Oral steroids during pregnancy - what effect on childbirth?

[CurlyCasper]

I have been taking prednisolone since I was about 15 weeks gone (now 30) and am being closely monitored in case my baby is at risk of being low birthweight etc. I have heard/read talk of mothers who take steroids during pregnancy having to be on IV steroids during labour, or having to have hydrocortisone injections beforehand. I'd be grateful to please hear what others experienced.

Did ante-natal steroid medication lead to you having a lot of intervention and prevent you having the kind of birth you wanted?

Usual practice to give 100mg hydrocortisone 6 hourly in labour, apart from the cannula, your care will be no different (can still use pool etc as long as there are no other risk factors.)
Best of luck.

Thanks malteser. That gives me hope!

I gave birth last week and have been on oral steroids since before the pregnancy. Malteser is right with the 100mg hydrocortisone 6 hourly during labour. I didn't have a cannula the midwife just injected my arm. Left a bit of a bruise and I remember the midwife saying this might hurt (apparently I replied 'compared to what?!' as I'd been contracting every 3mins for 12hours but not classed as proper labour so only was allowed paracetamol and codeine).

The actual labour was quick so I only had one injection but I just carried on the oral steroids straight after.

Its an idea to get your birth partner to know about the steroids as they can remind the midwife and write it in on the front of your notes in big letters. Then it won't get missed.

Thanks Jayfer and congratulations! - it's good to know the steroid thing itself should not get in the way. Now just a case of making sure baby develops properly.

I have just been advised that I will need to be given the 100mg dose of hydrocortisone via IV during my labour as I have had 2 courses of oral prednisone during the last 10 weeks of my pregnancy.

My question is - "what exactly is this IV hydrocortisone being given for (or to prevent)?" as I have taken much more oral steroids during my other pregnancies and never heard of or been given anything during labour.