Blood-thinning injections in pregnancy

[Everlore]

I'm currently nearly 23 weeks pregnant with our first much longed for IVF baby. I attended a scan and appointment with a consultant today and while, thank god, everything looks good on the scan and our baby girl seems to be developing well, The doctor recommended that I start daily blood-thinning injections to reduce the risk of clots. She said I have several co-morbidities which increase my risk of thrombosis in pregnancy, I have rheumatoid arthritis, I am over 35, we used reproductive technology to conceive and my mother had a history of severe and chronic vascular blockages in her legs and feet, though after the age of 60. My pregnancy has thankfully been straightforward despite my pre-existing health conditions, but the doctor seemed to think that blood-thinning injections were a necessary precaution.
Both the doctor and the midwife assured me that the injections are perfectly safe and frequently used in pregnancy and I know I'm being unreasonable, but I'm terrified of injecting into my pregnant stomach. I have no problems with needles, I regularly inject myself with medication and am not remotely squeamish, I was quite confident administering the first injection into my belly today. It's just that an irrational part of my brain keeps telling me that I could harm the baby, even though I know she's well-protected and nowhere near the surface of my stomach so I'm not likely to accidentally poke her with the needle. I have been incredibly anxious throughout pregnancy, worrying about the sillyest things and Googling the most ridiculous foods and activities to check their safety in pregnancy. I realise this is just the latest in a long line of intrusive thoughts but I can't seem to shake it off.
I'd love to hear from any other women on here who used blood-thinning injections during pregnancy, how you found them and if you had the same ridiculous thoughts and fears I'm experiencing.

I was on clexane from 6 weeks pregnant in both my pregnancies. always injected in my stomach but was told I could inject in my thigh (always seemed like it would be more painful to me!). Even once you're very heavily pregnant there is surprisingly still a good few inches of skin to pinch. The nurse who showed me how to do the injections reassured me about this and that there's layers of muscle, tissue and fat before you get anywhere near the baby. I also took aspirin from positive pregnancy test until I gave birth (blood clotting disorder)

I had an epidural with my second but I was told it would need to be at least 12 hours since my last injection. All worked out fine with both babies, good luck 🙂

Interesting to hear all your experiences. I’m on a treatment dose of enoxaparin (60mg twice a day) after clots in early pregnancy. Coming up to 3 months on it now. My obstetrician added in 150mg aspirin a couple of weeks ago to protect against pre eclampsia.

Since I added the aspirin I’ve started bruising much more. I am pretty sure it’s not my injection technique as I was fine for the first couple of months.

I’m keeping the injections well apart but am going to run out of space as my tummy is covered in huge purple bruises - each time I inject I get a purple bruise at least the size of a £2 coin and now have one continuous bruise that’s about 20cm+ long and it will soon join up with bruises above and below it (I’m not adding more injections between bruises - they just seem to keep growing). Have others had the same sort of bruising or should I be concerned?

Also it is weirdly much much worse on my right side, which I inject in the morning. My left side (evening injection) has smaller more light brown bruises. I take my aspirin with a meal in the evening, about 90 mins before my injection.

@RhubarbRocks I did bruise but I only injected once a day so could alternate sides daily. Like you though I did find that when I switched to injecting in a morning towards the end of pregnancy the bruises were worse. I put it down to when I injected at night I pretty much just went to bed but after I injected in a morning I'd be up and doing stuff like lifting my toddler so the injection site would get knocked more - but that was just my guesswork on it

I’ve taken both aspirin and injected fragmin for both my pregnancies all the way through. I’m currently 15 weeks and will be continuing until 6 weeks after birth. I inject in my stomach and although I’m fairly lean, I know there’s a layer of fat and skin between the injection and the baby so it is absolutely safe and fine.

it sounds like you’re overthinking and very anxious, I hope you’re ok? Perhaps seek some further support for this x

I don't know how anyone can face injecting their belly. I couldn't even early on. Since I got to about 20ish weeks it's so hard and tight there's no fat to pinch. Especially now at 36 weeks!

I had to inject Fragmin for a while earlier in my pregnancy - I used both thighs, stomach and also got DH to inject me just above my bum, which were all areas that it said were fine to inject into in the leaflet they gave me. Stomach was definitely the least painful!

Just a quick update. I've been injecting Fragmin each evening for the last week, I've had no problems, no side effects and no bleeding, all very straightforward.
However, today I went to the specialist anti-natal clinic who specialise in supervising pregnancies of people with several conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis and they told me that I don't need to be on the Fragmin since my rheumatoid is under control, meaning I apparently only fulfil two of the criteria for blood-thinners rather than the required three. The consultant I saw today told me that she thought the consultant I saw last week was being cautious as she was not a specialist in rheumatoid in pregnancy, but the specialist department do not think I need the Fragmin and have told me to stop it immediately.
I'm now a bit confused, I will obviously go with the recommendations of the specialist unit as they are the experts in overseeing pregnant women with my particular condition, but I'm now a bit worried about stopping them, I guess I'm just never happy !