Progesterone injections

I am 15 weeks pregnant with what appears to be fraternal twins. This is my 6th pregnancy 1st- full term 6#3oz 2nd- 35 weeks 6# 9oz 3rd- 37 weeks (bedrest at 29 weeks) 5#14oz 4th- 37 weeks 5#6oz 5th- miscarriage 6th- currently 15 weeks. My doctor wants to start progesterone injections weekly beginning next week to help prevent preterm labor. Has anyone else had these injections and what was the outcome? I have heard that early, fast weight gain and high protein intake is key to preventing preterm labor... thoughts? Thanks

 

I was on progesterone injections from 24 weeks, until 34 weeks when I delivered. I am not sure if it helped, as they were taken with an array of meds to prevent preterm labor (I started having issues at 24 weeks with contractions). But my doctor and I were willing to try anything!

 

Dr. Luke's book is what I used- you could certainly take the calcium & magnesium supplements to ward off labor.

 

I am currently taking the weekly progesterone injections (P17 or 17P they are called I think). I am 26.3 weeks pregnant with BG twins and have been taking them since weeks 16. I had my previous DD at week 29. I was dilated to 3cm when my water broke and I went in to L&D, was put on mag and given steroids and held on for 48 more hours to deliver exactly at 29 weeks. They are not sure why I dilated or why my water broke. Or whether contrax (wasn't feeling any upon admission) or IC was the culprit.

Anyways, I am now 26.3 weeks and my cervix is still long and firm and I am not even having BH contractions which I think are pretty common about this time in a twin pregnnacy. I am chalking it up to the injectionsI think that the benefit of p17 is that it relaxes your uterus and helps with contrax, thus helping your cervix to stay stable. Like pp mentioned...we are willing to do try anything to keeps these babies in to AT LEAST 34 weeks. I have been a fingertip dilated for a couple weeks but I am not on bedrest yet!! My peri is very cautious, tho and I am sure she will jump to put me on it if it is in the least bit justified.

Sorry to ramble, but just thought you would like to hear my experience with the shots!! Good luck to you and keep us posted!

 

I have seen on here several times people mention this Dr. Luke. Who is he and what is the book called. I am interested in anything that may help!

 

Hi, I had PT labor and a very short cervix at 24 weeks. I had weekly P17 shots, plus all of the other usual other medications. If I had another pregnancy, I would do it. My peri said it is clinically proven to help prevent PTL in singleton pregnancies. He said it is not proven yet in multiple pregnancies, but that it seems to be helpful with some twin pregnancies. I didn't find a weekly shot that big of a deal. I went through IVF so that was a lot worse as far as shots and drugs.
GL!

 

I did 17p with my last 2 pregnancies bc my first preganncy resulted in my water breaking too early. I got to 38 weeks with my son and to my scheduled c at 36+4 with my twins. It worked great for me. My OB says it doesn't work if you start them later than 18 weeks and she starts her patients at 16 weeks. I noticed that when it was time for my weekly shots that I would start to get my bh contrctions but then after my shot they woul quieten down completely. The shots don't hurt much if you ice beforehand.

 

Oh and early fast weight gain and high protein intake results in bigger babies... Has nothing to do with preventing preterm labor but there are supplements you can take to prevent preterm labor (magnesium, vit c etc) these Are outlined in dr lukes book.

 

Who is Dr Luke and what is the book called?

 

She is the one who wrote "expecting twins trips and quads"