Experiences with 17 Hydroxyprogesterone Injections?

[erinlee777]

I had my first prenatal visit yesterday for baby #2. While I was there I was told that I must be put on 17 Hydroxy Progesterone for the duration of my pregnancy, which I will have to inject in my myself weekly. This is being done to prevent pre-term labor, as my water spontaneously broke at 34 weeks with my first.

Does anyone have experience with these injections and care to share their experiences? Any side effects for you or baby? Did you carry full or beyond term? Did you need to be induced after taking these steroids?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm not excited about this AT ALL, but I suppose if it will lessen the chance of another one of my children landing in the NICU then I should go with the flow.

Thanks, Ladies. I appreciate anything you have to offer.

[Melka76]

I guess it would be helpful to mention that I have a history of preterm labor and incomptent cervix - with my DD I went into labor at 19 weeks 3 cm dialated and fully effaced - with bedrest in hosptial and turb shots evey 6 hours = and other stuff.. she made it to 32 weeks.  With DS I had a cerclage placed at 13 weeks - contractions and cervix shortened to 1.2cm at 20 weeks - bedrest at home for 8 weeks.. he made it to 38 weeks. This one - so far so good... cerclage at 12 weeks, shots started at 17 weeks ( I also had the suppository until week 12) - and my bi weekly cervix check I am at 3 cm... SO I am very hopeful this one maybe the least eventful of them!!!  I can feel when I am ready for the weekly shot - I do get crampy and some contractions a day or so before I am due ... but it all calms down once I get it.  I did IVF so shots are not much of a big deal anymore.... GOOD LUCK

[30something13]

I had PROM with my last three, 35 weeks, 30 1/2 and 23 weeks. I had bleeding and contractions from 16 weks on around there with all of them and severe vomiting, which can be a sign of the low progesterone. I had my tubes burnt out thinking I could not ahve a good pregnancy. Then after remarrying to the love if my life we talked to two different dr's before getting a tubel reversal. I have low progesterone! I wish they would of tested me before with the other ones!!! Well I am happy to say I was on Prometrium (pill form of progesterone) till 21 weeks and then a high risk specialist put me on the P17 shots weekly 250mg till 36 weeks. I have had no bleeding, contractions, severe vomiting, bed rest, NOTHING! I am so happy and it is working!! You need to go to March of Dimes and the American Accadamy of Obstetrics sites and type in progesterone in their search engine. Look for the studies and reports for pregnancy. It shows that woman who are having complications on a pregnancy or woman who have a history of pre term labor and or delivery, incompitent cerivix all benifit form the shots! The very first study they did they actually stoped early becasue the rates where so high for the ones taking it! The shots are not bad and the higher they put them in the hip the better for me at least. I will also get Celestone shots to help develope the abbies lungs around 26 weeks and then every 2 weeks, I think, as a safe guard. My high risk dr says that he sees no reason why I would NOT deliver full term this time! That made my day and now I already have one counted down, as far as my gestational dates for my others. The next is the 30 1/2 weeks mark which I have 5 weeks to go for that:) There are no side effects for the progesterone but mild nausea, dizziness that I know of. I do not have any side effects since I got pregnant but did when I took it before for my luteal phase. Studies also ahve shown that abbies born to mothers who did not take the shot have higher levels of progesterone in theri blood then babies whose mothers have taken the shot. So progesterone naturaly rises during pregnancy till delivery and there is no risk of needing to much or getting to much! Hope this helps ease your mind about it! You are just going to take something that your body is trying to produce already not extra stuff. I am grateful for it!

[Melka76]

I have been on the shots since week 17 - now week 21.  Everything seems fine - it just is a little sore after the shot - however I do not give them myself - my dr wants to monitor me so they do it weekly.  I wish you luck