Steroid injections at 36 weeks to boost baby lung development - panicking am I doing the right thing?

[Foreverexhausted]

Posting for traffic as I'm having a 4am can't sleep/so worried night/am I doing the right thing?

Just turned 36 weeks pregnant, caesarian is booked for 38 weeks due to transverse lie. Had consultant appt yesterday at 36+1 and growth has slowed so have a follow up appt next week with a view to letting pregnancy continue until booked caesarian at 38 weeks but if necessary delivering at 37 weeks.

Consultant recommended having two steroid injections to help mature baby's lungs, first given yesterday and next one 24 hours later. I'm now really really panicking that I've done the right thing.

I asked if there would be any side effects or risks for baby and was told no but I'm since googled and found research these injections are linked to mental health problems and ADHD later in life!

Anyone have experience of these injections?

DD and 4 of her cousins had steroid injections and there are no ADHD concerns with any of them.

I had them at 33 weeks. Daughter was born at 40+3 and is now 4 and just fine.

It’s just the beginning- you will drive yourself crazy with worry before every vaccination, administration of calpol/ medicines, even giving different foods if you don’t just take the advice of the professionals. They wouldn’t suggest it if it was likely to harm your baby

'm since googled and found research these injections are linked to mental health problems and ADHD later

Horse before the cart. Prematurity is linked with ADHD, and steroid injections for lung maturation were one of the most significant advances in the 20th century to improve the survival rates of premature and pre-term babies.

Even if the steroids were 100% proven to cause ADHD, would you really decide it was better to have a baby born with breathing difficulties?

I tell you now, no-one with experience of special care units would choose having a baby who couldn't breath unassisted over having a child who would grow up old enough to be diagnosed with ADHD.

I had steroids at 32 weeks and they worked wonders for my DS.
He was born at 33 weeks with severe iugr, no fluids, reversed flow and in distress due to me having early sudden onset per eclampsia. He was only 2lb 14oz. He was only on breathing equipment for around 6 hours which is amazing.
He does have a weak chest now but that's due to being premature more than the steroids

I am sorry OP that you were not given the time and space to make an informed decision about this at the time and felt rushed and afterwards in the comfort of your home with the company of google, felt panicked that you had made the wrong decision.

The reasons for researching links with other conditions related to possible advancements in the future and a better understanding between the various factors that might impact neurological function. As it stands, the steroids give the best-known chances to a baby who is born between 34 and 38 weeks.

Given your current position, transverse lie and slowed growth, the consultant is following the best available strategy which gives you and the baby the highest chance of the best possible outcome. The risks of not following this path are much higher.

The consultant can either deliver this message in a way that says, this is what we are doing, see you tomorrow or can explain that there are risks associated with every intervention but based on the evidence we have, the risks of intervention far outweigh the risks of doing nothing.

My dd had steroids for lungs when I was 27 weeks pregnant. She tried to come early

She is now a happy and healthy 5 year old. Very bright and quick to learn things. The only thing she has is a touch of asthma but her dad has asthma so it’s more likely to be genetic

Wow i just asked the same question today....ive been told i need them and will have section at 38 weeks but am looking to opt out as potential side effects have put me of as well... Ive been told risk is low for respiratory distress (6%) however if it was 36 weeks id probably take them as stats show baby is more likely to have breathing problems.

I had an elective c section at 38 weeks. My consultant made a mix up and booked me in a week early. My DS was measuring very big so they went ahead with it as they were sure the risk of breathing problems would be almost none and steroids were unessecary for me. DS born a whopping 11lb 2oz but was grunting and struggling to breathe and had fluid on his lungs, he was whipped away to NICU where he stayed for a week and a half. He was 3 days old before I got to hold him and he still has issues with breathing now, his breath stutters and he holds it a lot. I wish I'd been given steroids, I'd rather treat potential conditions in later life. IMO you're definitely doing the right thing. I hope it all goes well for you. X

I had DS2 by ELCS in May at 38+5. The consultant offered me the steroid injections but mentioned the study that’s found a link between brain development and these steroid injections. I chose not to have them on this basis. But I was happy to risk a few days. Mine was a ‘cold’ section as PP said above, and DS2 was fine without any breathing difficulties so I was satisfied with my choice. But again, it was only a couple of days outside of the current guidelines so it was a risk I was happy to take.