Progestrone Injections to Prevent Spontaneous Preterm Labor: What was your experience?

I am wondering if any women can share their experience regarding this topic, as I've done my research...but there is not much on this relatively new treatment from a personal standpoint.

My first pregnancy resulted in a preterm labor and delivery (33 weeks gestation), with my son in the NICU for a few weeks. There were no signs of infection, no other found causes/reasons for my preterm L&D (everything progressed normally, just very early). Some of the nurses said this may be how my body responds to being pregnant...

Now, three years later (our 3 year old son is doing fine; never would know he was a preemie and just 4.5 pounds!), I am pregnant with our second baby. I really want my pregnancy to go full-term; having another scare like that (if it can be prevented) would be ideal obviously, and my OB/GYN has told me of a treatment that has been effective over the past few years to prevent repeated spontaneous preterm labor in women.

The treatment is to receive progesterone injections weekly, from about week 17 in the pregnancy through week 36 (approximately). The studies I have read are impressive, with a majority of women reaching at least 36 weeks gestation who had a previous premature L&D (with no apparent causes).

I know some women who have had progesterone injections to help them conceive, and others who receive them during menopause. I am wondering if anyone has received them during pregnancy as a preventative measure? Any side effects I should know about?

I thought the strangest part is that my progesterone levels were not checked, and the doctors don't seem to be concerned that they are too low...just that added progesterone has been proven effective for this specific condition (I am now labeled as having a "high risk pregnancy" because of this past situation).

Thanks!

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Tags:

• Labor & Delivery