Just curious if anyone knows the protocol for this kind of situation. So a friend of mine is 36…
Just curious if anyone knows the protocol for this kind of situation. So a friend of mine is 36 weeks and 2 days with her 3rd child. She was a high risk pregnancy this time around due to blood clots and a risk of them effecting her during the pregnancy and labor. She went into labor and delivery earlier today for very very painful contractions that were about 3 minutes apart. They checked and she hasn't dilated yet so they gave her medicine to stop the contractions and sent her home. She took a nap and is already feeling them starting to come back but mild for the time being. She told me that they told her they were just going to keep giving her the medicine if she came in again until she's 37 weeks. Why would they keep doing that if the medicine isn't even stopping them for more than a few hours? They also didn't give her the shot to mature the baby's lungs if he still came early. At her last growth scan at 35 weeks they said he was weighing about 8lbs. I'm just curious as to why they wouldn't give her the shot for his lungs and just keep giving her medicine that wasn't stopping the contractions for very long? She's been trying to reach her ob all day but hasn't gotten a response back.
Victoria ·
The my should give her the steroid shot. I went into labor at 33 weeks with my twins, and they gave me the steroid shot and several doses of meds to stop contractions, that failed. I had them later that day.
Aylenrose··
That's what I'm saying I was shocked they didn't give her that shot for his lungs. They knew she was also at risk for preterm labor and her first pregnancy was twins as well and she had them prematurely.
Victoria ·
Is there another hospital she can go to?
Aylenrose··
I think that's the one her ob delivers at so I don't know if she can? I think that's why she's trying to get a hold of her ob.
If You Know, You Know🤷🏻♀️·
@beakymcspence,
Beaky Mcspence·
В ожидании первенца
They don’t generally give steroid shots after 35 weeks, and they’d repeatedly give the medication because any time inside is better even by a few hours. They aren’t going to go to great lengths to prevent a delivery at that gestation.
We would never administer steroid shots at 36 weeks on our ward it’s against protocols, but some hospitals may vary. If she’s 36 weeks they’d simply stop contractions as long as they can and allow delivery if she dilates. A 36 weeker would be a “late term preterm” on our ward and wouldn’t justify the medication. There’s a lot of factors that play into it for sure, but generally unless theres medical reason regarding prior growth concerns she’d not qualify to have those injections. A different hospital may have a different protocol though!
Aylenrose··
Oh ok thank you for the insight! I didn't know that that's why I was curious about it. So for 36 weeks for you guys you wouldn't usually use the medications to stop the contractions?
Beaky Mcspence··
В ожидании первенца
Nope our hospital would not stop contractions at 36 weeks, and we do not administer steroids after the 35th UNLESS there’s special circumstances like prior growth concerns. That’s our hospital protocols. So her doctor likely chose to try and delay contractions as long as they can but most hospitals don’t do the steroids after the 35th. If she’s not dilated they are likely hoping the medications will delay the dilation not necessarily stop the contractions if that makes sense hun 🙂
Aylenrose··
yes it does make sense thank you for all the information. That makes a lot of sense now. I was confused because for some reason I thought you get the steroid shot until like 37-38 weeks or something. 😂