Like Becky said, I've been giving her a nightly intramuscular shot of progesterone oil for a while. We recently were allowed to stop due to her body taking over production. Since we've been down this road a few times, I've got some experience... probably 100 or more shots. We learned a few things during the process and experienced a couple of scenarios I'd like to share. Hopefully, my house key will work when I get home.
The first shot took about four hours. I don't blame her. I, too would have been scared of me with a needle. It was my first shot to give and she had been thinking about it for weeks. I tried to stay patient, but eventually I left the room. She used a phone-a-friend and we got back on track. Since that day, it was relatively smooth sailing.
Every attempt included the same few questions from Becky, but let me set up the process first. The progesterone is delivered in sesame oil... so, it's thick. Thick shots suck, so we heat up a hot-water-bottle to help diffuse the oil once it gets injected. That's step one. Two: use a large gauge (read: pencil lead sized...it was big) needle to draw the oil into the syringe. Three: swap needles on the syringe to a more reasonable size (see the previous post for a picture). The questions: Did you switch the needles (totally reasonable question)? Is that a good placement for the shot? It's not too high up is it? Are you ready (her to me about six times)? And it usually included a few "Ummms" to give her a chance to get her mind straight. I eventually stopped asking when she was ready because no person in their right mind would ever say "now" knowing what would happen next. I started saying, "OK, deep breath, going in three, two, one." I would then tap her with my pinky finger to "fake" the shot, then give the shot. She would tense up on the "fake" and then relax. A little devious, but it was recommended by the nurse.
The next few steps are where we learned a few tricks.
The shot requires the muscle to be relaxed so she would lay on her stomach and draw up the leg on whichever side was to receive the shot (in the top of her butt). To keep her from flinching or kicking that leg during the shot (and to make her feel more comfortable), I would straddle her legs. The actual steps are simple...Four: alcohol pad to shot area, inject, Band-Aid, hot-water-bottle. However, let's add a few obstacles: dogs. Tyson is extremely sensitive to Becky's mood. He can't stand for her to raise her voice or cry or anything like that. The actual injection takes a good minute to a minute and a half. I'm sure a nurse would knock it out in five seconds, but for us, slower was better to let the oil dissipate. Well, if she whimpered or reacted, Tyson would come to her rescue and try to lick her face which would shake the bed and, in turn, shake the shot-giver. Since the needle is about this long -----------------------> any shaking hurt (REALLY HURT), so we learned to remove the dogs or not react to any pain. She eventually achieved a Zen-like state and the dogs thought we were just taking a nap...no flinching, no noise, she was a rock star.
Next lesson: LOCK THE DOOR. On the rare occasions where we had guests during the time a shot was needed, we would find a bedroom and walk through the process. Hopefully, by now, you have a picture of how this would go. If not, let me illustrate: picture me straddling my wife's legs w/ most of her rear hanging out. Now, I have my left hand on her rear stretching the skin and giving myself a target to aim for. In the right, I hold the syringe like a dart with my fingers over the serum to help warm it up. So, naked butt, cowboy husband, exposed needle, unlocked door. Do I need to finish the story? Enter the "tween" daughter of a close friend. She stood there in stunned silence, mouth agape, eyes like half-dollars. I'm expecting a bill from her therapist in about 15 years. We started locking the door.
Other lessons learned: don't stab the needle through the fleshy part of your hand between your thumb and first finger. I didn't do that, I'm just saying you shouldn't either.
Anyway, that's about all I can think of. I'm not sure if this is more for you guys or for us later. I'd hate to forget any of these events. Some have been difficult but even those have brought us closer. Honestly, even though I was inflicting pain on her EVERY NIGHT for months, she would always thank me. Probably not an easy thing to do, but she never forgot. In a strange way, it was an opportunity to have 10 minutes of quiet for the two of us with the sole purpose of continuing this pregnancy. We had a daily routine that required both of us and it had a direct impact on these two babies. What else during my life has been more important than that?
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