Clexane ?

[ICantThinkOfAUsernameH]

Hello all ,
I posted yesterday as found out I'm pregnant.
Midwife has booked me in Monday and says I'll probably need to start clexane because I've lupus? I'm petrified - hate needles!

It will reduce your risk of MC dramatically.

I have been on daily doses of Clexane from very early on and have to keep going for up to 6 weeks after the birth. In my case it's because of a previous DVT.

I got used to the injections very, very quickly and they are just part of my bedtime routine now. I'm 37 weeks pregnant so not long to go.

It's not as bad as you think!

Ah they didn't explain about the MC bit so I won't protest now.
Did they teach you? I'm so worried. Do they still sting? Just can't see myself doing it (although I will).
Thanks for the responses

Oh my, what did they explain to you? They must have said something about why you were to get jags every day?

Anyway, it won't be as bad as you think - I really struggle with sticking myself but it can be done and you will get used to it, honest!

I'm also on heparin injections until after birth.

Yes, they will teach you, don't worry. They sometimes sting, sometimes they don't. But you will get used to it all, they are really not that bad. Just be prepared for some spectacular bruises

But yes, they will not only protect you from getting a DVT, but also have the nice 'side effect' to protect against miscarriage.

They will show you how to do it.

This is my way:

Pinch skin about two inches away from belly button HARD
Stick in needle (needle is TINY and I don't feel it AT ALL). There are air bubbles in the needles - you do not need to get rid of the air before you inject.
Plunge the stuff in (this can sting the first few times but these days I never feel it any more)
Pull out needle and dispose in sharps box

DO NOT RUB. You will want to, but don't. It can leave a nasty bruise if you rub.

Could your partner do it for you if you find it difficult to do yourself? I like to have the control of doing it myself but if you can't watch the needle going in it might be easier to get someone else to do it.

Midwife just said it was because of my lupus? I'm newly diagnosed so still getting my head around that but it causes sticky blood I think? From what I understand off google.
That's good info thank you :)
Can they do it the first few times?

She might do the first one.

I only had them post c section (twice) for a week. I didn't like it at all tbh. I made dh do it. He doesn't like needles at all - I was just a bit grossed out. It was better with him there.

I recommend you do it yourself from the beginning - it will make it less daunting. I am heading for 39 weeks and have been on Fragmin throughout because of Factor V and previous recurrent mc. I still have to give myself a tiny shake before each one, and my skill still seems to vary - sometimes it hurts, sometimes it almost doesn't at all, on a couple of occasions I have managed to draw blood - but it's entirely routine now.

I bruised something rotten at the beginning, but that eventually stopped and now I only bruise occasionally.

Whether it hurts or not depends entirely on whether you happen to hit a microscopically small skin nerve or not - no way of predicting, unfortunately!

Yes, Lupus gives you a higher risk of blood clots including micro clots to the placenta and can increase the chances of MC.
I am sure all that is perfectly obvious to the MW, but it is important that you know why you are doing and why.

It's not like a proper needle. When I had them they were in little ready filled cartridges with tiny built in needles. I had to pinch a fold of skin and punch the cartridge down. Yes it stings, but don't rub, that makes the bruising far worse.

Info from King's College Hospital

Ah, crap, that leaflet only talks about blood clots, not lupus specifically, sorry.

Thank you for the replies - feel less worried and more informed!
pacific that's very true - hopefully have more info from her Monday with the whole pregnancy .

I'm on clexane too for recurrent miscarriage and honestly they are sooo easy.

Doesn't hurt actually doing it but stings a bit afterwards. I grab some flab and rub the skin first to create some warmth and then do it

Honestly it's fine!

Thanks brummie I've plenty of flab to do it on hahaha!

On Clexame also. Bruised a lot in first weeks - less so now. Agree use my spare flab. hope goes well for you. Mine is for blood clotting issues.

Ah ouch :( sounds like it's used a lot

• I'd never even heard about it!

Thing is, you will never actually get used to do it if that makes sense. Your rational head is thinking "oh my god I'm putting a needle in my tummy!!"

That "don't like it" feeling never goes away but the needle is so fine it easy. The stinging feels a bit like when you use nail polish remover and you've a bit of a cut maybe on your finger and it's all stingy??? Exactly like that!!!!

Good explanation - it makes perfect sense. I've regular injections but still such a wuss at stingy pain. Least it won't be as birth hey!

Don't worry its not too bad, absolutely vital you take them if you have lupus as I believe the MC rate is very high without it (don't wish to freak you out!). I have taken them in both pregnancies and you will get very blas?? about it. I don't find them that sore to do but they do bruise terribly.
Its an amazing drug that I am so thankful for, I had 2 Mcs before my daughter (with clexane), another MC without it and am now 30 weeks back on it again! Try and take a calcium supplement as it does deplete your stores.
And congratulations!

Ah I thought so, I'm so worried about MC had a few before I was dx with lupus so hopefully it makes a difference.
Thank you I'll get some.
Congratulations to you too!
:)

I've been on Clexane for my whole pregnancy (for a DVT) and I find that if I inject on outside of my thigh it's fine. I pinch a big wodge of thigh and sometimes try a few different spots before I find a bit where you don't feel the needle at all. I don't tend to bruise like I did when I did it on my tummy. Good luck with it, you'll be fine.

Thanks apple, I'll deffo try my thigh :)