Do doctors give the steroid shot after 34 weeks?

I'm 34 weeks today and I've been wondering if I go into labor if they will try to stop it long enough to get the steroid shots. I know 34 weeks is the "magic number" that my doctor and most doctors say they won't stop your labor after, but it still seems early to me. So, do doctors still give the steroid shot after 34 weeks or is the shot not needed after that point? I'm going to ask my peri tomorrow, but I'm just wondering if anyone knows. Thanks!

 

Big Hugs :hug: for making it to 34 weeks
My peri said they would not stop labor after 34 weeks and only give steroid shots if they can hold me for 48 hours. If I want to deliver before 38weeks, they would do amnio on both babies to check lung development and then deliver depending on the result.

 

I was told by both OB and Peri that by 34 weeks, babies lungs are developed enough so the steriod shots don't do much good. Therefore, most doctors won't give them. In addition, many (if not most) doctors won't stop labor after 34 weeks, so there usually isn't the 48 hours necessary to give the two shots.

Congrats on making it to 34 weeks.

 

my docs said they do not give the steroid shots after 34 weeks. I just got mine at 33weeks 4 days and just barely made it.

 

My peri wouldn't give them after 34 weeks either. I delivered my girls at 35w 5d and we didn't have amnio to check the lungs or anything like that. My water broke with A at home and well they wanted to come the day before they were planned. I delivered vaginally, I had a cerclage so that had to come out which is why their b-day was going to be the 24th instead of the 23rd but they liked the 23rd better I guess.

They came home with me after on the 2nd day.

 

I had my girls at 33 weeks and 6 days the day after my water broke. I did not get the steroid shots told the babies did not need it at that late in the pregnancy.

 

Most twins have mature lungs by that point in pregnancy so there aren't very many docs who will give the shots that late. There are exceptions (like my Baby A) but giving the shots when there is very little likelihood they will need it isn't a good idea because, like everything, there can be side effects and immature lungs at that age are treatable.

 

It wasn't an issue for me, but my doctor said they would give the steroid shot if I went into labor before 35 weeks. (FWIW, she also said she would try to stop labor before 37 weeks!)

 

Same as most of the pps...mine would not do anything to stop labor or give the steroid shot at 34 weeks and beyond. With my PTL at 32 weeks, I did get the steroid shots and luckily did not deliver until 36 weeks.