Would you ask for steroid shot?

realisticdreams

Right now the time frame if nothing else gets worse is that baby will be born at 37 weeks via induction, no arguing with it (I didn't try to argue but I did ask both Peri & OB if 'natural' labor was an option and got a definite, no). 

Being that it will be 37 weeks, and i'd rather not have an amnio (I don't think my insurance covers it from the benefits book), is it unreasonable to ask the dr's about getting the steriod shot for babies lungs? 

Who knows it could end up being way before 37 weeks, I start going bi weekly for NST and weekly AFI check in the next 2 weeks.  Everything is stable right now, on the low end of normal, so if it gets worse they said they would take her. 

I know there is a cut off point for these to work and am going to google other info about it.

TIA.

E&RMommy

When are you proposing to get steroids?  It's maximum effectiveness is within one week of administration.  If you go past 34 weeks, current literature does not support its administration.  If you get it early in pregancy, current literature does not support a "rescue" or 2nd course.  So......doesn't seem you are a candidate for it at this point.

AllyInMaine

I had the amnio per doctor's orders at 37 weeks because I had placenta previa and PT labor signs. The amnio started regular contractions, so I was scheduled for my CS the next day. The lung test came back fine and they didn't need steroids.

37w 2d my DS was born with healthy lungs and didn't spend a minute in the NICU (thank God.)

farrellashleigh

Typically you do not administer betamethasone after 35/36 weeks, as the pp stated the maximum efficacy is if you administer it within one week of delivery. Right around 35-37 weeks the baby will start producing the surfactant on their own therefore dosing after the fact is really unnecessary. I would assume with the high risk issues that a high risk OB is monitoring the pregnancy, trust what their recommendations are because they definitely wouldn't hold out on steriod injections if they believed that it would benefit the baby, if nothing else for the malpractice issues, so I'd trust in them. HIH!

Helix07

I was induced at 37wks with Madeleine and no steroid shots.  I asked about them and my OB said they were not necessary.

realisticdreams

Thanks, I knew they had stipulations but didn't know how strict they were to work, etc.  I just want to avoid NICU as much as possible.