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Pregnancy

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

Original poster

Covid - fragmin injections

20 replies

treesall · 10/12/2021 20:15

Anyone else tested positive for covid and been put on fragmin?

I don't normally take medication unless I really need it and feel unsure about taking this. I'm feeling a little bit poorly but mostly just exhausted. I understand the fragmin is to reduce the risk of blood clots but I can't find much info about what the risk of blood clots etc is. It's a whole months worth of injections which feels like a lot!

I'm not questioning the midwife's advice, just trying to find out a bit more info.

OP posts:
SouthwestSis · 10/12/2021 20:24

Blood clots can be really serious and cause low oxygen levels if they happen in the lungs, can compromise the blood supply to baby if they happen in the placenta.
Please do call the antenatal ward and ask for a callback from a doctor or midwife to explain it more to you tomorrow if you like, but without the injections you and your baby are more at risk.
I hope you're feeling better soon!

Original poster
treesall · 10/12/2021 20:59

Thank you @SouthwestSis, really appreciate your response.

OP posts:
lawandgin · 10/12/2021 23:32

Covid can cause the blood to be sticky. The injections are to counteract that. I was on a similar medication at the start of my pregnancy (for different reasons) and everything is fine so far (19+4) x

Mooscow · 10/12/2021 23:35

Before covid hit I was on strict bedrest in my pregnancy and had these injections for 6 weeks. They are very careful with what they give pregnant women so it's important that you take them.

I found they could be quite painful but I had a trick where you depress the syringe halfway, wait for a bit and then press it all the way in. It made it much less painful and less brusing, perhaps as the contents of the syringe were able to disperse more easily.

lawandgin · 10/12/2021 23:42

@Mooscow I second that! And I iced the area for a minute or two before and after. I did them in my thigh as I found that less painful.

ShakeTheDisease · 10/12/2021 23:47

Covid increases the chance of blood clots, as does pregnancy. So your risk is now higher than with an average pregnancy. A clot could cause pregnancy loss. Please take the injections. They're safe for pregnancy - I took them all the way through mine due to also being higher risk.

AMostExcellentStick · 10/12/2021 23:52

Fragmin is a relatively common thing to be prescribed in pregnancy, to women who are at risk of blood clots for all sorts of different reasons. It’s not a new thing for covid. In case that helps you feel more secure.

ChocoholicContralto · 11/12/2021 00:01

Hi OP, I used to work for a pharmaceutical company that sold a product that is equivalent to fragmin, and just wanted to reassure you that fragmin and other low molecular weight heparins have been used to prevent blood clots in pregnant women for well over 20 years, so there’s lots of accumulated data on safety etc. (companies have to monitor side effect reports all the time, and have to submit a full report on safety to MHRA at least every 5 years). I haven’t worked in that industry for many years but I do know that if there were any safety concerns they would have been withdrawn by now.

Hope you are feeling better soon!

Scirocco · 11/12/2021 00:03

Pregnancy is already a pro-thrombotic state, meaning that pregnancy increases a person's risk of blood clots. If people have additional risk factors for clots (eg. needing to be on bed rest, a family history of blood clots) then they're often prescribed anticoagulant medications to help reduce this risk.

Blood clots can form anywhere and may stay where they are or may travel around the body until they get stuck somewhere. The most frequently worried-about locations in pregnancy are in the placenta and in the lungs (pulmonary thromboembolism). Blood clots in the placenta can significantly obstruct blood flow for a developing baby and can cause miscarriage or stillbirth because of this. Blood clots in the lungs impact on breathing and put pressure on the rest of the cardiorespiratory systems, and can be fatal for an affected person.

COVID-19 infection is known to increase a person's risk of blood clots forming - there is a substantial body of research about this, and if you want to read up on it, Google Scholar or PubMedCentral will have plenty of research articles and case studies available. Taking Fragmin (or similar medications) helps reduce this risk to you and your baby.

wingingit33 · 11/12/2021 06:03

Yep I had covid at 15w and had fragmin for ten days. Now 28+1 and baby is fine

Original poster
treesall · 11/12/2021 13:18

Thank you very much everyone, I will start today.

@wingingit33 the midwife said 10 days over the phone but when she dropped it off she brought a whole months worth and said I need to use it all!

OP posts:
Porridgeislife · 11/12/2021 13:28

I’ve been on Clexane (similar to Fragmin) for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy & whilst the injections aren’t lovely, they’re not too bad.

Even with mild Covid, there’s a risk of clots forming in the placenta which is very risky for the baby, so it’s good that your midwife is taking the precaution.

Tina8800 · 11/12/2021 16:49

I've had a Covid in October. Told my hospital and my midwife as soon as I tested positive. They didn't mention fragmin injections (I never even heard about it before mumsnet, I would of taken it if it was offered to me).
So I asked my midwife last time I saw her she said its only necessary to high risk pregnancy.
I'm really confused about this, but thankfully the baby is growing nicely and healthy.

wingingit33 · 11/12/2021 17:57

@Tina8800 I'm not high risk; my hospital give fragmin as standard it seems to Covid positive pregnant women. Odd how different trusts respond so differently

Original poster
treesall · 11/12/2021 21:32

@Tina8800 my pregnancy was referred to as "very low risk" at my midwife appt so I don't think that's the reason for the prescription. I guess they are updating / changing guidance al the tjme

OP posts:
Original poster
treesall · 11/12/2021 21:52

Just did it. Holy moly it stings when you push the liquid in!

OP posts:
wingingit33 · 11/12/2021 22:04

@treesall hold an ice pack to your thigh for five mins before until it goes numb

Original poster
treesall · 12/12/2021 17:51

@wingingit33 thank you, I'll try that tonight.

OP posts:
Mooscow · 12/12/2021 21:02

Did you do half and wait, then the other half as suggested? It stings way less that way. And less bruising.

Original poster
treesall · 12/12/2021 21:04

I did thank you @Mooscow. I think I was a bit more prepared tonight so it wasn't so bad. 29 more to go....

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