Covid positive at 35 weeks - Fragmin injections?

[Squiff70]

Hi,

I had a positive lateral flow test this morning. My partner and 2 year old daughter are positive too. I'm 35 weeks pregnant so rang MAU this morning who have provided me with Fragmin (Delteparin) injections for two weeks. This pregnancy is high risk for a number of reasons.

I'm struggling to find comprehensive information on the use of Fragmin in pregnancy. It's not recommended in breastfeeding and I was planning on trying colostrum harvesting in the next week. Obviously I don't think I can now. I really want to be able to breastfeed when baby arrives.

I've found info that says Fragmin doesn't cross the placenta so doesn't affect the baby, but other than that there seems to be very limited info available in pregnancy where the drug is prescribed for Covid. I feel like a guinea pig only not as cute!

Does anyone have any more info on this please? My midwife isn't knowledgeable and my obstetric consultant is on holiday for 3 weeks. He's also semi-retired and mentally checked out months ago. He doesn't give info on recent research so I always take what he says with a huge pinch of salt anyway.

Thank you.

Isn't fragmin a blood thinner? I dont get how it'd help covid?

I was on Fragmin injections for a few weeks post-delivery and breast fed. I've known this in plenty of women. I'd ask your midwife, but I'm pretty sure you'll be able to.

I think it's more that covid increases risk of blood clots, as does pregnancy.

It’s to prevent the risk of blood clots. You’re higher risk for clots when you have the combination of covid and pregnancy ….though I don’t know the actual stats and that’s what I’d want to know. What chance is there? Maybe the data isn’t there as covid is so recent?

saying that fragmin has been safely used in pregnancy for many years, long term for high risk women, ie; who have had a previous clot. How many days are they saying to use it for? Because you don’t want to still be on it when Labour starts.

It’s a blood thinner. Covid increases your risk of blood clots. Late pregnancy increases your risk of blood clots. The 2 in combination are a double whammy. Fragmin will prevent blood clots.

it’s commonly prescribed in pregnancy for blood clotting conditions, alongside other types of low molecular weight heparin and is safe for breastfeeding. I’m not sure why you think it’s not recommended for breastfeeding, NHS guidance states it’s safe for pregnancy and breastfeeding x

I was also on Fragmin injections post-natally and breastfeeding.

I had covid at 12 weeks and had the injections for 10 days to help prevent blood clots. My midwife said it's because covid is a systemic infection and increases the chance of blood clots. Also means you can worry less about blood clots if you need to rest more and are less active due to feeling unwell with covid. I was very unwell and wasn't able to get around much. Obviously a very different stage of pregnancy compared to you. Other than the injections being horrible to have, it was okay. Hope you feel better soon!

Thank you all for your replies. I'll try and find the link I discovered on a Google search which said Fragmin passes into human breast milk so the advice is to either stop breastfeeding OR the drug.

I've been given a 14 day supply. I have a C-section booked for 3 weeks time and am worried about the risk of extreme bleeding during and after delivery, including haemorrhaging.

I was on fragmin from 28 weeks until 6 weeks post partum and I was told by my consultant that breast feed was fine on it.

Bear in mind if you’re googling Fragmin that it comes in different doses - the low dose preventative one, and the big dose that people are given if they already have blood clots.
It’s pretty short acting so you will have none left in you if your section is a week after your last dose.

Dalteparin has been used safely in pregnancy/postpartum (inc breastfeeding) for ages. The risk of bleeding returns to normal after 12 hours for prophylactic dose and 24 hours for treatment dose.

I am taking inhixa for 2 weeks (COVID) and have previously had clexane injections post c section. The inhixa leaflet says it needs to be stopped I think 48 hours before c section. So with you having a week, that would be fine. Does it give you that info on the leaflet?

The other 4 pregnant women I know have been given them too.

Inhixa is specifically allowed when breast feeding.

Just checked and mine is actually only 12 hours before epidural/section as pp said.

Sorry for the delay, was busy with my daughter's bedtime etc. I spent ages searching for the link and couldn't find it. My partner just did though.

The info I got was from www.drugs.com/pregnancy/dalteparin.html#

If you'd rather not click links (because let's face it, those cookies pop-ups are a pain in the arse and you'll get endless ads around this topic also), then I've posted a screenshot of the section on the above link where it specifically mentions breastfeeding.

Fragmin is perfectly safe women are often prescribed it from week 16 or 24 for various reasons.

Also it's fine to breastfeed again it's often given till baby is six weeks old.

I was in hospital for 8 weeks when pregnant from 25 to 33 weeks and they gave me fragmin injections every day as I was on bed rest.

Here www.drugs.com/breastfeeding/dalteparin.html