17P for this preg with PPROM & Pre-E previous preg?

OutOfStep81

Good morning ladies! I was wondering if I could poke my head over here to get some opinions on what to do. My OB called yesterday and asked if I was interested in 17P shots to prevent PTL.

I'm a little confused as to why they're asking (not recommending exactly) when I didn't have PTL with DS. I was Pre-E and had PPROM at 35 wks, OB tried to induce and DS was delivered 36 hrs later via c-section (body would not progress, even tried manually dilating my cervix).

From what I've read it's common for mamas who have had PPROM to take the shot, but that it doesn't specifically address that issue. I'm HR this time around because of the above issues with DS. I don't "feel" HR I guess because there was no known reason for the PPROM (I wasn't diagnosed with anything specifically). SO and I are researching and will be speaking with the OB this Friday at our appt.

Does anyone have any thoughts or opinions? I'm hesitant to take something like the 17P if I don't truly need it and/or if it doesn't specifically prevent the issues I had with DS. Any and all feedback is welcome.

kneenah1231

I would discuss it with your dr. Maybe he saw delivered at 35wks and assumed it was bcuz ptl. Just remind him of your history.

OutOfStep81

Yeah, I'm definitely going to do that. I switched OB's for insurance reasons and I feel like I gotta explain everything at each appt lol.

Wally3

With DS1 I had PPROM at 34 weeks - no other problems before that typical low risk pg, no reason for the PPROM.  With DS2 I met with MFM and she recommended p-17 shots.  She said that since I had PPROM and then started laboring and had ds 6 hours later she believed the p17 shots could help.  Also since the side effects are pain and itching at the injection site and not for the baby she would recommend them.  I had them with DS2 and my insurance covered sending a nurse to my house (or work) to adminstrer the shots.  It was the nurse who caught my preterm contractions at 32 weeks and sent me to ob who sent me to the hospital.  THe hospital stopped my contractions 3 times between 32 and 35 weeks - which included a hospital stay.  I was induced at 39 wks due to high AF.  Had healthy baby boy. I'm glad I had the shots - not 100% that they allwoed me to go fullterm but the extra monitoring defunately was a plus.  Good luck whatever you decided.

OutOfStep81

Wally3 said:

With DS1 I had PPROM at 34 weeks - no other problems before that typical low risk pg, no reason for the PPROM.  With DS2 I met with MFM and she recommended p-17 shots.  She said that since I had PPROM and then started laboring and had ds 6 hours later she believed the p17 shots could help.  Also since the side effects are pain and itching at the injection site and not for the baby she would recommend them.  I had them with DS2 and my insurance covered sending a nurse to my house (or work) to adminstrer the shots.  It was the nurse who caught my preterm contractions at 32 weeks and sent me to ob who sent me to the hospital.  THe hospital stopped my contractions 3 times between 32 and 35 weeks - which included a hospital stay.  I was induced at 39 wks due to high AF.  Had healthy baby boy. I'm glad I had the shots - not 100% that they allwoed me to go fullterm but the extra monitoring defunately was a plus.  Good luck whatever you decided.

Thank you so much for sharing this. With my situation I never went into labor (they couldn't get my cervix to dilate and DS wasn't reacting well to the pitocin), so I guess that's why I'm feeling a little lost on it.

Like I said, I'm going to discuss it further with my OB on Friday

smscartozzi

I had PPROM wih DS at 35 weeks as well. He was born healthy and all. I am currently pregnant 29w2d with twins and have been taking Makena/17p since 16 weeks. As I type this I am sitting in the hospital on bed rest! I am definitely glad I took the shots. It could have been worse! Or maybe it didn't make a difference, who really knows. But there is no risk to the babies and I had minimal side effects, just some itching and a small rash the one week I got the shot on the same side twice in a row by accident! Talk it over with your doctor and you should really get the opinion of an MFM in my opinion!

XKG

I had PPROm at 27 weeks and they induced at 28 weeks due to infection signs. There was no reason for the PPROm. This time they had me do the 17P shots, due to the preemie and the 36 weeker before her (due to labor.) I had PTL once already this pregnancy. I am still pretty indifferent to the shots, ESP since I'm still having issues and still need bed rest. But, they did tell me, there is only a 30% chance of an improvement of outcome.

OutOfStep81

@cfwesolowski I completed get you on the fears with this! I have dealt with depression since my teens and that was a big concern for me as I went about my research. I spoke with my DR and nurses several times and they assured me it is better to go ahead and take the shots and manage any side effects as they come (or hopefully don't). I was also concerned about elevated blood pressure, mine is still great but I wondered if these raised the chances of pre-e, which it generally doesn't. It's more of a concern with women who already have elevated bp.

Anyways, I started the shots Tuesday and the site was sore for about 12-24 hrs afterwards and I'm sure it'll get worse as I go further along, but I feel confident I'm doing the right thing.

Try not to worry about a c-section or how your labor will go once you stop the shots... Everyone is so different I'm sure you and I both will be fine.

smscartozzi

@outofstep81- they don't get more painful. Just make sure they remember to alternate sides, I by accident got 2 shots in a row on one side and I got a huge itchy rash. It was more annoying than anything but could have been avoided.

OutOfStep81

@smscartozzi I was thinking more along the lines of (even with switching sides) the muscle itself becoming more sensitive after being poked over and over again.

SO is going to be doing them at home, so you'd better believe I'll make sure he alternates!

smscartozzi

Dont't stress the tissue....I barely felt the shots in the beginning and 15 later still don't!  The most annoying part is the shot stings for a little after the injection and the itching, ugh!!  5 more to go, I can't wait until I am done!!!!!!

OutOfStep81

cfwesolowski said:

@OutOfStep81 Thank you!! I appreciate your encouragment. I am definitely going to do them, I just didn't know what to expect other than what I read on the Makena site and I wanted some real people insight. Thank you again.

I hear the shots get harder for most women further on because the scar tissues builds up around the injection sites, even with alternating sides. I've experienced that a little-I did an egg donation 3 months before I got pregnant and I had to do injections every night and as the month went on the did get harder to do and then the steroid shot had leaked out a little and it really hurt to give.

Good luck to you!!

Good luck to you too! I'm sure it'll all turn out fine.

OutOfStep81

smscartozzi said:

Dont't stress the tissue....I barely felt the shots in the beginning and 15 later still don't!  The most annoying part is the shot stings for a little after the injection and the itching, ugh!!  5 more to go, I can't wait until I am done!!!!!!

That was what surprised me the most about it, the shot itself didn't hurt, but afterwards it started to sting. I would have figured actually injecting it would hurt more than it sitting in the muscle.

And yay, only 5 more! You're so close!