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Original poster

Clexane injections at home

27 replies

georgiexo · 28/02/2020 20:11

Hi all fellow mummies,

I'm 9+5 by my own calculations - dating scan on 6th March.

I have just been prescribed daily clexane injections to do at home. Did my first one today with the midwife. Very strange stabbing yourself with a needle. Worried about bruising and having sensitive skin having to do it so long :( (can't stop until 6 weeks after birth).

Also, going on holiday when il be 25 weeks, anyone have experience with this. Will my luggage get stopped or anything? I'm really upset I've got to do this although I know it's got to happen and will just get on with it! As my mum said.. my body is no longer my own!

Any help and tips anything clexane and travel related would be great.

OP posts:
BarbarAnna · 28/02/2020 20:13

You will get used to it so quickly. I was horrified at first but after a time it barely bothered me. Sorry but I have no travel related advice.

Hope you get on ok with them.

Original poster
georgiexo · 28/02/2020 20:20

@BarbarAnna Thank you! I suspected I would get used to it - be hard not to when it's so long, it will feel strange not to do them after Smile I take it you didn't suffer with bruising or sensitivity?

Also when you're really pregnant and belly is full with baby does the area you inject change?

OP posts:
Legallybleachblonde · 28/02/2020 20:21

I remember the clexane injections were quite stingy (compared to the others) and they did leave little dots but they fade quite quickly. Will you still be on clexane at 25 weeks? I only did mine for the first 13.

Original poster
georgiexo · 28/02/2020 20:30

@Legallybleachblonde yes at appointment today she said until 6 weeks after birth :( it was a bit stingy for about 20 mins ish but I can cope with that. Bit depressed about it but I'm all for staying on the safe side. Good they disappeared quickly though! I'm picturing a black and blue belly :(

OP posts:
Sameold2020 · 28/02/2020 20:36

Dh did mine for me. It took the pressure off.

cookielove · 28/02/2020 20:41

Eeek i start these next week at 28 weeks, i am dreading it!!

PawPatrolMakesMeDrink · 28/02/2020 20:41

Get you OH to learn how to do them as well, take the pressure off you a bit. Also I found it hard sometimes to have the ooompf to inject myself so it was nice to delegate it to someone.
When you’re going on holiday make sure you take all your injections and sharps bin in your hand luggage so that you’re not separated from them.

Futureplanning · 28/02/2020 20:45

I did them from 14 weeks until 6 weeks after, I felt like you at first, it was such a shock. I quickly got used to it though and delegated it to anyone around where possible, just to give me a break from doing it.

I chose to do it in my thighs, I alternated each day.

sjmco · 28/02/2020 20:45

I've been doing clexane injections since about 10 weeks, currently 37 weeks and need to keep doing it until 4 weeks after birth.

They started off a nightmare and I used to freak out everyday, slowly they got better... I do get constant bruising... I only do them on my thighs, one day each leg... some days they bleed a little. They do sting but it's bearable now.

Midwife showed me how to do it and she told me to inject at an angle, I found this very painful and eventually I realized that if I inject straight (as the leaflet says) it's not painful at all.

I did travel with them... I put some in my suitcase but I also carried some hand luggage just incase my case was lost. I didn't have any problems... I did take a prescription copy with me to show I was prescribed them and my maternity notes just incase I was stopped.

Pomfluff · 28/02/2020 20:48

This is the best tutorial! - Lovenox is the same as Clexane. In a nutshell, use an icepack before and after, and inject as slowly as possible. This greatly reduces the pain and bruising. Learning to do it yourself is best as you might not end up spending every night with your "injector" for the rest of pregnancy. DH started the injections for me and I had bruises the size of oranges within a week. When I started doing it myself based on the YouTube tutorial above, I only had pea-sized bruises or occasionally nothing at all.

I think there must be medical exemptions to having syringes in your luggage. The airline should be able to help. I also took Clexane injections with me on a trip (though not overseas). I kept the packaging & syringe lids for each injection and took the used ones with me to dispose of at home. Didn't feel right throwing used syringes into a hotel bin. I think you can get a travel sharps container from the pharmacy or somewhere though my doctors never mentioned this to me.

Good luck! It sucks at the beginning but you know that you're doing the best for your baby!! It will all be worth it

BarbarAnna · 28/02/2020 20:49

For a number of reasons, I ended up injecting the same side throughout two pregnancies. Sometimes it bruised or was tender but generally fine. Even when I got very pregnant it wasn’t an issue. It can be depressing but hang on in there - worth it in the end!

AnneLovesGilbert · 28/02/2020 20:50

I was on two a day from bfp to 10 days after delivery as I had a CS. I did them anywhere and everywhere including on the train and at a festival! I didn’t get skin sensitivity but did get some mega bruises (was on fragmin and clexane depending on what was available and fragmin was much worse for bruising). As my bump got bigger and harder I had fewer places to do them so they got very concentrated on my sides but I never had to inject into a bruise, they fade quickly. Don’t rub the area after you’ve injected as that makes bruising worse. I found that putting the syringe in at a slight angle rather than straight down made it sting a bit less. The council will collect your sharps box - I called mine and they came to get it and swap it for a new one on one of two days a week, was really impressed by the service.

I didn’t have to fly while I was on them but I’d get a note from your doctor and I’m sure it’ll be fine. Loads of people much travel with injectable meds.

Best of luck. I had to psyche myself up hard to do my first one but it becomes second nature!

TheVanguardSix · 28/02/2020 20:54

For later on: Just remember, if you want an epidural, have your midwife (are you consultant-led, OP?) discuss holding off on the clexane in the hours before delivery. Good luck, OP. Flowers

AnneLovesGilbert · 28/02/2020 20:56

X post with a few others. I asked my consultant about doing them in my thighs and he said not to so double check if you’re considering that.

DH offered to do mine but I wanted to do it myself and it’s very risky relying on someone else unless you can guarantee they’ll be there for every one.

Youhedge · 28/02/2020 20:57

I did clexane from confirmed pregnancy to 6 weeks after. Travelled with them in hand luggage with letter from doc, no issues.

Dozer · 28/02/2020 20:58

Yes, best to do yourself.
Travel was fine, no probs. The only hassle was sharps bin disposal.

Teacup34 · 28/02/2020 21:01

I had these after I had my last baby. I made my husband do it im a wimp and couldn't bring myself to do it, it does sting and leave a bit of a mark but it's not too bad I don't have any experience travelling with the needles so not sure how that works your midwife or gp be able to help though.

TwinkleStars15 · 28/02/2020 21:09

Yep, two pregnancies. DH does them for me. I bruise horrendously from some of them. I alternate each hip/love handle area.

Avearage · 29/02/2020 10:22

I'm pretty sure I will have to do these, the midwife keeps telling me most likely at my appointment with consultant I will need to start.... Which is not great but as I'm overweight nearly 36 and have high bp this being baby 4 it's not a suprise..... My concern was as its a blood thinner and at present I'm bleeding after sex..... Is it OK to use will this increase the bleeding? Has anyone encountered this before?

TheVanguardSix · 29/02/2020 10:38

My concern was as its a blood thinner and at present I'm bleeding after sex

You're bleeding after sex because, during pregnancy, the cervix is so incredibly sensitive and prone to irritation. I actually abstained from penetrative sex (sorry, tmi) with DC2 because of the bleeding. You might want to talk to your consultant about the bleeding after sex in conjunction with taking a blood thinner. What's the risk? You'll have to find out and get it from the horse's mouth. Good luck.

Avearage · 29/02/2020 10:51

Thanks thevangaurdsix..... I will chat with them about it...... Its something I should have gone about before as was bleeding after sex before I was pregnant too the pregnancy was a suprise so hence being very unprepared.
Just my thought process is surely it will increase that..... So exactly what you did will I need to abstain from sex is going to be my question x

yukka · 29/02/2020 10:58

I also did these till 6 weeks after birth and went on holiday. Check with the airline but I got a letter from gp and it was all wrapped and packed safely in the hold suitcase. I brought a couple spare in the hand luggage in case of suitcase going missing.

Also phone your travel insurance to get your condition noted on your policy, it will be covered under normal pregnancy related stuff but for peace of mind you're covered if you need to get any meds whilst away.

You'll soon learn a technique that reduces stinging. I bruised and it stayed until a good couple of months after I stopped, though I was on aspirin too which makes you more prone to bruising.

yukka · 29/02/2020 11:03

@Avearage clexane isn't a blood thinner it's an anti coagulant (anti clotting agent) which behaves differently. Aspirin is a blood thinner. Bleeding after sex doesn't relate to this and is likely due to your cervix being irritated during sex but speak to your midwife. Some women prefer to stop sex at some point.

Original poster
georgiexo · 29/02/2020 16:11

Thank you everyone, really helpful and sounds like il get used to it soon. Just did my second .. still hate it!

OP posts:
GrumpyHoonMain · 29/02/2020 16:13

Take them in your thigh - pinch the area as hard as you can and stab it in. You can also get numbing cream if it really hurts - your GP can provide a prescription.

It you travel as they are injections you will need your prescription and a letter from your midwife explaining what they are (brand name and generic name) and you will need a fit to fly letter even if you aren’t at the airline’s limit.

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