Has Any One Used or Been Prescribed Heparin?

I found out I had a blood clotting disorder when I got a blood clot with my 1st child, I had to inject Heparin or Lovenox (both blood thinners) in my belly 2 x's a day for the entire pregnancy + 6 weeks after the birth. I also had to do to the same thing when I was pregnant the 2nd time.

It is hard to think of having to do it and it can be difficult at first but it does get easier. I just kept in mind that it is for the baby and to keep me safe for the baby. That helped a lot. You will become a pro in no time and then it wont even phase you it just becomes something you do each day.

Good luck!

I also had to inject Heparin. My results? A beautiful 6 year daughter and 3 year old boy/girl twins! Good luck to you!

Very dangerous drug with lots of side effects... then again all of that junk does. My grandmother was on this as a last ditched attempt to try to save her from her last stroke. I have no idea why they use it in pregnant women since it's an anticoagulant.
Heparin, a highly-sulfated glycosaminoglycan, is widely used as an injectable anticoagulant, and has the highest negative charge density of any known biological molecule.[1] It can also be used to form an inner anticoagulant surface on various experimental and medical devices such as test tubes and renal dialysis machines. Pharmaceutical grade heparin is derived from mucosal tissues of slaughtered meat animals such as porcine (pig) intestine or bovine (cow) lung.[2]
Although used principally in medicine for anticoagulation, the true physiological role in the body remains unclear, because blood anti-coagulation is achieved mostly by endothelial cell-derived heparan sulfate proteoglycans.[3] Heparin is usually stored within the secretory granules of mast cells and released only into the vasculature at sites of tissue injury. It has been proposed that, rather than anticoagulation, the main purpose of heparin is in a defensive mechanism at sites of tissue injury against invading bacteria and other foreign materials.[4] In addition, it is preserved across a number of widely different species, including some invertebrates that do not have a similar blood coagulation system.

my best friend suffered through 9 miscarriages over the last couple of years, all while having to watch me have three beautiful babies. long story short, she finally gave into the doc's suggestion for using heparin. two shots a day, one in the am and one at night. she is now 26 weeks along with a perfectly healthy baby boy, and is so grateful she finally decided to give the heparin a try. after the 6th miscarriage, her doc suggested it, but she refused. after the 9th, she just couldn't take it any more and gave it a try. she said it was the best decision she made, and is finally having her first baby. she also miscarried around the 9th week, no matter what else she tried. i would suggest reading up on the medication and procedure, speaking at length with your doctor, and then deciding. like i mentioned above, my friend tried the asprin for three times, the 7th, 8th, and 9th miscarriages before the heparin. i hope this helps and whatever you decide, make sure it is the choice that's right for YOU, not your husband, mom, etc.

Hi, T.,

I miscarried twice. After the first miscarriage, my reproductive endocrinologists put me on heparin (twice a day). I miscarried my second pregnancy. At that point I was tested for immune (blood clotting--blood clots too easily) disorders. I tested positive for antiphospholipid and anticardiolipid antibodies.) I was then prescribed prednisone, which I think, along with heparin, helped maintain my last two pregnancies, which resulted in my two live sons. I injected heparin twice a day during my second and third pregnancies and Lovenox once a day during my last (fourth) pregnancy. Lovenox is more expensive than other forms of heparin but needs to be injected only once a day instead of twice. I was taken off blood thinners 4.5 months into my last two pregnancies, with good results.

Recommendations for injections: Apply ice and pressure for five minutes before or after injection. Pay attention to what you are doing while injecting. I once carelessly gave myself an injection when I was half asleep at 5 a.m. and hit an artery. My whole abdomen turned black and swelled. Nonetheless, the shots aren't nearly as bad as some.

I don't think that progesterone addresses the same physiological issues addressed by blood thinners such as heparin. You might want to ask your doctor for details.

Good luck,
Lynne E

Hi T. - I was diagnosed with AFA (antiphosolipid antibodies) after my 2nd miscarriage and I had to take heparin all through my pregnancy and honestly it was no big deal. You get used to doing the injections and they are not painful just more of an inconvenience. In the end, the reward far outweighs the hassle of having to give yourself the shots. Please don't stress about it. I felt the same way you did when I first started doing them and then they became old hat ;-D Good Luck to you.

Warmest Wishes,

L.

Yes, and at first it is tough but after about 2 days it is no big deal anymore. It is really just routine. I took year in 2007 and I am pregnant again so I have been on it for 4 months. There is an alternative. It's Lovenox. Then you only have to inject once a day instead of twice. It is more expensive but sometimes insurance does cover it. Good luck. It is so worth it if you get a healthy baby.

I'm so sorry for your losses! I would recommend you check out www.tcoyf.com, and go to the fertility treatment, etc. section. Do not take advice from people that have not been through what you're going through...they don't get it :) Also, don't let the dangers of Heparin from the previous post scare you. It's a small dose to ensure bloodflow to a growing fetus.

Personally, I have been through extensive fertility treatment and have done hundreds of injections for my successful and failed cycles of treatment. I was not comfortable with it either and scared of side effects. You will get past that...it's always hard to begin anything that isn't mainstream. The heparin shots have such a teeny tiny needle that won't hurt a bit! You will pat yourself on the back when you're holding your baby in your arms...I know I did :)
Good luck to you, don't analyze it too much and remember that Heparin has been used for the same purpose a bazillion times, it's not experimental at all!

I used Heparin for the same reason. It was very scary at first, but the needle is soooo thin & short that I got used to it quickly and it became no big deal at all. Good luck!

Hi T.. I had a healthy daughter w/ no complications at age 34, then back to back miscarriages (12 wks, then 17 wks) before they found w/ testing at my 4th pregnancy at age 37/38 that I had a fetal blood clotting disorder (Protein S Deficiency). At nine weeks pregnant, I began nightly Lovenox injections, into the belly. It's a stronger dose then Heparin, which meant only 1 shot per day. I switched to Heparin for my 9th month, 2x day. I now have a 2nd healthy baby, who's now a 3 yr old boy. I should also mention that I have terrible needle anxiety, but I got through it. If it's what your body needs to create a healthy baby, go for it. The reward can't be beat!

Hi! It is my hope that your troubles are over and you either pregnant now or may have even given birth. If this is not the case, don't give up!

It is not clear whether you miscarry after IVF cycles. I noticed that some posters here suggested a visit to a RE. You should consider visiting with an IVF doctor, if you have not done so already. There is also new IVF technique that became recently available to couples with multiple failed IVF cycles or numerous miscarriages. The technique is called Comprehensive Chromosome Screening or CCS. You can find more information on this technique here:
www.themedvacation.com/fertility_treatments_for_multiple_...

A large number of unsuccessful IVF cycles can be attributed to the presence of numerical chromosomal abnormalities. Embryos stemming from aneuploid or defective gametes stand little chance of forming a viable pregnancy. Consequently, screening of oocytes or embryos for chromosome abnormalities prior to embryo transfer (ET) can greatly improve pregnancy rates, decrease miscarriage rates, as well as reduce the risk of having a child with syndromes such as Down or Turner.

This ground-breaking IVF technique is utmost accurate method for the simultaneous analysis of all 24 types of chromosome. Although this technique is still experimental and undergoing clinical trials, the few IVF clinics which are running these trials are seeing major improvements in implantation success rates and live birth rates.

I use Lovenox, essentially the same thing. It's really not that big of a deal, it's an easy injection into your tummy. Do you see an RE? If not, I would switch to an RE and they can test you and recommend the proper course of treatment to get a healthy baby to stick around.

T. - I'm sorry that you're going through this difficult time. As someone else suggested, seek out the help of an RE for your recurrent miscarriages. I was on Heparin for one IVF cycle. Twice a day injections and I bruised like the dickens. The next three cycles I switched to Lovenox and liked it much better: only one injection per day and I didn't bruise much at all. By my 9th IVF cycle, multiple daily injections weren't a big thing at all. You'll get used to them. At least they are just subcutaneous, rather than intramuscular...those really smart! Good luck to you, and again, I'm sorry for your loss.

If it due to clotting factors, then you may want to try aspirin AND fish oil....they are both blood thinners, rather than going straight to the heparin. Also, myself and a lot of my friends have used Emerita progesterone cream for the first 2-3 months....and the month before we got pregnant.

I was on Lovenox for a while while pregnant and know other ladies that have. It really isn't too bad. (though I was on it only a short time). From what I learned during my experience: 1. heparin levels on your blood are easier to monitor so it is easier to make sure that you are within a target level (target to be determined by your doctor) 2. Apparently Lovenox is harder to monitor BUT supposedly it does NOT cross the placenta, like heparin does...so...that's an advantage. 3. As you might know, there is no concrete scientifc certainty that aspirin and other blood thinners work (unless you have a clotting disorder), doctors do use these on women that do not appear to have clotting disorder but it is more of an empirical treatment just because "somehow it seems to help". It worked for me, so I'd say even if it's just "empirical" it's worth a shot (no pun intended).

When you do have it, the shot stings a little bit and somewhat ugly bruising is to be expected so when you see it happen don't panic. You will also become more prone to bruising everywhere else on your body but you know, I know people that have been on blood thinners all their life and as long as you are careful, it should all be fine.

Speaking on being careful, I had to discontinue Lovenox because in the first trimester I had a subchorionic hemorrhage and the doctors thought it MIGHT have been made worse (NOT caused by) the Lovenox. That was quite scary for a while. Still, even though this bleeding aided by Lovenox caused complications throughout much of my pregnancy, I have a feeling that using the Lovenox was one of the things that made a difference in getting me over the 6 - 8 weeks mark, which is where my misscarriages had happened. I tell you my experience with the subchorionic bleeding not to scare but just so that you know and you might opt to be supercarful and rest a lot and take easy when on Heparin or Lovenox and hopefully you won't have to deal with the issues I had. By the way, that is the one pregnancy that did suceed. My baby is now almost 3 months old and doing great. Good luck to you.

It's not bad, really. Injecting yourself seems like a big deal, but this needle is so short and thin, it's very easy to get used to.

Some really good news for you: Even low-molecular-weight Heparin (eg. Clexane) is too big a molecule to cross the placenta. It's actually a safe alternative to aspirin if you're pregnant and need to prevent possible blood clots.

I have some blood clotting disorders that run in the family, and had to really aggravate the risk by taking a couple of 14-hour flights while pregnant. I had an ultra-careful OB who gave me lots of information, and I was happy with the use of Heparin to manage the risk.

They also routinely use it in hospitals now for post-surgical patients to lower the risk of clots while you're bed-bound. I had injections after my first C-section because of my known risk factors. By the time I had my second C-section, it was given as a matter of course.

The *only* side-effect I had was occasional and slight bruising at the injection site - smaller than a dime.

hello , i wanna help u dont be scared im on heprin it burns like a mutha but it will help u i have a factor in my blood that no one seen till now i had 5 misscarages and im father in my pregnancy now then ever im 14 weeks and i would usually go to 12 weeks then loose um :( yea well god has blessed me this year i even had surgery and the baby made it threw my gallbladder removal . its gonna be ok... a lil tip if u got any fat tissue on your inner thigh do it there doesnt burn as bad and inject med slow well good luck and i hope this helps u <3

Hi T.
I am so sorry for your losses. I have been through it 3x also and I know how devastating it is. I wish you well during this sad time.
Have you actually been diagnosed with a blood clotting disorder? If so, then injecting Heparin can greatly reduce your threat of miscarriage. If not then I would not think it would be of much help, and in fact, it would put you at uneccesary risk for excessive bleeding. Blood clotting disorders are diagnosed via blood test, typically. Doing the shots is no big deal, it hurts for a second but then it's fine. You will have black and blue (and yellow, and green...lol) marks all over your abdomen, though. It looks pretty awful but it doens't feel tender or anything. And you won't have to do it for your entire pregnacy, probably.
But personally, I would not do it unless they have actually determined that you have a blood clotting disorder, because you will be more prone to bleeding while you are on it.
Bottom line - - Push for answers. there is almost always a cause for repeated miscarriages, don't let them tell you otherwise.
As an aside, not that you asked, but - I would also look into the possibility of taking progesterone and doing acupuncture and other holistic approaches to optimize your body BEFORE you conceive.
All the best to you and again, I am so sorry for what you are going through. Feel free to contact me offline if you have any more questions about the Heparin or anything else.

Dear T., The root of your miscarriages is a hormonal imbalance. The heparin would be a temporary fix, but not a cure...and as the other moms have said, lots of potentially risky side effects. There are numerous natural ways to adjust your hormonal balance that won't put you at such risk. If you can devote 3-6 months to the process, may I recommend either classical homeopathy, or acupuncture with a practitioner who specializes in women's health and knows their way around with herbs. I have contacts in both fields and can find you a local referral if you like. Let me know.

Blessings,

S. I., L.Ac., HMA
Lotus Wellspring Healthcare
456 E. Mission Road, Suite 100
San Marcos, CA 92069
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____@____.com
www.lotuswellspring.com

So sorry for your loss T.. Hang in there. Did your doctor make any determination as to what caused the miscarriages? Was it clotting or hormone levels? You mention that your hormone levels drop on the 2nd & 3rd blood tests. Just fyi - blood tests are not the most accurate way to measure your hormones levels. The World Health Organization recognizes that the most accurate way to test hormones is through saliva testing. Some of the hormones in your blood are attached to proteins & cannot be used by your body. So blood tests will show a higher level than what is actually available for your body to use. Saliva tests only show the unattached hormones. Also, what is "normal" is only an average - it may not be enough for you. I would rule that out unless your doctor determined that you had trouble with clotting & need the heparin.

Im sorry for your loses. I havent used the heparin but i did know a woman who did. She had her son premature and almost lost him. So the next time she got pregnant they used the heparin. She used to tell me that as expected it hurt and was sore a lot. But she carried to full term and her son is healthy and happy. So i know it may be an inconvience and having to deal with a weekly shot really sucks but if it helps. I hope this was something you could use. God bless and good luck in the future!!!!

is this for thinning blood?

My son was on it. his was prescribed to keep an IV open. I assume what you have will be similar. The meds come in premeasured vials. small gauge needle-do you inject into the vein, muscle or fat? maybe your husband could give you the injection? It isn't a scary drug...I wonder how it will effect you fetus. This is the 1st time I have heard of it for pregnancy.