Steroids for Lungs

[mslilyponds]

Hi!

I can't seem to find ANY info on the whole internet about possible side effects and complications of having steroids to quicken lung development.

Does anyone know of any? The doctor wasn't completely sure, she thought it might have been elevated risk of diabetes and weight problems in later life but didn't really know.

[kotakai]

I'm not sure of any side effects or complications sorry, but I think if you get the chance to have it I would.

I've had 2 33 weekers.

The 1st I was induced due to problems. I got the 2 courses of steroids & his lungs were fine & he had no breathing problems.

The 2nd just decided to come early, so we didn't have steroids. He wasn't breathing & had to be ventilated.


I was ever in the position again, I'd definately be getting the steroids.

[IndigoJ]

I had two shots of steroids at 33wks for my DS, he was overdue in the end, but i would also really love to know the side effects, a friend had steroids at 29wks (so lots of them, not sure when bub was born but i think she was term) and bub now has pretty bad asthma, and is very large/chubby, way off the charts.

[TripleTime]

I had steroids at 23 weeks & would not even question if there are side effects. As far as i am aware there aren't any.
Should i need them again, i will take them with open arms.

[mslilyponds]

Open but swallen, red, sore, bruisy arms if they are anything like mine :)

I had the two doses and the doctor who gave me the second shot told me that the only actual side effect that was proven (in one study only) was that babies who received the shots lost their head to body ratio - that is they came out with a head a few milimeters smaller than it should be compared to their bodies - this rectified in 100% of cases in under a week after birth. It is more that the organs grow faster than the scull during the time immediately after the shot.

I keep getting back weird test results - inconclusive for pre-eclampsia, hypertension, diabetes - but with signs of all three all on different days - one day I will have high pre-eclampsia readings, the next day they will be gone but my blood sugar will be up, then it will read totally normal but my liver function will be liek that of a Hep C patient but then it goes back to normal in a week - so sick of tests without results!

So they just gave me steriods because the panel of specialists they've had examine me cannot figure it out.

[mslilyponds]

I had steroids at 23 weeks & would not even question if there are side effects. As far as i am aware there aren't any.
Should i need them again, i will take them with open arms.

I just saw that you had triplets born early - my god you must be a trooper :)

[KatiesMum]

hmm - as frustrating and worrying as that must be for you, I am pretty sure that I too would take the steriods.

The risks to bubs from the steroids (even though the risks appear to be a relatively unknown factor) are much less than the risks to bubs of not having the steroids and coming very early.

If you are having issues, and bubs goes into distress, they will likely decided that bubs is better off out than in. So giving steroids is a pretty wise precaution 'just in case'.

:hugs: Must be hard for you though :hugs: and I hope someone can help you with a bit more information.

[mslilyponds]

They told me that teh steroids would mess around with my blood sugar for a few days and I think it has - I am all moody and emotional :) Hopefully this will look a bit nicer on Monday knowing that my boy has 35 week old lungs - so much better than 33 week old ones :)

[KatiesMum]

Should i need them again, i will take them with open arms.

TT - does that mean you are thinking about going again soon ???? :p

[IndigoJ]

Open but swallen, red, sore, bruisy arms if they are anything like mine :)

I had the two doses and the doctor who gave me the second shot told me that the only actual side effect that was proven (in one study only) was that babies who received the shots lost their head to body ratio - that is they came out with a head a few milimeters smaller than it should be compared to their bodies - this rectified in 100% of cases in under a week after birth. It is more that the organs grow faster than the scull during the time immediately after the shot.

.

In your arms, OUCH, i had them in my legs and they were the most painful needle i have had to date, even more than the Depo needle imo.

Smaller?? my DS was 9pd 12oz with a 37.5cm head, if that was smaller than it was supposed to be, i hate to think what it should have been :laughing:

[TripleTime]

I just saw that you had triplets born early - my god you must be a trooper :)

I just take it as it comes. :yes:


TT - does that mean you are thinking about going again soon ???? :p

Ive thought about it but knowing my luck id get 4 & 5 :o
And i think being preg. again would just about kill me emotionally.
Singleton preg. would be a walk in the park though.

[TripleTime]

Ouch to having them in the arm.

I had them in my legs & a different leg each time. Its bloody thick & stings like heck.

[kotakai]

Mine were in my butt. Lots of padding for them there :laughing:

[mslilyponds]

They talked about putting htem in my butt or thighs but I had them in an open room - in the outpatients monitoring centre so eveyr man and his dog could watch my big white **** get shot full of steroids :)

THe first one was OK - reminded me of a tetnus shot - where you can feel it get trapped in the muscle - painful but not too bad.

The second one was and still is awful - got a big red itchy egg on my arm still. Rang the hospital, extremely common reaction, leave it a few days but it sucks to sleep on.

Still 35 week old lungs right?

[mslilyponds]

I just take it as it comes. :yes:



Ive thought about it but knowing my luck id get 4 & 5 :o
And i think being preg. again would just about kill me emotionally.
Singleton preg. would be a walk in the park though.

Don't be like that - you could get 4,5 & 6 - wouldn't that be a hoot :eek:

[TripleTime]

Would be great fun. Atleast id know what i was doing. If i had one baby, i dont think id know what to do with all the spare time. Hahaha.

[sandy cheeks]

I had dd at 33 weeks and was given the steroids to mature her lungs I would have them again I dont know about side effects but they helped her lungs mature at the time it was all I was concerned about no probs only on oxygen for 30mins in NICU.

[chrissym78]

I had steroids at 27 weeks and just before bub was born at 33 weeks. The 27 week one sent my sugars up to 21. He is now 16 weeks and fine and never needed and help with his breathing so if it offered take it.

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[boobles]

I went in for a routine appt at 28+2 2 weeks ago and within 24 hours had 2 steroid shots as they delivered our son early via emergency c-section the next day. I have no idea about complications, I do know though that I appreciate that we were able to be given those shots to help him breathe :)

[TripleTime]

I went in for a routine appt at 28+2 2 weeks ago and within 24 hours had 2 steroid shots as they delivered our son early via emergency c-section the next day. I have no idea about complications, I do know though that I appreciate that we were able to be given those shots to help him breathe :)

Im also mum to 28 weekers, steroids did wonders for us.

[mslilyponds]

Although I was looking like going to be a 32 week mum, I am now a 37 week mum and counting. I kind of wish I hadn't had the steroids because the less medical interference the better (and he is a whopper of a baby now) but had he come when they thought he would, I am sure I would be very glad.

I did the hospital tour with the pre-natal class the other night and there was a 30 weeker in special care and he was so small and fragile and vulnerable looking - feeding from a tube but breathing on his own - and I bet his parents were glad they had steroids.

[my_lot]

Ive had two prems.

I had steroids for the first prem and refused it for the next bub, who was earlier than the first.


The first one, my bigger, older prem with steroids, many injections i went into prem labour many times, needed help within minutes of birth, was bagged and had oxygen in SCN.

My 2nd one, the earlier prem with no steroids, breathed unaided and continued to in NICU and SCN, never needing oxygen. I was happy with my choice not to use steroids. (The hospital wasnt!)



I had one scare with the next bub and decided again not to use steroids if it came to that and i was over 30 weeks.

[kotakai]

Although I was looking like going to be a 32 week mum, I am now a 37 week mum and counting.

Woohoo :smiliedance: congrats on getting to 37 weeks. Hope everything goes well for you.

[Hollyberry]

I had them in my bum and that was OUCH!

[mslilyponds]

Hi!

Well, I got to 38 weeks and then was induced. His lungs were still not perfect and he spent a few days in special care but they think that had more to do with the birth being an emergency c-section than actual lung problems.

I don't know if it has anything to do with the steroids or not but at 12 days, my son can lift his own (gigantic) head and push himself into the standing position - like not stand up but use his leg muscles to go from a crouch to the standing position with my help with balance. He also delivers a mean kick and his arms are so strong that he is very difficult to dress.....

This might just be that he was a big baby - 9 pounds at 38 weeks - or it could be genetics (I doubt it though - hubby and I were both always picked last for sports :))

Anyway. He's here, he's lovely, and it was all worth it.

[sandy cheeks]

He sounds like a cutie congrats.
I know a baby born on time and big he also had lung problems and in nicu I saw a few big babies on oxygen.
It's funny how you said he can hold his head up my ds could also hold up his head from birth nurses kept coming in to see him, he was small (5p13oz) so it looked freaky lol. I didn't have steroids with ds only dd.

[luckyfour]

i have had them for two pregnancies my first i threatened labour many times from 26 weeks i delivered by emergency c section at 35+6 baby was ventilated he was 7lb 2 oz and lots of drs said that large ,male 35/36 weekers cause lots of problems,,my twins b/g came at 35+1 ,I had steroids and they had no respiratory issues at all 5lb2 and 5lb 6oz. i would definately have steroids again

[my_lot]

Congratulations.


Glad it all went well.

[luckyfour]

congratulations he sounds very cool