anyone on heparin shots??

klovesa69

i am 5 weeks, and with this pregnancy i will have to be on heparin shots. i am wondering what it consists of? anyone else had a high risk pregnancy?

GuppyAmy

I do Lovenox, a low molecular weight heparin, and because I'm at especially high risk for a clot, I do 2 shots a day but most people just do one shot a day until the end of their pregnancy when they are switched to true heparin which needs to be used twice a day. They switch to heparin because it is easier to reverse and it has a shorter half life (the amount of time it spends in your system). The shots are given in either your stomach or your thigh, pretty much anywhere you can "pinch an inch". They burn but this is helped if you ice the area before giving the injection. It really isn't that bad, I promise. Good luck. Feel free to ask any other questions.

klovesa69

i have a blood clotting disorder also. have you had any normal pregnancies without taking the shots? i lost my son at 23 weeks because of this. we recently found out what was wrong.

GuppyAmy

I'm so sorry for your loss. I haven't had a healthy pregnancy yet. My first two ended in early losses but I have made it farther this time then I had in the past so I am hopeful. I did have a major blood clot while taking birth control pills in my 20's, that's when my found my clotting disorder.

 

klovesa69

gosh im so sorry, its a terrible thing. were you on the shots with the first two pregnancies? i want to believe this heparin will be a magic bullet but i think thats just wishfull thinking.

GuppyAmy

I was on the shots but because they were early, it's believed it was due to implantation not happening the right way or possible chromosomal issue. I think in your case though, it may be the "trick" for you. I (not a doctor though) think that a late loss like you had could have been due to a blood clot in the the placenta or cord or something along those lines and I also believe that staying positive is important and if the doctors think the Lovenox is the answer, then hopefully it is and try to believe that. There may be girls over on "pregnant after a loss" that have more answers, I know a couple of us are on the drug also there is a board on another site if you google "lovely lovenox ladies". On pregnant after a loss there is a mantra used constantly "Today I am pregnant and I love my baby" it's about all you can do.

moatsie

Yes, I am on Lovenox, once a day with a low dose asprin in the evening.  I had one early miscarriage, one successful full term but very low birth weight baby, two more miscarriages and finally they found the clotting disorder.  Our son is a miracle!  It's not the best way to start your day but I take it over the alternative any day!