Niece, 27 weeks, in hospital and has had steroid injection - what the feck is going on? The news is patchy to say the least!

[MamaG]

How likely is it that she's going to have baby? Or is that a stoopid Q

Niece is 27 weeks pregnant, to clarify

They give steriod injections when there's a tiny chance of an early delivery so it may not be likely, they are just being prepared.

Thanks both

With all three of mine I had to have the injections at 20 weeks, 22 weeks and 25 weeks. It was to help mature the lungs as they were threatening to be born. All 3 were early but thankfully all made it into the 30 weeks+ stage. Only one was threatened with SCBU but thankfully none had to.

Hope your Niece is OK and everything is fine.

The medics caring for her obviously think there is some chance the baby could be born early. This could be due either to signs of premature labour (e.g. if waters have gone or contractions etc.) or due to bleeding issues (e.g. severe placenta previa) or due to pre-eclampsia/severe IUGR (intra-uterine growth retardation).

The steroids help advance lung maturation by increasing the production of the surfactant needed to breath in air. The length of their effect is debatable, normally thought to last 2-3 weeks, so if baby does come in that time it has an advantage over one that hasn't had steroids and should make for fewer breathing issues/less time on ventilator or CPAP etc.

Both my DCs had steroids, and my eldest came at 30wks - however he only got one shot of steroids and hour before the crash caesarian so they didn't have time to work (2 shots are needed, spaced by 24hrs, for full effectiveness). My youngest also had steroid injections at 27 weeks, and again at 35 wks- she was born at 36wks. Mine were early due to pre-eclampsia, and my eldest was in SCBU for 8 weeks- they are both fine now!

It is a very scary time but many women who have the steroids don't end up giving birth prematurely, but it is a good precaution as it really helps the babies if they do come early.

Thinking of your niece hope they are ok x

my sister had the injections at 25 weeks and her baby was born at 27 weeks and spend 10 weeks in NICU and SCBU. he has no ill effects apart from slight asthma. he is a strapping 3 year old now and the tallest in his class and also very bright.

I went into hospital with suspected early labour at 29 weeks with DS1, and was given the steroid injections incase he came early.

It is a precaution and doesn't necessarily mean the baby will come straight away. DS1 managed to hold on until 35 weeks.

I hope your neice is doing ok.