Procardia and Steriod Questions

Hi,
I am new to the forum and so glad that I found this website.

I am currently 27 weeks pregnant. I have had previous PTL with my son labor starting at 25 weeks but I gave birth to a healthy boy at 38 weeks.

This pregnancy I have been on bedrest since 22 weeks. Same issue as before with contractions, the good news is though that my cervix is between 3.5-4, but some weeks I have funnelying other weeks I do not.

At last weeks peris appointment they were concerened about baby B's weight going from 42% to 16t% on the charts, Baby A was doing ok, up from 42 to 53. My peri said that they would recheck in two weeks time and for me to rest on my left side and drink plenty of fluids. Which I have been doing.

Fast forward to today's appointment with my OB and I updated her on my peri appointment. Straight away she said to get the steriod shots for the babies lungs, I got one today and go back tomorrow for my second. Also she told me to start procardia as my contractions have been picking up and getting more intense.

I am one of these people that does all my research, when I got home today I found the following statments on the interent about steriods and procardia, I am now worried about taking them both.

1) Steriod should not be given if there is growth restriction in a baby, well Baby B certainly dropped from the previous growth check.
2) Steriods can cause restricted blood flow to the placenta.
3) Steriods and procardia can cause pulmonary edema in mother.

I obviuosly want to do whats in the best interest of my babies and also my health, I hate to think that I have caused problems with the growth of baby B by having the steriods, but I also am aware of the benefits if they arrive early.

Has anyone been on both of these medications ? did you have any problems ? Also was your blood pressure monitored when using the procardia ??

Sorry that this has been so long, any advice is appreciated.
Thanks
Bel.

 

Hi,
I got the steroid shots at 31 weeks due to a PTL scare, also got put on procardia 20mg every 6 hours. I have taken it religiously for the last 6 weeks and now I'm on my last day of it. I've been on bedrest as well but would go down the stairs every two to three days to do dishes 'cos my hubby sucks at it and I didn't want anything growing in my kitchen. I've also chased my toddler around upstairs. My bp dropped real low the 1st two days (90/50) but picked back up (120/70) and has been fine since. We've had weekly NST's/ultrasounds and the babies have been doing very well. I was very scared when this happened to me six weeks ago but a lot of positive and very supportive people on here helped me get through it with success stories of their own. I think the steroids are only a problem if given for an extended period of time and I have read of lots of people who were on procardia for 18 weeks or more.
Hope things go well for you. Take care. :hug:

 

i was on procardia 2-3 times a day (sorry i can't remember exactly it's been a while) for 2 months due to contractions and an irritable uterus, although it didn't help much. i didn't get monitored for blood pressure although i was in the OB's office weekly where they checked bp so they could have been monitoring it.

i got steroid injections around 30 weeks?? because i was starting to show signs of labor, cervix dialating, funneling, increased contractions, that sort of thing. i had no complications with having the injections and taking the procardia.

i had a c-section at 35 weeks due to a worsening pre-eclampsia.

honestly it's been so long since all of this happened and i have such a terrible memory but i was on bed rest for 2 months in and out of the hospital taking meds, getting shots, that sort of thing.

i delivered two very healthy 4lb boys with apgars of 8 and 9.

best of luck to you

 

I was on Procardia from like 20 weeks on. I don't remember the dosage, but I took it every 6 hours. I also got steroid shots right at 24 weeks, and a rescue dose at 30w5d (48 hours before my c-section). I had no trouble with either.

Procardia is actually a blood pressure medication. I have naturally low blood pressure, and on Procardia it was always quite low, to the point that while on hospital bedrest when I was getting my BP taken every 6 hours, sometimes the nurses had to ask if I felt lightheaded, etc. because my BP was so low.

I credit the steroids for my girls having a relatively uneventful NICU stay. Neither had any brain bleeds, Lily was on room air from the very beginning and Grace had to do very little oxygen support. They were born at 31w0d. We never encountered any growth restriction issues though.

GL!

 

I would definitely recommend getting the steroids. You should only receive 2 doses and maybe an additional rescue dose if you do actually deliver before 34 wks. The benefits of them far outweigh the risks. I had them with DD1 at 30 wks and with the twins at 24 wks (and a rescue dose right before delivering). They really do make a difference. My twins had 7/8 and 8/9 apgars at 29w6d. They required very minimal respiratory support. And Eve suffered from IUGR yet did fine with the steroids. Plus, the amount is so small-I really wouldn't worry.

As for the procardia, I was on it for 6 wks with DD1. All I really know is that using it to relax the uterus is an unlabeled use, and that my DD is fine. I can't really give you any additional advice on that.

GL and keep those babies cookin'!

 

Thank you for all your replies, I feel much better now about taking the steriod shots, I am however going to call the OB today and chat about the Procardia. My main concern is that my blood pressure is also quite low - around 90/58, yesterday it was 112/70. So I just want to double check that its not going to make mine go even lower.
Again thank you for your advice, it has certainly made me feel better.
Bel

 

We have VERY similar histories. I also have IU (irritable uterus) and was hospitalized for frequent contractions at 24 weeks with my singleton son. I had the steriod shots at that time as well as some MAJOR heavy hitter meds (Mag sulfate) and did just fine with no pulmonary complications. With bedrest and a terb pump I carried my son until 36 weeks.

This time with twins, my IU started around 13 weeks. I've been getting 17P shots to help (they usually start these at 16 weeks, it's a type of progesterone) but recently found myself in L&D twice this past week for frequent contrax (every 2-3 minutes) but NO cervical change also (cervix 3.9cm, no funneling). I started on an XL (extended release)version of procardia this past week (30mg). Procardia is very safe with pregnancy and probably has the least side effects of all the contraction-fighting meds.

I am going to be asking my doc for the steriod shots at my appnt next week. It will give me such peace of mind. Two doses of the steriods is really quite safe for the mother....extended courses are much more dangerous. If there is risk of the babies coming early, the benefits usually FAR outweigh the risks with steriods b/c they can literally save your babies' lives.

I'm hoping to keep these babies cooking as long as I possibly can....I know you are too!!!!!

 

I'm 33 weeks Monday and have been on bed rest since the 20th week. I have been on Procardia since the 24th week and was given steroid shots the 28th week for PTL. Both Baby A and B have been in about the 49th percentile throughout the entire pregnancy. I haven't had any issues with my cardiac or respiratory systems. I am monitored for my blood pressure when I have a doc's appt. I also have a blood pressure cuff and stethoscope at home so I can check it myself. If you're concerned about their growth, voice it to your Peri. I'm sure they wouldn't prescribe something to you that would worsen things and you always have to weigh the pros and cons. If one or both babies get to an unsafe weight, the docs will go ahead and deliver them. What I've learned throughout this experience is to keep asking questions and not to surf the internet too much about meds etc. because it will worry you with all the different side effects that may occur. You can always get a second opinion if you're not completely sure about your current doctor's orders.

 

Thanks for all your replies, I do feel much more comfortable now taking the procardia and the steriods, I will do whatever I need to do for these babies. I go back on Monday for another growth scan and I am just praying that baby B is putting on weight. I feel that there is always something to worry about....