corticosteroids in pre-term birth - anyone ever heard of any problems?

[heartinthecountry]

Hiya - have had a bit of a scare with this baby (rather too many Braxton Hicks contractions on Weds) which ended up with me in hospital and them deciding they wanted to give me corticosteroids just incase this baby is born early. I actually refused at the time for a number of reasons. One of which is that I am terrified of giving this baby something it possibly doesn't need which may have some impact on its development. I've had a quick net surf and it appears pretty clear that if this baby comes early then her having the steroids will greatly increase her chances.

But, has anyone ever heard of any child with developmental/neuro problems which they think could be a result of these steroid injections? Or know generally if steroids can have a major adverse effect?

Just want to make sure I am making an informed decision incase I have to go back into hospital again.

Thanks

Sorry to hear you've had a scare & trust you've got your feet up now and taking things easy for a while.

I had a couple of steroid injections in the days before DD was born by CS. By then we knew there were potential problems though and the doctors advised the steroids would give her the best chance. I don't know of any adverse effects. Anyone else?

Hope all goes well. Take care.

heartinthecountry, I was given corticosteroids in the 24 hours before ds3 was born by emergency CS. At the time there was no talk of problems associated with steroids, this only came out about a year later IIRC. TBH, he did have breathing problems initially ( born at 32 weeks) so I was very glad he had gotten the steroids. I know plenty of children who were prem and were mostly given steroids and they all seem to be doing fine. Ds3 is fine so far 16 months later. My feeling is that the benefits probably outweight the risks.

Hopefully no more scares.. when ds was born at 28wks it was all too sudden for steroids & he really struggled, collapsed lungs & ventilated & needed oxygen for a long time.
I kept in touch with a few other mums from SCBU, I know it hardly constitutes research but from the babies that had steroids none had any effects & they seemed to progress far quicker than ds, who at 3 yrs does have long term problems, not sure that steroids would have altered his outcome though I believe damage was done before birth.
Have you tried the BLISS website to see if any stats on there.
Good luck, put your feet up.

How many weeks HITC? You know what I'm like about not giving things unecessarily (I rarely give calpol even), but I think you can't mess with breathing and prematurity, DS2 was born at 38 weeks (elective section) and it was too early for him and he had all sorts of breathing problems- it was hideous, very worrying. I can underatand exactly why you're worried but I think this is a situation where the choice is made for you.

Now make sure you rest, put your feet up etc. I

yes LISTEN when people say put your feet up! I didn't.

But everything worked out OK all the same! Just would have preferred to let ds3 get some more womb-time and don't think lifting a turkey out of the oven several times helped matters.

was taken in with a clot on my lung at 34 weeks. was given steroids for babies lungs. no adverse reaction.dd 4 and healthy.

Thanks everyone. Did end up going back in on Friday but sent home again. Doctors much more reassuring this time - didn't think I needed the steroids yet but under strict instructions to go back in if anything seems to be happening. I will definitely have them if advised to again.

I'm only 28 weeks Jimjams - so really not wanting this baby to come yet.

Am trying to take things easy but not always possible with a 3.5 year old who has to be carried around. dh is here now and Mum is coming up tomorrow for a few days. Fingers crossed.

HITC
There was a thread about this some time ago. I'll see if I can find it for you. I seem to remember that a study had suggested that steroids MIGHT cause problems (though possibly not to the babies themselves but to their own children if they went on to have them...???). However, I think that the vast weight of evidence suggests that these steroids are safe and indeed are life-savers. I started bleeding badly due to placenta praevia at 27 weeks, and had steroids (dexamethasone) weekly until my baby was born at 36 weeks. They had minor side effects on me (made me hot and flushed and I couldn't sleep) but my dd was fine, despite being small for her dates, and she is now a healthy nearly 6-y-o. She hasn't had any health or developmental issues. I was lucky that she hung on till 36 weeks in the end, but when they thought that she might be born at 27 weeks we were shown around the SCBU, and the nurses there told us that the steroid injection (even just one dose) can make a huge huge difference to babies born prematurely.

Try not to worry too much (easier said than done, I know) and really really try to get some rest...

Best wishes

Can't find old thread... sorry.

HITC, I was on steroids for about 2.5 weeks when I was 20 weeks pregnant (different reason in this case - I had a bad chest infection) and was told by the consultant that by this stage of the pregnancy there wasn't much that would affect the development of a baby. Anyway, I had to have them for my own health too.

dd is now 5 and absolutely fine.

Hi heart

I have 3 sons 1 @ 4.5yrs was born at 37 weeks by emergency section and I had 2 courses of steroid injections prior to having him.

My twins were born at 29 weeks and I also had steroid injection with them too.

It helps to mature their lungs as they aint properly developed yet