Showing posts with label blood thinners. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blood thinners. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Worth it!
Our little miracle is here!
This was my 7th pregnancy, 4th live birth (3 losses) and 1st pregnancy on anticoagulants.
Things went very smoothly with the delivery & my bleeding was less than OB expected.
We are so relieved that she's here. And I don't mind at all the postpartum shots. Once a day seems like less trouble than the twice a day heparin (I transitioned at 36 wks in preparation for delivery since heparin is out of your system in half the time so there's less risk of hemorrhage). Or maybe I don't mind them because I am so THRILLED that the blood thinners did their job in helping us keep this one. She sure is sweet.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Blood thinners- injection tips
1) Give yourself a pep talk
-Think of your motivation to do this- it can help you keep your baby! It keeps you safe too from clots. If you are squeamish, take deep breaths & give yourself a pep talk. You can do this. It's very momentary & then you can pamper yourself for having the courage to do it.
-Get everything ready. Wash your hands, open the package, remove the needle cover, & have a sterile cotton swab ready.
2) Pick a spot
-The medicine must be absorbed into fat, so choose a spot on your stomach. Some doctors also say thighs are acceptable as well.
-Grab a pinch of skin & fat. Scratch with your fingernail to find a less sensitive part.
-Clean the area with alcohol.
3) Insert needle
-If you are anxious about needles or prone to get lightheaded in response to them, sit down or lay down when you administer the medicine. This may also help if you are very thin & need help grabbing a pinch of fat. (But, most of us have more than we want!)
-Look for the angled end on the needle & turn it so the narrowest part enters 1st.
-It's such a small gauge needle it should not bleed much if at all. If it does, you might have hit a blood vessel- pull it out & try a different spot.
4) Administer the medicine
-Many patients find that it is more comfortable to inject the medication slowly.
-After removing the needle, you will probably have a drop of liquid or blood at the site. You can cover it with a band aid.
-There is a little stinging for several minutes afterwards as the medication is absorbed.
Other tips
-Some women ice the spot before and after. But, pharmacists say it's best not to ice so you are getting normal blood flow to the area of absorption.
-You might want to get a sharps container to deposit the shots after use, but in some locations the law does not require this. For safety, you should at least use the needle cover that pops up by pushing firmly on the plunger after it's removed from your skin and deposit the needles in a hard plastic container (like an empty laundry jug).
-You need to take the medication at approximately the same time every day. Some choose before bed. Others might find that the fatigue of pregnancy makes it difficult to consistently do it at night & choose another time of day. Mornings are good, but showering after the shot might make the bleeding increase. Choose what works best for your schedule.
-For more tips and information, go to: lovely lovenox ladies online forum
-Think of your motivation to do this- it can help you keep your baby! It keeps you safe too from clots. If you are squeamish, take deep breaths & give yourself a pep talk. You can do this. It's very momentary & then you can pamper yourself for having the courage to do it.
-Get everything ready. Wash your hands, open the package, remove the needle cover, & have a sterile cotton swab ready.
2) Pick a spot
-The medicine must be absorbed into fat, so choose a spot on your stomach. Some doctors also say thighs are acceptable as well.
-Grab a pinch of skin & fat. Scratch with your fingernail to find a less sensitive part.
-Clean the area with alcohol.
3) Insert needle
-If you are anxious about needles or prone to get lightheaded in response to them, sit down or lay down when you administer the medicine. This may also help if you are very thin & need help grabbing a pinch of fat. (But, most of us have more than we want!)
-Look for the angled end on the needle & turn it so the narrowest part enters 1st.
-It's such a small gauge needle it should not bleed much if at all. If it does, you might have hit a blood vessel- pull it out & try a different spot.
4) Administer the medicine
-Many patients find that it is more comfortable to inject the medication slowly.
-After removing the needle, you will probably have a drop of liquid or blood at the site. You can cover it with a band aid.
-There is a little stinging for several minutes afterwards as the medication is absorbed.
Other tips
-Some women ice the spot before and after. But, pharmacists say it's best not to ice so you are getting normal blood flow to the area of absorption.
-You might want to get a sharps container to deposit the shots after use, but in some locations the law does not require this. For safety, you should at least use the needle cover that pops up by pushing firmly on the plunger after it's removed from your skin and deposit the needles in a hard plastic container (like an empty laundry jug).
-You need to take the medication at approximately the same time every day. Some choose before bed. Others might find that the fatigue of pregnancy makes it difficult to consistently do it at night & choose another time of day. Mornings are good, but showering after the shot might make the bleeding increase. Choose what works best for your schedule.
-For more tips and information, go to: lovely lovenox ladies online forum
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