steroids at 35 wks?

I have partial placenta previa and my maternal fetal dr. wants to go ahead and give me steroid shots "just in case". I have been researching on twinstuff forums and see lots of mixed info on this topic. Did any of you have steroid shots 35 wks or later? Do you think there were any negative side effects for babies????

 

I have partial placenta previa and my maternal fetal dr. wants to go ahead and give me steroid shots "just in case". I have been researching on twinstuff forums and see lots of mixed info on this topic. Did any of you have steroid shots 35 wks or later? Do you think there were any negative side effects for babies????

 

From everything I have read the steroid shots are usually not given past 34 weeks since that is usually the point where they no longer give any added benefit. I had them at 31 weeks and had no side effects.

Here is a link to an article with information on it. It indicates that shots are given between 24-34 weeks.

I would definitely question your doctor as to why he feels that this would be of benefit since you are past the 34 week mark.

 

no expereince, just wanted to say good luck. You are getting so close!!!
Many people who have babies at 35W+ need no to little NICU time.

 

I'm an L&D nurse, no way do we give betamethasone after 34 weeks. It doesn't improve babies outcomes, in fact babies can have problems regulating bloodsugars if recently been given steriods. I'm shocked that a specialist would say that! Is he an older doc ? I've ran into one doc who was very old who wanted me to give betamethasone after 34 weeks, which With the help of my charge nurse and neo doc assured him that is not necesary, babies no longer benefit from steriods after 34 weeks. Good luck

 

I have also heard that after 34 weeks is not needed. Check with his reasoning, then get a few other opinions.

 

Like the others have said, it is my understanding that the steroids mature the lungs to the equivalent of a 34 week gestation baby. To give them after a pregnancy reaches 34 weeks would seem pointless although I personally have not done any research on the negative side effects at that point.