/08/2015 20:24

If you want to bring the injections forward to an earlier time, you can do it an hour earlier each day, so today at 11pm, tomorrow 10pm etc

Brummiegirl15 · 17/08/2015 20:34

Hi op I'm on clexane and yes it does need to be in your tummy.

But I do it every day and I promise it's fine. Has to be either side of your belly button. Grab your flesh so it's almost like a roll. You might want to rub the skin first - create a bit of warmth ( or you can numb with ice although I've never done it) and literally plunge the syringe straight in and push down the plunger down.

I promise whilst it looks strange doing it, it doesn't hurt.

It stings a bit afterwards and don't rub it!!!!!

Casmama · 17/08/2015 20:40

Hi OP I did daily injections from 7 weeks with both pregnancies and would suggest pinching an inch over to the side nearer your hipbone and pushing the plunger really slowly then don't rub. You'll be fine - think of the relief once it's done.

Original poster
mummyneedinganswers · 17/08/2015 20:42

Thanks IL let you know how I get on and must remember to not run it. I'm being such a wuss lol x

OP posts:
zoemaguire · 17/08/2015 20:49

Brummiegirl not according to the midwives I spoke to! It is probably better in your tummy, but thigh is absolutely fine. Ive done four two-week courses after ops and always did it in thigh. Didn't pinch the skin, just plunged it in. Needle doesn't hurt at all, it stings like buggery for a while afterwards though I found. Good luck - first time is worst, but it is surprisingly straightforward? I have skinny legs And had to get over the feeling there wasn't enough flesh there, but it really isn't a long needle.

CoperCabana · 17/08/2015 20:51

I was on them for both DDs and would agree with others - pinch a flesh bit on the side of your tummy, hold it so it is nice and firm, and do it. It was a huge deal for me the first time I did one, 100% easier from then on! You are not a wuss.

CoperCabana · 17/08/2015 20:52

Yeah I was told the thigh was fine but
I couldn't bring myself to do it for some reason. Found tummy much easier.

yomellamoHelly · 17/08/2015 20:56

I always did my thighs. Alternated legs and locations on legs - made easy by all the bruises you acquire. My stomach was generally too tight from about 20 weeks on. When they did them in hospital they would always insist of them being on my bum!
Key thing is to pinch the skin.

BumbleBee0 · 17/08/2015 21:02

I've been on these and told I could do tummy or thigh. I find tummy easier though as I bruised a lot when I tried my thigh. The advice from pps on here is spot on, pinch an inch, insert at 90 degrees and press plunger slowly (although you don't need to do it slow). I find it clicks a bit when pushed to the bottom so I then pull it out slowly, then push the plunger down harder to get the cover to retract once about to through it in the needles bin. I think it looks a bit violent the way it retracts so I'm a bit wimpy and only do that but after I've slowly pulled the needle out.

MsVanRein · 17/08/2015 21:05

I injected clexane for almost a year when I was pregnant with DS and after he was born for further 16 weeks.

Injected in thighs or back of arm or into tummy but more my side above hip than actual tummy. Haematologist assured me this was fine.

spanisharmada · 17/08/2015 21:11

Hi OP I'm on these for the whole pregnancy until 6 weeks after birth so I feel your pain! I put mine in a podgy part on my hip, if you can manage to find a bit that's just fat it much less painful. I also find doing it looking in the mirror rather then directly at it really helped for some reason.
I have to have mine as last time I didn't take them and ended up having a stroke, it was really really shit and the memory does spur me on to stab myself with the needle!

Brummiegirl15 · 17/08/2015 21:18

Aah you see I checked with mw and was told tummy. Probably because more fleshy.

I promise op it looks a lot worse than it feels

RooibosTeaAgain · 17/08/2015 22:12

Like others am on these all through pregnancy and 6 weeks post birth. For the third pregnancy, sigh. I find sometimes it hurts and sometimes it does not - so I find a spot that does not hurt when I initially put it in and then it is fine. I bruise a lot. I alternate sides each night.

Jelliebabe1 · 17/08/2015 22:13

Look on you tube! There are always helpful videos. I promise you that after you do it you'll wonder what you were frightened of. I did but in the end it was easy. Best go and do my fragmin now.... Go on girl, you know you can do it.

unlucky83 · 17/08/2015 22:15

I've done these type of injections a lot - outside pregnancy (eg before flying etc) and throughout two pregnancies, twice a day for the last 6 months plus 6 weeks after (And this is really important - apparently it is a really high risk time so insist on it!)

Agree with everyone else - 90 deg, pinch the skin, slow plunge and leave syringe for a few seconds before taking it out etc. As long as it goes under your skin it doesn't matter where you do it -just fattier places are easier. I did the top of my thighs (and backs of arms when I ran out of space) - couldn't face doing my stomach as I have a distended vein -that got worse during pregnancy - and the idea of going anywhere near that with a needle turned my legs to jelly.
Actually the must be in your stomach thing might be something to do with this - last time I needed one (last summer) the nurse was going to do it for me in my stomach and I asked for it in my thigh and she said she couldn't as she hadn't been trained to do it there Confused - she did however let me do it in my thigh.
On the very odd occasion you will hit a nerve and it really hurts (I have pulled the needle out and moved area but that is really dodgy -really not recommended) but even if the first one hurts a lot don't think they all will - 99% of the time you hardly feel them. It is a tiny very sharp needle.
You really can do this ...honest. If I can anyone can. You just need to go for it. Once you have done the first one it gets easier and easier - I do them now without even thinking. I would actually rather do them myself than get someone else to do it for me...

But when I was told I would need to inject myself if I ever got pregnant I cried - as far as I was concerned that meant I could never have a baby as I could never ever inject myself. (I had a fear of needles - I once came close to fainting at someone else's blood test -I had to get over that fear as well! )
Anyway as I walked out of that consultation I walked past a child of 7 or so learning how to inject themselves ( not diabetic - probably something to do with haemophilia) and felt slightly stupid and ashamed about my hysteria over it.
A couple of years later I was given the choice of the injections to allow further testing or a lifetime of life limiting medication ...I picked the injections.
Deep breath and go for it - and do try and gradually move them forward to a decent time...you don't want to be staying up till midnight every day...

Original poster
mummyneedinganswers · 18/08/2015 00:16

Well guys just N update I gIve Muzak the injection. Hurrayyy but I do think big was a dodgey injection for a number of reasons.

  1. The amount of force needed to get needle in is horrendous (foned MAU) they said it could be blunt needle and to just 'shove' it in.
  1. The needle was meant to retract but didn't at all no matter how hard I pushed the syringe the needle didn't budge so had to manually retrieve which I then nipped myself with the needle.

And after 40.minutes of crying like a baby, flaffing around and panicking down the Fone to dp I finally done it and I was traumatised but now laughing at-home much of a pussy I was lol

But mission done thanks everyone for advise and encouraging words x

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