Steroid shots before having baby?

chicky1231 · November 2010

I'm being monitored for a short cervix and went in today...my cervix is still short but hasn't changed since last week (1.5cm) but it was slightly dialated. The high risk Dr didn't want to do the steroid shots yet b/c he said they can only give them once and he'd rather wait until I definelty need them...like if I'm regularly contracting.

What are your thoughts on this? A girl on my local board said that's wrong and I should get them now.

ssg73 · November 2010

I would follow the high risk doctor but make sure you are being watched closely. The steroids really help. I had hellp syndrome so I got both shots but didn't make it to beta complete 48 hours after the first shot. But even without the full effect my 30 weeker needed minimal respiratory support and has pretty good lungs now. She was on the vent for 12 hours, c-pap for 4 days and canula for 2 weeks . She was always on room air with no oxygen we think the steroids are why we were able to avoid many of the respiratory problems we could have faced. I hope you keep that baby cooking for another 10 weeks.

carlamell · November 2010

I'd definitely stay on it. I was admitted at 28 weeks and got my first steroid shot that same day, and the second shot the next day. They really do help! I delivered at 29 weeks due to pre-e, and my baby only had to be on oxygen for a few days. He never had to be on a vent, and the neonatologist said that she was glad I had the steroids. The high risk OB told us that he doesn't take chances and if it looks like the baby will be preterm, he likes to do the steroids upon admission.

chicky1231 · November 2010

Thanks! Yeah he did tell me that he wants me to go and get checked if for any reason I think I might be or I am having contractions and of course if my water breaks or bleed.

He said he'd rather give it when he's sure LO will be arriving shortly b/c the shots work best given closer to delivery and I'm not contracting now. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing on something I should get now even though I could still go a few more weeks. He is monitoring me every week with vaginal ultrasounds and gave me a list of things to pay attention too

Leigh71 · November 2010

I had 2 steriod shots at 30 weeks.

(I was admitted to the hospital for PTL. I was contracting every 3-6 minutes. I had contractions for 2 wks. The girls were born at 32 weeks.)

Bippy798 · November 2010

I would insist on them now. You never know how fast these things may go and if you make it to the point where the shots would be less effective hopefully their lungs would be much more developed!

lexismom1008 · November 2010

I think that if the steroids are given to far before delivery, the are not effective. They can give a rescue dose after the first round when they are sure you are going to deliver, but the second round is not as effective as the first. If that makes any sense :-). GL to you!!

witt0198 · November 2010

Out side of the steriods.....is there some reason you don't have a cerclage yet? If you're shortened and starting to dilate.....just sounds like bedrest and cerclage to me, but what do I know.....I never had a cerclage, just heard the stories from this board.

Kate621 · November 2010

lexismom1008:
I think that if the steroids are given to far before delivery, the are not effective. They can give a rescue dose after the first round when they are sure you are going to deliver, but the second round is not as effective as the first. If that makes any sense :-). GL to you!!

All of this. The steriods are most effective when given closer to delivery. I was able to get both doses before my ds decided to make his grand entrance at 25 weeks 6days. He had tons of respiratory issues and I hate to think of what it would have been like without the steriods.

Mrs.Kristen · November 2010

I have multiple occasions i was in the hospital during this last pregnancy and thought with all the signs I would get it soonerr but like others said my OB said the closer to delivery the better and more effective it would be. I was right at the cut off for the shots when I got them and thankful we did DD was born with no breathing issues at 33/34 weeks

chicky1231 · November 2010

witt0198:
Out side of the steriods.....is there some reason you don't have a cerclage yet? If you're shortened and starting to dilate.....just sounds like bedrest and cerclage to me, but what do I know.....I never had a cerclage, just heard the stories from this board.

My shortened cervix wasn't discoverd until 24 weeks and it didn't get short to the point of being worrisome until 29 week and at that point it was too late for a cerclage. The slight dialation just started now at a little over 30 weeks.

Thanks for the info on the steroid shots....so far what I've been reading has said it's better to get closer to when you'll actually deliver. I go in again on Wed to check again and I think get the fFN test and I've been told to call for any type of contraction. I'm also on procardia and still on progesterone shots.

blissfully_caffeinated · November 2010

I really don't belong on this board since DS was born full term but I'm over here asking a question. I was in preterm labor at 33 weeks. When we talked about the steroid shots the doctor said they are most effective when given close to delivery. So it's better to wait until you're pretty darn sure you're going to be giving birth shortly but still try to get both shots before delivery. He didn't give them right away but once they thought they weren't going to be able to stop the delivery they gave me the shots. It's a weird balancing game they have to play. Too early or too late and they won't help. They have to get the timing just right. Luckily, I was able to keep DS cooking for several more weeks from when I first went into labor.

Susan_KW · November 2010

Hmmm .. this thread is very interesting.

I got the steroid shots a week ago on the basis of a positive FFN alone (no sign of dilation, no cervix shortening, no consistent contractions). My history is pPROM at 30w5d with DD. My OB was going to perform biweekly FFN tests (along with internal u/s and internal) from 25-33 weeks. The FFN came back positive at 27 weeks and now I'm on bedrest with the steroid shots completed.

It's not terribly comforting to know the shots need to be given soon before birth. My OB is pretty sure that I won't deliver until closer to 31 weeks if I do go early again. I hope they still work after 4 weeks if this one comes at 31 weeks too.

Deutscher · November 2010

I literally got my shot 5 minutes before going in the OR for my c section. We had such a quick process because of how sick I was that it seemed like they were shooting me in the butt as they were wheeling me to deliver! Our little guy only had to be on the CPAP for like 6-8 hours, but I delivered at 32 weeks.

hollerjeepgirl · November 2010

I've had 2 sets of steroid shots and a mag drip to stop labor. They told me at first they can only do 1 shot to mature the baby's lungs but they did a 2nd one when I started bleeding and leaking more AF just incase. The worst case scenario is that it doesn't work. But! I've had 2 different sides about the steroids. The first was saying that if you have it early at 23 weeks like I did it helps with the development and if I did the 2nd one there was a chance it might not work. Then I was told the opposite, that it probably didn't work at 23 weeks but will work now. It won't effect your baby though, but it does take a few day to get through your system to your baby's so if they give it to you right before you start labor it won't do anything

chicky1231 · November 2010

Thanks for all the info girls...it seems to be something they have to play but so far it seems that they are best given closer to delivery. I am being monitored with weekly vaginal ultrasounds and will possibly get the fFN test on Wed and then we'll go from there.

I was just told to call if any signs of timable contractions, bleeding, leaking or even if I'm unsure. They'd rather bring me in a monitor me and rule out pre term labor then have me sit at home and assume everything is ok.

At this point if I feel anything I'm unsure of I'm gonna get checked...I know when my sister went into early labor they gave her the one steroid shot and they gave her the 2nd but she delivered before it was in for the 24 hr period but my niece came out breathing on her own and never needed help.

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