Repost from PgAL: Shots to prevent pre-term labor?

figgs0831

First a little history.  I delivered my little boy at 19w3d in July.  The baby had some organ issues and my water broke on its own just after my anatomy scan.  My cervix was completely closed and I needed to be induced to deliver baby. 

Now, pregnancy #2, my doctor wants be extra cautious.  He is having me get a weekly shot in the butt beginning at 16 weeks until we are full term.  I guess it is supposed to prevent pre-term labor or contractions.  I was a bit shocked at the new plan since I thought my labor was due to the baby being sick.  So I wasn't prepared to ask questions.  Going into pre-term labor again never crossed my mind.

So.. before I google, I was hoping you wonderful ladies could share some information or experiences.

Is this a progesterone shot?  I am assumming it is.  Does it actually work?  Is it safe?  Are there side effects or other concerns?  Also, I would assume they would stop the treatments around 37 weeks, but will it prevent me from going into labor naturally?  I would really like to avoid being induced again (it was terrible!).

Sorry for the million questions!

ashleyluvskyle

I am sorry for your loss.    It's rough to lose a child. 

 I had my first 3 babies at 32, 34, & 33 weeks.  First one I noticed I was havin a lot of contractions and finally convinced the quack I was seeing to check my cervix.  What did they find 4cm dilated 50% effaced staring at my bag of waters.  Ended up having him 12 hrs later after nasty mag drip and lots of vomiting.  2nd one I was on pills to try and prevent labor and then back on mag drip.  4 days of trying to stop and she was born.  3rd child my water broke at 33 weeks.  He was born around 5-6 hours after my water broke.  With my 4th child I was given the 17P (progesterone) shot from 18 weeks on.  I shoudl have started at 16 but I like you was very skeptical.  I got my last shot at 36 weeks and 2 or 3 days.  I went into labor a week and a few days later.  I had been 1 cm for a few weeks and then went to hospital when contractions got to 5 m apart and rather intense.  I was 8 cm she was born within 2 hrs.  I was 37 weeks and a few days.  I am currently pregnant with my 5th child.  I started the shots at 15 weeks (because my due date was changed) and I have 2 left.  One today at 35 wks 0 day and then one next week at 36 wk 0 days.  I am dilated to 1 cm and have been for two weeks.  I can tell when the shot has run out they last around 5-9 days.  The worst days of the week for me are the day of my shot- 2 days after my shot.  I usually have contractions and pain. 

As far as side effects I had headaches in the beginning and pain at the site.  The injections are painful but 100% worth it to keep the baby inside.  I used to take tylenol about 1hr before my injection and that really helped.  After you get used to them ( a month or so) they don't seem to cause as many side effects.  Good luck with your decision and pregnancy.  I am glad I did it with the last two pregnancies. 

figgs0831

Oh wow.  You have had quite a journey!  Thank you for responding.  I figured that the shots wouldn't be a walk in the park, so tylenol is a great idea.  I am just trying to be prepared for if/when I make it out of the 1st trimester. 

We were completely blindsided by the thought of another pre-term labor.  It had never even crossed my mind.  So, hopefully this all works!

SCSmithbride

unfortunately you don't think about it, but the way I was explained it doesn't really matter the circumstances surrounding the preterm labor if you give birth before full term it's likely your body will go into labor early again because it will feel it's time when it's not.

 I lost my second child at 20 wks even.  due to a SCH that kept leaking blood and finally wore a whole in my bag of water.  4 weeks later I got an infection and being so early there was nothing they could do for my son, but if I left the infection I would possibly lose him and my ability to have future children so I was induced to delivery.  

I moved to a high risk OB after when we found we were pregnant again and started the shots late because it took a min to get in with the doctor, but I got them til 36w4 I think and DD#2 made her entrance  into this world at 38 wks even after my water broke on 37w6 and being GBS+ I had to go straight to the hospital for antibiotics and then was induced because contractions never really started.

Now on to today I started shots again at 16 wks and will have them til 36w4 again but so far so good.  I don't have to many issues except the itching.  I get BHs the day of the shot and the day after, but as PP said anything to keep LO cooking for as long as possible.

GL 

figgs0831

Thank you SCSmithbride.  I am so sorry for your loss as well.  It is good to hear some of the successes of this shot!  It gives me hope.  Not sure if I am looking forward to the BHs though, but I will deal.  I had these around 18 weeks and then at 19 they turned out to be early contractions. 

lydiarose2001

I'm sorry to piggyback onto your post with another question, but what other measures were taken by you ladies who had success with the shots? I am on bedrest due to IC/PTL with my first child, but of course was wondering what implications this would have if we want to have more children in the future. Did you have cerclages? Bedrest? Pelvic rest?

Jackie2200

I'm taking the shots starting in 3 weeks (at 16 weeks).  I lost my twins due to what they think was preterm labor and pPROM.  I've heard good things about them and the risks are minimal. 

easjer05

I start 17p next week.  My friend took 17p during her second pregnancy.  She was hospitalized once for PTL, and was on home bedrest, but ended being overdue, and her docs credit the shots for that.

My PTL was most likely triggered by an amniotic leak (we don't think it was a full break, but we don't know), caused by damage to my cervix at the internal os that allowed my mebranes to bulge and break.  But we can't be 100% certain, and I definitely had a full labor and dilated to 7 by the time he was born.

The first step for me was cerclage, because there was no question that damage occurred and no clear certainty about how that damage would affect a pregnancy.  It probably contributed to the loss, but maybe not.  17p is not uncommon for women with a cerclage, because the irritation to the cervix can trigger irritable uterus or PTL, but they wanted me on it anyway, because of the early delivery.