ELCS at 37 weeks - steroid injections?

[Whatevertheweather]

Reported from Pregnancy as not sure where is best!

Hi,

Does anyone know if it is recommended to have steroid injections for a 37 week elcs? Can't seem to find a definitive answer.

I am having one in 4 weeks and I've been told no steroids as it's classed as full term. Is this other people's experience?

Thanks

*reposted!

When I had DD1, they started trying to induce me at around 36.5 weeks and they did give me steroid injections. I ended up with a c section at 37 weeks. I think you are borderline and would think it would be worth you double checking the policy. I thought 37 weeks was near term, not full term. Realise this is not definitive! Hopefully someone else might be more helpful!

I had my twins by c-section at 37 wks, didn't have any steroids, 36 wks is referred as full term, the later the better though...

37 weeks is term. there is no need, honestly. steroids actually make no difference after about 35 weeks. hth.

Posted on your other thread too, but just in case you don't see both...
Yes, you should be getting steroids. Still a risk of short term breathing problems for section babies at this gestation. Royal college recommend steroids for elective cs up to 38+6 - see www.rcog.org.uk/womens-health/clinical-guidance/antenatal-corticosteroids-prevent-respiratory-distress-syndrome-gree

It's true that 37 weeks is considered term, but the risk of breathing problems is still there - hence the reason electives are now done at 39+ unless good reason to deliver earlier - think the figures for relative risks of SCBU admissions from 36-40 weeks are on that guideline too, of not definitely referenced.
Hope that helps. Do ask, but read the guideline so you can direct the obs to it... Should be aware though, it came out 2010!

I had steroids injection when I had early contractions at 30 weeks. Planned c section at 39 weeks. Good luck!

I had steroids when delivering DD at 38+2 my ELCS at a big london teaching hospital in 2010. They told me this was now routine for any elcs before 39 weeks.

for some reason I read this as IOL at 37 weeks, not elcs. so pls ignore me.

I was exactly the same as Jules125 and had the steroid jabs before my C-section at 38 +2. One as soon as they made the decision to go for the section, and one 12 hrs later which was a few hours before the operation. This was about a year ago.

Thank you all. I'm definitely going to ask again why she is recommending that I don't have them.

I am having the c-sec at 37 wks as I lost dd2 at 35wks last August and the consultant has been incredibly supportive all the way through with extra scans and appts which I why I feel a bit bad questioning her but just can't bear the thought of taking any risks. Am I right in thinking there are no risks associated with having the injections?

i thought the advice was for the steriods if baby was to be delivered before 38wks, i would def ask why the dont want to give them and if there are any side effects, if there is no risk then surely it wont hurt to give them just in case?!

fingers crossed for you xxx :)

I had them for c-section at 37 weeks but not for the two at 38 weeks (also had emergency section at 36+ without steroids) - no breathing problems with any of them.

I was warned that the steroids could cause a reduction in fetal movement & sure enough they did - I spent 6 hours on a monitor in the assessment unit the day after taking them & had a very worrying CTG trace for the first hour of that time. That would be something I'd advise you to raise with your OB if you are prescribed them.