anyone else...?

my doc is having me get the shot "celestone" to help the babies mature a little faster. she said all multiple pregnancies get this, and some singletons that are at risk for pre-term labor. anyone else get this?

 

Never heard of that. I've only heard about the surfactant (is that it?) that they will give people who have threatened pre-term labor to help the baby's lungs mature. But as a rule of thumb for every twin pregnancy? Never heard of it.

 

Never heard of it as a "rule" either. My OB will only give it if at risk for preterm labor (which ever shot has suffactant, don't know the actual name of the shot).

 

I got the steroid shot when I went into the hospital for an emergency cerclage at 24w. I truly truly believe this saved my babies and really helped them. They never had an lung/breathing issues at all, despite being so early.

I totally recommend getting them if necessary.

ETA:But I've never heard that everyone with multiple pregnancies gets it.

 

yeah, it's to help the lungs mature faster. the surfactant/suffactant stuff. i have to get two doses of it. i hate shots

 

QUOTE(summerfun @ Aug 17 2007, 03:40 PM) [snapback]371969[/snapback]
ETA:But I've never heard that everyone with multiple pregnancies gets it.


i think it's just something my doctor does for multiple pregnancies.
but, ok, so you've gotten it and you reccommend it? i feel a lil better about it now!

 

i was told by my dr you only get the steroid shots to help the babies lungs if you are in threatened preterm labor. they work best when administered a few days before delivery. she said you shouldn't just get them to get them, as there are side effects, as with any drug. i'd ask your dr again why she thinks you should have them if everything is going fine.

 

QUOTE(ddancerd1 @ Aug 17 2007, 04:53 PM) [snapback]371982[/snapback]
i think it's just something my doctor does for multiple pregnancies.
but, ok, so you've gotten it and you reccommend it? i feel a lil better about it now!



Yes, I did have them both when I went in for an emergency cerclage. I am so thankful my OB did this. Although I don't think they expected me to deliver 10 days later like I did because they told me the cerclage should hold me until at least 35 weeks. But anyway, I really truly believed this help and may have even saved my babies when they did come so early. Emilie was only on a vent for 4 days and Trevor NEVER went on one. They never had any breathing difficulties or lung issues at all. There were 35 weekers in the NICU sicker than my two who were born much easier. I really can't say enough about it. I do think they are best when you get them closer to delivery, but I don't know for sure. All I know is I am so glad my OB had the foresight to give them to me. But like I said they gave them to me, just as a precaution, not thinking I would deliver soon, little did they know.

But they really helped me and my babies.

ETA: I had the betamethasone shots, got one and then the other 24 hours later. I don't remember having any kind of side effects.

 

I got the betamethasone shots one and then another one 24 hours later. I only got them because of PTL at 24 weeks.

 

I've never even heard of it! I dont think anything should be 'routine' for anybody, only if it looks like you will need it. KWIM?

 

I was going to ask my doc about getting it as I have signs of pre-e. I would just feel better knowing if they did come early they would be okay.

 

When I was admitted to the hospital for pre-eclampsia at 31 weeks I was given two steroid shots to help their lungs develop. It was never a consideration before that. I think it probably helped them since they were out of the NICU on their third day and never received any oxygen or other breathing assistance. But, I've never heard of it being routine.

 

Celestone/betamethasone are the same thing, a corticosteroid to enhance lung development of babies inutero. I had the shots at 28 weeks due to a shortened cervix and PTL. It was done as a preventative step, if in the event that B&H were born too early. That is the only reason my doctor did it, although it is not unheard of here on TS of women receiving this series of two shots, "just in case."

I am glad we had the shots. My kids were born at 34 weeks and did not need NICU time. While I will never know if the shots are what made the difference, all I know is that my tiny babies did not need oxygen. Amy, that is amazing that your kids did not need to be on the vent for a prolonged period of time. Wow.

 

thanks, everone, i feel better about it now. i just never even heard of it until now.
thanks again!

 

QUOTE(summerfun @ Aug 17 2007, 04:40 PM) [snapback]371969[/snapback]
I got the steroid shot when I went into the hospital for an emergency cerclage at 24w. I truly truly believe this saved my babies and really helped them. They never had an lung/breathing issues at all, despite being so early.

I totally recommend getting them if necessary.

ETA:But I've never heard that everyone with multiple pregnancies gets it.



Ditto - I got it at 24w (when in the hospital for ptl) and I'm convinced it helped my babies tremendously when they were born at 34w 1d (due to pre-e). They weren't pleasant to get, but WELL WORTH IT.

 

QUOTE(pink and blue mom @ Aug 17 2007, 11:30 PM) [snapback]372131[/snapback]
I got the betamethasone shots one and then another one 24 hours later. I only got them because of PTL at 24 weeks.


I got betamethasone at 30 weeks b/c of PTL. My girls were born at 34w1d with NO breathing problems...just growers/feeders! I had no side effects from the medicine. But, I don't think it's "routine" with multiples unless there is something showing that the babies could deliver early.

 

I had the shots at 31 weeks for PTL.