How to Administer Subcutaneous Heparin in a Baby
Due to the blood-thinning nature of heparin, its use is often contraindicated in infants in favor of similar drugs that are classified as "low-molecular-weight heparins." Thus, heparin must be administered with great care and ONLY under a physician's order, especially in infants, although properly trained parents and caregivers can actually give the injection.
The information provided here is intended to serve only as a guide and cannot substitute for professional medical advice. To avoid injury or overdose, it is best to have your physician or a trained medical professional demonstrate this procedure for you before attempting it on your own.
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Things You'll Need
- Fine sharp needle (27 to 30 gauge and 5/8 inches long) and syringe
- Alcohol swab
- Another adult
Instructions
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Carefully check the prescribed dosage, then swab the top of the medication vial. Insert the syringe needle into the medication vial, and slowly pull the plunger of the syringe to draw the correct dosage.
NOTE: Check the markings on your syringe very carefully to ensure that you are administering the correct amount of medication. Some syringes measure 10 mL, while others measure tenths of 1 mL; both are marked from 1 to 10, but they are measuring significantly different amounts.
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Double check the dosage and the amount of medication you've drawn; having another person check too is a good idea.
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Have another adult hold the baby still, with the infant's thigh exposed.
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Lightly pinch the skin and fat of the infant's thigh to create a thick fold, avoiding any bruised areas, and rub an alcohol swab over the area.
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Insert the needle into the infant's thigh at a 35 to 45 degree angle. You do not need to insert the needle all the way into the baby's leg, only about halfway to three-quarters of the way into the skin. DO NOT pull back the plunger of the syringe or move the needle around.
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Slowly (or as slowly as possible with a struggling baby) push the plunger of the syringe down to administer the medication.
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Release your hold on the baby's skin and remove the needle, taking care to avoid sticking yourself or anyone else as you dispose of it. If the baby's thigh is bleeding, hold an alcohol swab over the spot for a few seconds until the bleeding stops, but DO NOT rub the area.
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Tips & Warnings
Rotate injection sites, and stay at least 2 cm away from bruised areas.
Most babies will be prescribed an alternate form of heparin, such as Lovenox, but the basic medication administration procedure is the same.
If needles/syringes come with your prescription, use the size that your pharmacist gives you but make sure that he knows you will be giving this medication to a baby.
Do NOT alternate or mix brands of heparin medication.
Use ONLY the heparin brand or medication specifically prescribed by your physician, the dosage prescribed by your physician and at the times prescribed by your physician.
