Blood thinner injections

[DawnDaisy]

Due to recurrent miscarriages I had a number of tests and those tests diagnosed lupus anticoagulant and factor V Leiden.

I was told by my consultant that if I fall pregnant I must be seen at the hospital immediately so that they can give me daily injections to do at home and provide me with a daily progesterone suppository. They closely monitor me not only because of the miscarriages but also as my daughter died at 10 days old earlier this year from meningitis.

Yesterday we got our BFP! I'm 11 days DPO. I rang the early pregnancy clinic - no one there as it's a weekend. I rang my consultant - same story. I rang maternity - they can't help as it's before 20 weeks.

I'm now panicking that if I wait until tomorrow it's just another day without the medication I need and I'm going to have to go through miscarriage again.

Has anyone else had these conditions? When did you start your injections? Please tell me there are some positives out there!! xx

I'm so sorry to hear of your miscarriages and the loss of your baby. It's absolutely heartbreaking.
I have had several miscarriages therefore had blood tests at a private clinic (as I'm having IVF with them) which also showed a blood condition.

I have 3 progesterone pessaries per day. And the blood thinning injections called Clexane (0.2mg). Which I have been taking once per day since the embryo transfer.
I'm not sure if if you can purchase them at a pharmacy. I get mine directly through the fertility clinic.
I think aspirin is supposed to do the same thing as the clinic have told me that they might change me over to oral aspirin after 7 weeks but it will be reviewed then.
You could call your GP and pharmacy etc in the morning. Or do you have a hospital nearby with a haematology unit as you may need to be under them anyway due to your blood condition.

Congratulations on your BPF! 🌺

I’m on Clexane and have been for both of my pregnancies because I also have Factor V Leiden and another clotting condition. Early in my first I forgot to take my jab (and only realised this at work so didn’t have a syringe to hand) and was in a panic that I was going to cause a miscarriage from a missed dose and couldn’t get anyone on the phone. By the time the dr came back to me he said it was fine and either skip the dose until the next day or take it that night and resume as normal the next day.

I totally appreciate your worry - I would suggest emailing the consultant who told you you needed to be seen right away to organise everything, and also call first thing tomorrow morning, and also call your GP - is there any chance the consultant wrote to your GP? Some GPs are fussy about issuing Clexane (even though they are now allowed to do so) but perhaps yours will write you a short-term prescription while you wait to connect with the consultant. In my experience, the midwives in the hospitals will be less helpful because you’ll need to be referred for a maternal medicine assessment if you’re not under the care of a haematologist - but this wouldn’t happen until your booking appointment.

I was specially told not to take aspirin by all of my doctors so while I can’t give you advice on that, I will say that throughout both of my pregnancies my consultant told me not to start anything new without checking first.

Don’t be embarrassed to be persistent - doctors and clinics are very stretched but you’re following directions given to arrange this ASAP and are protecting your health. I wish you much luck x

Congratulations on your pregnancy and sorry for your losses 💐

I have factor v Leiden and have also had a mmc. Was put on clexane for my subsequent pregnancy but was advised not to start until a viable pregnancy confirmed. So I think I was around 6 weeks when I started the injections. I don't know for definite but I think at this very early stage you've got very little to worry about in re to clotting causing miscarriage. My understanding from what the consultant told me after my miscarriage was that clotting becomes more of an issue as the placenta starts to take over as tiny clots can form and prevent blood flow which is still a few weeks away for you yet. I was advised to take aspirin from a positive test though. I understand how anxious you just be feeling though and hopefully you can get sorted tomorrow 💐