May do steroid shots & I have questions.

I'm 32w3d & my cervix is starting to shorten & dialate. I've been on bedrest & tocolytics since 24-1/2 weeks, thanks to non-stop contractions. My OBs say they'd like to do the steroid shots if my cervix is 2 or less at my upcoming transvag u/s or if my FFN is positive.

What criteria do your doctors give you? Do you know of any risks associated with the shots? (I know prematurity is much more serious than a potential risk from the steriods, but odds are good that I won't deliver before 34 weeks at this point and I'm the type who is really leary of drugs.)

How are the shots administered exactly?

Thanks so much for your info!

 

They did my steroid shots at 24 weeks and they did the injection in my hip/butt 2 days in a row. I went into the hospital with a funneling cervix (1.3cm) at 22 1/2 weeks and they were concerned I would go into labor so they decided to do the shots at 24 weeks. If I go into labor before 32 weeks they will do another round of shots to help out. They were originally thinking of doing another round at 28 weeks but decided to wait until closer to the time I would deliver if I needed them again.
The only side effects I noticed was the sweating at night when I was sleeping. My boobs also seemed to shrink a bit for a week or so. I didn't experience more contractions or anything so I am not sure about them causing prematurity. I am glad that I did the shots because it makes me feel a bit better in case I do go into labor early.

 

Like PP said, the shots are done in your hip/butt and mine was done at the office. It was a precaution, but with the rate of ptl and prematurity in multiples, I think its pretty standard. Only side effects were soreness at the shot site and I was jittery (they ARE steroids )

 

i had them done last week at 30w1 day and 30 w2days because of concern of developing pre-eclampsia; my cervix is fine but my pb went pretty high - they administered them in my docs office in my arm (alternating sides)

my understanding is that the upside is considerably higher than any risk, especially for lung issues and the subsequent vision issues tat may result.

As for jittery - i literally didn;t sleep for three days, which was a horror show, but i'm glad i did them because if they have to go get the babies soon all the studies show that they will be much better off.
I'm generally not big on drug interventions either but this one seemed like a no-brainer in my situation

 

At 27 weeks I started to go into labor, I was 1mm dialated at that doctor's appt. The next week, I was 2mm and my doctor decided to give me the steroid shots. I didnt have any side effects other then it hurt like heck when I got the shot, especially the second one. A week later I went back to the doctor and I was 5mm and he admitted me into the hospital. They tried to stop my labor but found that baby "a" was butt first and they were afraid that if my water broke that her cord would deliver first and cut off her supply so they decided to deliver them at 30 weeks. Throughout all of this, I never felt one contraction so I have no clue as to what they feel like. The nurses kept commenting to my dh "how can she not feel that, those are very strong contractions" but I didnt feel a thing.

My daughters are fine now. They spent 8 weeks in the NICU. Kaytlin (baby "b") was on a vent for 6 hours directly after birth and then on room air the rest of the time. Alivea (baby "a") was never on a vent but had a C-pap the first few weeks, after that room air. Their only "major" problem was apnea and bradys (heart rate drops) and they came home on a monitor until they were 7 months old.

I feel the shots did help them in someway and I dont regret doing them at all. I am definately not a "drug" type person, I hate taking tylenol so it was a big decision for me to take the steroids.

 

I too had two shots in the thigh/bottom 24 hours apart.

When is the appointment that they may give you the shots? It is my understanding that the steroids mature the lungs to the equivalent of 34 weeks gestation. They are the most effective if you do not deliver until 24 hours after the second shot (which is 48 hours after the first). At this point I would seriously question the need for steroids as like you say, but the time they could do everything you will most likely be at 34 weeks naturally.

 

I just realized that I put mm instead of cm, duh! Lack of sleep will do that to ya!

 

I had the steroid shots at 24 weeks. I think the only real side effect they said I could have was a rise in my blood sugar, but that didn't hapen. They were administered in my behind, kind of stung. But I had lots of shots in that spot because mine were IVF babies, so no big deal.

I had a rescue dose at 30w5d, 48 hours before I delivered. It will definitely help with their lungs.

 

I never had any PTL but my doc does the steroid shots for all twin pregnancies as a precaution. So I had them at I think 32 weeks. Mine were done high up in my glute, 24 hours apart. The first one wasn't bad but the second dose hurt But not too bad.

 

I did my steroid shots and it was two shots within 48 hours in the butt! It wasn't too bad and I felt the benefits far outweighed any risks!!! My babies ended up being born at 36 weeks and 3 days and needed no NICU time. Zoe did have oxygen for just a few seconds but was fine after that!

 

I went in at 32.5 weeks with strong contractions. I didn't realize that I was in rocking hard labor and dialating. They gave me no choice, I took TWO shots of the steriods, one in each side, at the same time. OOWWWIE. I swear they used a square needle. It helped a lot. I delivered the twins via emergency c-section, b/c they just could not stop the labor. They did really good. Isaac only needed O2 for a few hours and Elijah didn't need any. However, it did spike my glucose, and 24 hours later they had to come in with yet another shot, insulin. Not exactly a fun day for me, but, I have two beautiful boys and it was all worth it.

 

Thanks so much for the great info. I'm glad to read about your success stories. Twin pregnancies can be so tough!

Update: FFN was negative & cervix was above 2, so unless the contrax dramatically increase, it looks like steroid shots are not in our future. I have gestational diabetes, BTW, so that was another reason I didn't want the shots.

Thanks again & best wishes to all of you.