OK, this is my last 17P post, I swear.

ShannonSky · March 2011

Went to the midwife today and they agreed that we can do BPPs as indicated, including just for my mental health. I plan to ask for one at 30 weeks and another at 34 weeks, assuming everything else is going OK. However, they don't think I should do the 17P injects. According to them, 17P has not been proven helpful in people who had prematurity >34 weeks GA. ACOG agrees with that, but they still recommend offering the shots to anyone who has had a prior premature delivery. Plus I also have yet to see anything specifically looking at 17P and former pPROM moms.

I'm on the fence - I feel like if ACOG recommends it, then I should do it. On the other hand, as far as I'm aware, there haven't been any long-term studies done on mental development, etc (I did read a study that said kids age 4 were studied and their height/weight/etc were all comparable to the control group). As a general rule, I try to avoid any extra meds while I'm pregnant.

Has anyone else been in this position (either premature due to pPROM or >34 weeks preemie)? Are you doing/have done the 17P shots?

I'm just trying to do the best I can for this baby and this pregnancy and I really wish things were more clear-cut. I want to be a good advocate, but I don't know which way to go. I'm already stressed and I'm only 12 weeks. Plus, we couldn't hear the heartbeat today...my midwife wasn't worried and I'm going back in for an ultrasound on Tuesday, but I just wish I could have just heard the heartbeat.

lemen99 · March 2011

I'm not sure but I guess I would just get an other opinion - if you trust the person giving you advice, then that's what I would do.

I delivered at 26w2d due to IC. While the root cause of prematurity was IC, and the P17 wouldn't be enough to help with that, they still recommend P17 just to be sure.

I would do anything if considered safe to prevent another early preemie, so when the dr recommended it it wasn't really a question to me. I know what you mean about all the meds - but that's why you need to discuss your particular situation with a medical prof you trust.

amygoable · March 2011

I had much more premature labor (17week PPROM, 22&25 wk deliveries), but mine was caused by an idiosyncratic issue unlikely to repeat itself - random water break with a closed and long cervix, which opened over the next 6 weeks in response to the leaky water, and no labor until my cervix was almost gone, so contractions didn't really drive the PTL until I was infected and had to deliver.

That said, I am still getting the 17P. I figure it's a good precaution, and they don't have any side effects. Of course, I see what you're saying with the research, and I think you should do what you think is best, but I figure they can't do any harm, and they might do some good.

njkaren · March 2011

I had Pprom with Brandon's twin sister at 19 weeks, 2 days. Like Amygoable mine was a random water break with a closed and long cervix. The doctors did recommend the 17P this pregnancy which I started getting at 16 weeks. I am already a little past 22 weeks. So almost 3 weeks past the point where I had Pprom in my last pregnancy.

ctrickey03 · March 2011

I had my 2nd DS at 32 weeks. They put me on the 17p shots for this pregnancy even though I had a full term delivery after my preemie. The 17p shots were still in the testing stages when I had my 3rd DS, thus why I didn't have them then. I have had PPROM at 28 weeks with this pregnancy. I do feel however that it was the 17p shots that kept me from contracting and going into labor. My water luckily resealed after 8 days of hospital bed rest. I can't 100% say that it will or will not work, but with it being a natural hormone your body already makes I think it'd be worth a shot, just in the likely hood that it may work, ya know? I'm now 31 weeks pregnant and still on the shot.

As for not hearing the heartbeat, tons of prayers for you and your family. Hopefully baby was just being difficult that day. Take care. ((hugs))

LittleD8081 · March 2011

Shannon, I think you know my situation, but I pPROM'd at 34w 4d for no reason at all and had Parker at 34w 5d (he was born 3 1/2 hours after my water broke). I had read lots of research on the 17P stuff over the past 2 years, and I decided it was the best thing to do. Lots of research that I saw noted that many moms of premature babies are at increased risk for later preterm births, with the gestational date being shorter than that of the first preemie. That made me think about this in depth, as I did not want to go through another preemie birth, let alone a preemie who was earlier than 34w gestation. I have had absolutely no side effects from the shots. I've been getting them since 16 weeks and my cervix is looking great so far. No contractions, nothing... I believe in my heart of hearts that I am doing what is best for this baby by trying to bake it a little longer. I believe that the benefits far outweigh the risks, and I have been very comfortable with my decision. I never really considered not getting the shots...since there is no evidence that I saw of harm to myself or the baby. Progesterone is naturally made by our bodies, and women take it to lengthen their LP's...and I just feel it is a pretty safe alternative to "waiting and seeing." I knew for me, I just wanted to feel secure that I was doing what I could to have a full term baby...so, that I could at least eliminate that stress.

It is a personal decision, though. Good luck. Whatever you decide, it will be the right choice.

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OK, this is my last 17P post, I swear.

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