My brother in laws wife is supposedley 36wks preg.?

Question

She was having contractions pretty regularly, but it was always false labor. The docs did give her a shot of steroids and meds to stop her contractions. Now they say that they are going to induce labor at 38wks. She already measures to be 37wks preg. not 36. And they say that the baby weighs 7lbs. and it's probably because of the steroid shot. Is it me, or is this a crock. I thought the steroid shot wouldn't affect the baby's weight or anything of that nature.

Answer 1

Yes it will, the steroid speeds up growth. Premature babies get steroids for their lungs and are fatter because of it. They are giving your in law the shots to also help the babies lungs develop faster before they induce labor, because the lungs are not full develop until after 37wks.

Answer 2

The steroids were administered in the event of early labor to help the baby's lungs develop more fully. 7 lbs is a little big, but could be normal, babies can range in weight anywhere from 6 lbs to 10 lbs...the average being just under 8 lbs.
The "real" due date is a crap shoot - even with today's modern techniques... that is why there's a 3-week window (anything after 37 weeks is considered ok... the average is 38-41 weeks).

BTW, what difference does it make with regard to all that you outlined? As long as when the baby's born its healthy and the parents are happy and there aren't severe complications, the rest is academic, no?

Answer 3

The steroids would have little effect on the unborn child. A 7 lb baby is perfectly normal for 36 weeks. Actually that's a nice healthy child.

Answer 4

Steriods taken over a period of time, can cause weight gain. One shot, I doubt it.

Sometimes it not just the weight of the baby that physician's are concerned with, its also about the lung developement.
http://www.rain.org/~medmall/resources/medmall_pubs/steroids.html
Steroids are used to prevent respiratory stress syndrome

Answer 5

I read this article at babycenter.com, the 4th paragraph states that corticosteroids are given to speed up the development of your baby's lungs, intestines, and brain. So, no I don't think this is a crock. It is done to avoid complications if the baby is born too early.


What will happen if I start having preterm labor?
If you have signs of preterm labor or think you're leaking amniotic fluid, call your practitioner, who will probably have you go to the hospital for further assessment. You'll be monitored for contractions (your baby's heart rate will be monitored at the same time) and examined to see if your membranes have ruptured. Your urine will be checked for signs of infection, and cervical and vaginal cultures may be taken, too. You might also be tested for fetal fibronectin.

If your water hasn't broken, your practitioner will do a vaginal exam to assess how much your cervix is dilated and effaced. Often a practitioner will also do an abdominal ultrasound to check the amount of amniotic fluid present and to confirm the baby's growth, gestational age, and position. Finally, some practitioners will do a vaginal ultrasound to double-check the length of your cervix and look for early signs of effacement. If all tests are negative, you and your baby appear healthy, your membranes haven't ruptured, and your cervix remains closed and uneffaced after a few hours of monitoring, you'll most likely be sent home.

Although different practitioners may manage the situation a little differently, there are some general guidelines. If you're less than 34 weeks pregnant and found to be in preterm labor, your membranes are intact, your baby's heart rate is reassuring, and you have no signs of a uterine infection or other problems (such as severe preeclampsia or signs of a placental abruption), your practitioner will attempt to delay your delivery.

First, you'll be put on an IV and given antibiotics to prevent group B streptococcal infection in your baby. This is done just in case a culture shows you're a carrier, as it takes 48 hours to get results. You'll most likely be given medication to try to stop contractions (this can usually delay delivery for two days to a week), as well as corticosteroids to speed up the development of your baby's lungs, intestines, and brain.

If you're in a small community hospital where special neonatal care is not available for a preterm infant, you'll be transferred to a larger institution at this point, if possible. You and your baby will be monitored throughout labor if it does continue.

If your water breaks before 37 weeks but you're not having contractions, your medical team may decide to wait for the onset of labor (which could happen within hours or could take up to a week in the hospital), to induce labor, or to try to delay labor. In any case, you'll be given antibiotics to protect against group B strep and other infections.

Experts differ on what to do in this situation. Waiting to deliver buys your baby more time to mature but increases your risk of infection, which could be dangerous for your baby. Of course, if you develop symptoms of infection or it's clear that your baby's in distress, they'll want you to deliver right away, often by cesarean section.

In most cases, if you're in premature labor after 34 weeks, you'll be allowed to deliver your baby. Babies born between 34 and 37 weeks of gestation who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

Answer 6

Big crock. They probably think it'll be too dangerous to keep giving her steroids. Probably calculated wrongly.

Answer 7

my little girl was a day overdue and weighed 6lb, she was perfectly normal and bought her home the following day, so i can safetly assume 7lb is perfectly normal.

Answer 8

yeah theyre trying to bring the babys size up to speed.

Answer 9

its time she checked into the maternity ward and i think you ll find doctors will agree with me