Steroid Injections For Fetal Lung Development

Has anyone had or discussed having steroid injections with their provider? (to speed up lung development)I may be having to get them on Monday depending on the results of my ultrasound and cervical measurements.

I am wondering if my doctor is being overly cautious with me as my 4 year old had a stroke inutero. I just hate to have the injections done if she "thinks" I may deliver early. If there is real concern I would of course to give them every fighting chance. I sat by my son's bedside for a year as he fought for his life and the thought of doing it again scares me more than anything....

I have read some conflicting information about the risks. Anyone have any thoughts or expereince with this?

Thanks SO much in advance! I can't get on here as much as I would like to because my dad was suddenly diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer just before Xmas and it has been a crazy time.

Twin Baby Girls Lily and Lexi Due Sometime In March 2011​

 

My cervix started to shorten at 26 weeks. At 29 weeks I had a positive Ffn and at that point I had the steroid injections. I also had them for a singleton pregnancy at 20 something weeks. All our babies were healthy and breathing on their own. I don't know if it was due to the shots or that they were developed enough. Our DD at 37 weeks and our twins at 35 and 3 days. I also have a DS that was born at 35 weeks and his lungs were not developed and he was on a vent for the first days of his life, he did not have the shots as we had no idea he would come early. Was the stroke caused by the steroid shots? I think you need to weigh the pros and cons of the injections. I did not hesitate as I had already had my DS who had underdeveloped lungs and still has respiratory issues. I think you need to get all the info from the Dr and then make a decision that is best for you. Personally I would not have the shots if there was not a risk to the current pregnancy. Just because your Dr "thinks" you may go early is not reason enough IMO. Even at 26 weeks with a shortened cervix my DR mentioned the shots but did not give them right away because I stabilized. My cervix was at 1.9 cm at 26 weeks and I made it to 35 and 3. Talk to your DR about bed rest and other preventative measures as well. So sorry to hear about your dad. Best of luck to you.

 

My second child was born at 39+2 with undeveloped lungs - he was on an oscillator for more than a week, chest tubed for two weeks and in the NICU for five weeks. I would be all for the shots to possibly prevent that misery!! (He is a totally normal three-year-old today ).

 

I went into PTL at 24 weeks. I had a round at that time. I went into labour again at 28 weeks, again I was given a round. At 33 weeks I went into labour again, and again I was given a round of them. IF there is a chance that they would be born early, I would do it. I dont regret doing it with my boys at all.

 

I was in the hospital at 22wk because of a failing cervix. I got the shots at 24wks because we were scared of delivery early. I think the benefits out weigh the risks, especially if there's a concern for early delivery.

 

+1 -- I got them at 26 wks as there was concern of preterm labor. After already getting them and going home to research, it scared me. BUT google is a good and bad thing......so after talking to LOTS of women who got the shots and had very healthy children, to us, it was well worth the 'risks'.

 

I went for a routine appt at 24w and found out that I was 2cm dilated and was having contractions (even though I could not feel them). I actually felt great! I had an emergency cerclage the next day and was given the steroid shots. Thank goodness I got them, my DD was born 10 days later! I truly believe those helped my twin immensely!! Even born at 25w3d, DD was only on a vent for 4 days and DS born at 26w6d NEVER went on a vent at all. Neither of them had any breathing/lung issues at all. :good: I am a big advocate for them, you never know what can happen with twins and things can change so quickly. I am so thankful my OB gave them to me. :good:

 

if there are indications that you may go into, or are in, pre-term labour, i think they are worth it. i would however hesitate myself if my doctor told me it was "just in case" without any other indications for it.

that being said, at 27 weeks my cervix shortened considerably & was funneling. the girls were also showing early possible signs of TTTS & there was a possibility we may have had to fly to Toronto for in utero surgery. we went ahead & got a round of steroids at that point. i was put on modified bedrest & went on to carry the girls to 34w1d. Danika was on CPAP for about 18 hours but that's the only breathing issues we've had with either of them.

i would also ask your doc what happens if the steroids are given but you don't go into labour - i believe the shots are only valuable for a short period of time & that if you were to go into PTL again you would need another set of shots.

 

I had them for a shortened cervix at 30 weeks. I put myself on bedrest and was able to carry them within 2 days of 38 weeks. Mine didn't have any breathing issues at birth but as Rachel said I think the effectiveness of the shots had worn off.

 

The effectiveness of the steroid shots is only for 2 weeks, which is why I had 3 rounds.

 

I had a lot of contractions starting around 30 weeks that weren't resulting in cervical change, but it was enough that I was put on Procardia. I was nervous and brought up the steroids myself with the doctor. He advised me that they were only effective for 2 weeks and that he wouldn't say that they were necessary in my case. Having just seen a friend deliver her twins pre-term though w/out steroids, and having fully discussed the risks and pros/cons with my OB who I really trusted I chose to get them at 32 weeks to get me through to the "safe" zone of after 34 weeks. My OB said that in the end it was up to me, and he wouldn't advise against it if I chose to have them. Even if it was mostly for my peace of mind he didn't see there being a strong downside to it.

Anyhow, so I had them, ended up not needing them thank goodness, but I don't regret it and I'd do it again.

 

I had a conservative doc and I got the shots at 32 weeks.
I delived at 35 weeks, and my girls did not need any special care.
Maybe I didn't need the shots. Maybe the shots helped.
We had no complications do to the shots.
I'd do it again.

 

I had PTL at 20 wks, at 27 weeks again with shots and mag, they were born at 33 wks (no stopping labor that time) with no major breathing issues. Just needed oxygen for a bit.

 

I also had them, but the benefits clearly outweighed the risks in my case. I was 3 cm dilated at 20 weeks in active labor with a bag of waters bulging. I had them twice. Once at 20 weeks (that was pointless being that they wouldn't have survived anyway, but I didn't know anything about it at the time) and again at 24 weeks. I am one that also believes it greatly helped my children. They were born a few days shy of 32 weeks. Abby breathed on her own from birth and has had no issues whatsoever with breathing to this day. Ethan was on room air CPAP for 36 hours and now has nebulizer treatments as needed. Being 9 weeks early, I am astounded that this is even possible! I thought for sure that they would be hooked up to breathing treatments for weeks, possibly months. I know this is a hard decision to make and I hope that you feel peace once you have decided.

 

I got the injections between 32-33 weeks because I was admitted due to regular contractions during my NST. The girls were born at 36 weeks 5 days with fully developed and healthy lungs. It is quite possible for babies of that gestational age to reach lung maturity on their own, but I don't regret doing it. If they did need assistance breathing, I would have always wondered if things would have been different if we would have received the shots.