Name: RyanswifeAllie | Date: Jan 8th, 2008 1:39 PM
Hi There---
After two early miscarriages, I just had my baby girl last August 9th....she was born at 34 weeks and 6 days.....
I took progesterone for the first twelve weeks of that pregnancy due to the early miscarriages earlier...
My doctor said that next time he will have me take progesterone throughout my pregnancy up to about 36 weeks to prevent preterm labor as it has been proven to reduce the chances of PTL in women who have already had a preterm delivery...
Has anyone done this?? Doing this??? Can I hear some success stories??? Did you carry to term when you used them?
Please help! ↓
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Name: dess | Date: Jan 9th, 2008 3:13 AM
my doctor suggested to me that i should have shots of progesterone..and i should have but its very expensive because it should be everyday..is yours everyday??
i told her that i don't have that money..she prescribe aspiren to me.. ↑
Name: cayingo | Date: Jan 13th, 2008 11:39 AM
My DD was born at 36 weeks and perfectly healthy. I am now pg w/ a boy, and was prescribed by my perinatologist "17-alphahydroxy progesterone" shots to take once a week through week 36. I am in week 32 now; only 4 more shots to go. They are NOT expensive ($20 for 5 weeks worth w/ my insurance), and my peri said I could get them thru her for a bit more, but only $16 per shot. She said they are "highly recommended and have a high success rate" for those of us who have delivered preterm before. You'll only need about 20 thruout yo0ur pg (usually start at week 16 and end at week 36 - w/ once a week injections). My first suggestion is to have your OB refer you to a perinatologist (an OB who specializes in high risk pg's) in addition. You will be very closely monitored each month thru week 32 then bimonthly weeks 32-36, then weekly weeks 36+. I get a level 2 u/s each visit and a vaginal u/s to measure cervical length to monitor preterm dialation. My OB and peri work together to make sure that this pg is right on track. So far so good, and only 6 or so weeks to go!! I hope that helps. Good luck next time. ↑
Name: ShoppingForTwo | Date: Jan 14th, 2008 1:56 PM
Hey ladies. I'm receiving 17p shots this pregnancy as well. Weeks 14-36. I will be 16 weeks on Wednesday and have gotten 2 shots so far. The needle is huge but doesn't hurt at all. I hope it works! ↑
Name: RyanswifeAllie | Date: Jan 18th, 2008 3:56 PM
HI everyone!!! Thanks for the answer!!!!! I am excited and hopeful for my next pregnancy.... Cayingo, you've made it so far!! Have you had any dialation????? Shopping for two, how is your pregnancy going??? God bless both of your babies!!!! Cayingo, I was hoping that they would give me a transvaginal scan each visit too so they can check my cervix.... I am not pregnant now, but hope to be next year.... How are your pregnancies going??? ↑
Name: cayingo | Date: Jan 18th, 2008 7:33 PM
ALLIE- Everything has been great. I have had no changes to my cervix yet. My next perinatologist appt is Jan 30 and I'll be 34w2d. From then on she'll see me every other week. This pg hasn't been difficult, but then again neiterh was my DD. She just chose to arrive a month early. Both drs expect me to deliver btwn 36-38 weeks even with the shots. Only time will tell. :) Good luck next pg. And GL to you Shoppingfor two. I wish you success as your pg continues. ↑
Name: RyanswifeAllie | Date: Jan 22nd, 2008 10:36 AM
Cayingo.....I'm so happy for you!!!!!! I'm excited about my future pregnancies as I believe progesterone will help me!!! Keep us posted on your progress!!!! I'm excited for you!! ↑
Name: ShoppingForTwo | Date: Jan 22nd, 2008 11:56 AM
Hey ladies! My pregnancy is going great. I will be 17 weeks tomorrow and will also be receiving my weekly shot tomorrow as well. I'm glad everything is going great with you cayingo! Just a couple more weeks! I'm excited about your future pregnancy as well Allie! ↑
Name: RyanswifeAllie | Date: Jan 22nd, 2008 2:06 PM
Shopping!!!! I'm so happy for you!!! PLEASE keep me posted, I will keep checking this thread. I'm hopeful and happy for both of you. Are you feeling the baby move yet, shopping???? Let me know how you're feeling!! :) ↑
Name: ShoppingForTwo | Date: Jan 24th, 2008 2:05 PM
I am finally feeling kicks FOR SURE! I have been feeling what felt like movement for weeks but I wasn't sure. A couple days ago I became 100% positive that YES my baby is moving. Yay! ↑
Name: RyanswifeAllie | Date: Jan 28th, 2008 12:22 PM
Hey Shopping! I LOVE that feeling of the baby kicking! That brought me to tears so many times during my pregnancy....when I was so nervous and scared, it was SO reassuring that my baby was moving within me!! I'm so glad you're pregnancy is going so well. Do you see your doctor soon? Does he measure the length of your cervix and stuff like that? How are the shots going??? No cramps or contractions!??? Keep us posted. Also, Cayingo, how are you?????? ↑
Name: cayingo | Date: Jan 31st, 2008 8:45 PM
Hi girls. I had my final appt w/ my perinatologist yesterday. My cervix has shortened from 3.8cm to 2.75cm. Things are on the move! :) She said everything looks great, and I can go only to my OB now. Reece measures 5lbs8oz. My OB said ALL of her patients who are on the shots have been going FULL TERM!!! SHe ven gave me the option of taking the last one next Wed. The med stays in your system for a week, then USUALLY labor wiol begin a week or so later. Of course those guidlinse not guarentees. She predicts he will come around 37-38 weeks. That's 3 or so weeks from now. :) Hope all is well w/ y'all. ↑
Name: cayingo | Date: Feb 7th, 2008 10:00 PM
Just wanted to let you know that at 35 w1d I am 80% effaced and 1.5cm dialted. Last Wed. was my last progesterone shot. My OB said, given my history, it could be any time now, but she'd really like for to go another 1.5 weeks. We'll see. Reece will make his entrance when he's good and ready. ↑
Name: RyanswifeAllie | Date: Feb 8th, 2008 1:32 PM
cayingo!!!! WOO HOO!!! That is so exciting! You've made it so far!!!! I'll bet you'll make it to at least 37 weeks! That is so encouraging that your doctor said that all of her patients are going full term with the shots!!! I'm so encouraged for my next pregnancy. Reece will be perfect when he comes! I pray you have a fast and safe delivery!!!! Keep us posted!! ↑
Name: RyanswifeAllie | Date: Feb 14th, 2008 4:35 PM
Cayingo---- Any updates from you??? Shopping, how are you doing??? I hope your babies are all well!!!!! ↑
Name: cayingo | Date: Feb 15th, 2008 9:35 PM
My 36 week appt was Wed. and I am now 2.5cm dilated and 90% effaced! We're making progress. Now it's just a waiting game. He'll come when he's ready. But I've already made it 4 days further than I did with my DD. :) ↑
Name: cayingo | Date: Feb 29th, 2008 8:29 PM
Well I've gotten to almost 39 weeks. I am 3cm and 100% effaced. My induction date is set for this Tuesday. My OB feels that my labor will be fast b/c I am dialting already and we live almost 45 minutes from the hospital. Sooo...unless Reece makes hisown arrival date in the next 3 days he will be evicted on the 4th. ↑
Name: Shenaanna | Date: Mar 2nd, 2008 12:15 AM
I am currently taking weekly progesterone shots. They are given by a nurse who comes to my home. It is completely covered by my insurance. This prescription can only be filled in a handful of pharmacies, so usually you have to get with some type of home health agency. They charge my insurance $175 per week. The shot is given in the ventrogluteal area (hip) and less painful than an IV. It stings a little because it is in a castor oil base. You have to get it between 16 -20 weeks and continue until your 36th week. You can't get the shot before than because the baby's sex organs have to be developed. I had a perinatologist prescribe it for me and set up the home health visits. I live in the mid-Atlantic area (MD,PA, DC, VA) and the company that serves me is called Matria. ↑
Name: cayingo | Date: Mar 2nd, 2008 1:47 PM
That sounds a lot more complicated than my arrangment, but I'm glad you are getting them. They have proven VERY effective in preventing preterm labor. I started mine at 16 weeks and took them thru week 35. I am now 38w 5d. Once I being done seeing my peri at 34 weeks I have been strictly under the care of my OB. She told me that all of her progesterone patients are going to 38+ weeks. ALL OF US!!! Those statistocs bode very well for these shots. I highly recommend them. Thankfully my insurance took good care of me too. I paid $20 for a vial that lasted 5 weeks and my dh gave me the shots weekly. The total cost for me was $80 for the entire pregnancy. Soooo worth it!!! ↑
Name: ShoppingForTwo | Date: Mar 2nd, 2008 6:53 PM
Sounds a little more complicated than my 17p situation as well. I am happy to report that I'm a healthy 22w4d. Slowly but surely I will reach full term. . . Keep your fingers crossed. I simply go to my peri's office every Wednesday and receive my shot. My insurance covers it all, not even a co-pay. My peri has me taking the shots weeks 14-34. I told him I read that its suppossed be weeks 16-36 and he said that's not how he was taught. He was part of the orginal study on 17p so whatever, 34 weeks that's cool I guess. If I argued the issue I'm sure I can get them all the way to 36 weeks. I also have a cerclage which will be removed at 37 weeks. C section between 37-38 weeks. I'm hoping 37! (I want this baby safely outside of me as soon as the lungs are ready) The sex organs are formed by 12/13 weeks so that isn't why we have to wait to take 17p. 17p is only proven effective if taken before 20 weeks. Its not proven more effective if started earlier, ya know? I hope I'm explaining this clearly. There are women who take progestrone shots for IVF, IUI, or suppositories for recurrent miscarriages, etc the entire 1st trimester or longer. The chances of hydoplasis (sp? Or whatever its called) in the male baby is 1% for normal pregnant women and barely goes up to 5% for women taking progestrone in pregnancy. Its not a big deal and easily fixable. ↑
Name: cayingo | Date: Mar 3rd, 2008 9:44 AM
The baby I am carrying is an IVF baby, and I did take progesterone shots thru the first tri. But the 17alpha progesterone shots are a different variation of the hormone progesterone. For me personally, the only side effects I had thru all of it were sore hips/butt (bruises and knots at injection site, but not a big deal) and itchy skin on my hips/butt. Again, ALL totally worth it. ↑
Name: RyanswifeAllie | Date: Mar 4th, 2008 4:12 PM
Hello everyone!! Oh, Cayingo! I'm praying for you right now as you're probably having Reece!!! Congratulations! I can't BELIEVE you've made it to 39 weeks!!!!!!! WOW!!!! Shopping, You are doing so well and I'm so excited for yOu!!! I'm holding my baby girl as I type this, so sorry if there are a few mishaps! LoL
I am SO encouraged about my future pregnancies! I think progesterone is it!!! Okay, funny question......but I'm worried that if I conceive a baby boy and am taking progesterone, will that affect him later in life ?? LIke, will he have a gender identity crisis when he's 17 because I took female hormones when I was pregnant? I'm sure not, but I'm just wondering.
Keep us posted Shopping, and Cayingo, I hope your birth goes well!!!! CONGRATS ON MAKING IT FULL TERM!!! YA HOO!
↑
Name: ShoppingForTwo | Date: Mar 4th, 2008 7:38 PM
Lol nooo he won't have a gender idenity issue. Progestrone in early pregnancy carries a 5% chance of the urethra coming out of the wrong part of the penis. Its easily fixable after birth. ↑
Name: RyanswifeAllie | Date: Mar 10th, 2008 4:06 PM
Shopping---Thanks for the info. LoL How many weeks are you now???? Do you know the sex of your baby? I wonder if Cayingo had her baby and how everything is going. I'm excited to get pregnant again, but I have a 7 month old, so I'll wait awhile. She's sucking on her toes right now! Ha ha ↑
Name: ladysvr | Date: May 8th, 2008 9:52 PM
AWESOME!! I've been searching the web for just this! I'm 20 weeks & I'm on my 3rd week of the P17 shot. Only 16 more weeks to go! I was delighted I wasn't the only one who had a sore hip/butt and that the knot was normal. How about the emotional rollercoaster? This time it wasn't too bad, but the 1st two shots it took me about 3 days to "stabalize" and not cry everytime I turned!!
My last pregnancy was a PPROM, and delivered at 33w6d via c-section because our daughter was transverse breech. She will be 2 in July and she is going to have a lil' brother in September! We had a miscarriage in the fall and I joined the EAGeR study.
Thanks again for posting here...it's always nice to know you aren't alone! Its great to read your stories...KEEP POSTING!!! ↑
Name: Teddyfinch | Date: May 9th, 2008 4:39 AM
lady, were you on any fertility meds with this pregnancy? i hadn't even thought about the possibility of needing progesterone after i finished my supplements that i've had to take. also, did you have to take progesterone in your first trimester? ↑
Name: ladysvr | Date: May 9th, 2008 11:09 AM
No fertility drugs, the EAGeR study is about the effects of aspirine on reproduction & pregnancy. Don't everyone freak out - it's a baby aspirine & I am closely monitered. As for the shots, we started them at week 18, no progesterone prior to that. Based on the babies developement, we are looking at a c-section for week 38, so we have a total of about 20 weeks (only 17 to go - YEAH!!) ↑
Name: RyanswifeAllie | Date: May 9th, 2008 4:22 PM
Welcome Lady and Teddy! I'm so glad someone else posted in this forum! I've been waiting!!! I'm so glad to hear that you're doing well!! Lady, I also took 1 baby aspirin a day with my last pregnancy!!! I had had two miscarriages before, so I was wanting to try anything and I think it helped!!!! THe baby aspirin and progesterone helped me not miscarry....however, I think I need progesterone throughout pregnancy so I don't have a premature delivery! Have you had any contractions ? Or are you feeling very relaxed and well??? I'm so excited to hear about other women who are doing progesterone therapy as well! I am not pregnant right now, but we'll try for number two at the end of the year....and I'm sure I"ll be a basketcase with that one too! ↑
Name: ladysvr | Date: May 9th, 2008 4:52 PM
In my last pregnancy, I started having daily Non Stress Tests at 32 weeks because my membrain ruptured & I was in the hospital on bed rest. I was told by the nurse during those tests that I was having contractions, but in all honesty I had no idea that they were contractions because of the way she was sitting I just had "weird' back pain. So I had actually been having contractions for almost 6 weeks by the time I was "told" what they were!! LOL! I'm kind of spacey! This time around I hope I can figure out what a "real" contraction is before it becomes a problem! Our doctor is monitoring me closely and hopefully with the shot we will be able to go full term!! ↑
Name: jstpchy | Date: May 15th, 2008 2:14 PM
Hi all.....I am also on the progesterone shots....I have had a 35 weeker and 36 weeker and was on bedrest from my 6th month on for both of them. I have made it to 32 weeks and have just now been put on modified bedrest. My cervix is still closed and long which is great because with the other two I was already dialated to 2 and 3 cm.
Anyway, my doctor is stopping my shots at 34 weeks instead of refilling my prescription.......has anyone else stopped this early?? And besides Cayingo has anyone gone into labor soon after stopping the shots? ↑
Name: RyanswifeAllie | Date: May 15th, 2008 9:47 PM
Hi Jst--- Wow, you've made it to 32 weeks without dilating! Awesome! 32 weeks is exactly when I started dilating with my DD..... I only made it two more weeks. I'm hoping the progesterone helps.... I wish I could hear from Cayingo and when she had her baby and stuff....I'm sure she's busy though. Have you been feeling any contractions? ↑
