I am being induced at around 37 weeks 3 days because of a prior stillbirth at the end of 38 weeks. Two doctors recommend taking steroids at 36 weeks to help mature the baby's lungs, prevent brain bleeds, etc. But one doctor says it is not necessary and can cause adrenal problems in new borns. Just curious if anyone has any recommendations. I think I will take the steroids because the downsides of not taking it seem more serious than taking them, but I can't find a lot of research on taking them so late in the pregnancy.

Also I've heard that after taking the steriods the baby's movements slow down. This makes me incredibly anxious. Anyone willing to share their experience taking steriods in late pregnancy for an early term induction?

Thanks!

I don't have any experience with steriods, but wanted to mention another alternative. Maybe you could ask for an amnio to check for lung maturity, and only take steroids if the lungs are not mature yet...? Just something to discuss with your doctors... All the best!

Personally, I would get another opinion, even though you have already gotten two. I had my baby at 37 weeks by scheduled csection and there was never any mention of steroids. It is my understanding that after a certain point they don't really do anything and may do more harm than good. From my research and from conversations with my doctors, steroids wouldn't be given after 35 weeksish and maybe earlier. I asked many, many, questions about this because of my history. This is just my experience and my opinion though, do what feels right to you, more information may be helpful for your decision making.

I had not heard of steroids being used after 34 weeks so I was surprised. But this may be why you have two doctors recommending it:
http://www.acog.org/About-ACOG/News-Room/Practice-Advisories/Practice-Advisory-Antenatal-Corticosteroid-Administration-in-the-Late-Preterm-Period

And here is the study that ACOG has based their brand new recommendations on as of april of this year.

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1516783#t=article

For what it's worth, this is a multi-center (more than one hospital), randomized control trial with 2827 participants, specifically women in pregnancy between 34w0d and 36w5d The primary outcome measured was something called composite risk. Composite risk included needing moderate respiratory support, serious respiratory and cardiovascular support, and death before birth or within 72 hours. Being treated with betamethasone steroid during pregnancy reduced the chance of the baby needing respiratory support or having a perinatal death. 11% of the treatment group needed respiratory support or had a death, compared to 14% of the placebo group. Although small risk means little when it happens to your baby, you'll notice that the risk of needing respiratory support and/or perinatal death for treated or untreated group is still relatively low especially considering the wide range of outcomes within the composite risk group.

There were no significant differences in risk of infection of the uterine membranes during pregnancy or of the baby after delivery. Steroids can suppress immune function, so finding that there were no increased risk for the treatment group could mean that good exclusion criteria were used, or it could mean that the dose is lose enough to help the baby without suppressing immune function.

Babies who got steroids were at an increased risk (24% vs 15%) of low blood sugar in the first days of life, compared to the treatment group. Low blood sugar can mean the baby needs a little more frequent monitoring (heelstick blood sugar tests) and sometimes may need an IV with a dextrose (sugar) solution for a few hours or days while they get good at feeding.

The ACOG recommends specific criteria for candidates for steroid use. Definitely get a second opinion if you are not comfortable with your doctor's recommendation, and you should ask as many questions as you need until you feel comfortable.

Sorry, forgot to add - but, I generally think it's positive when doctors stay up to date on the most recent research and recommendations. Without being able to read the entire study and methods, it's hard to say for sure that there aren't issues with the research but from what I could read, it seemed solid and not overly wide reaching. I would feel comfortable following this recommendation if my OB/MFM suggested it.

I wrote up some whole thing about statistical reasoning, and enrolling my daughter in a clinical trial when she was sick, before she died, and not controlling the future, and making decisions based on love and the best info we have in front of us. I don't know if it would be really helpful because although I have peace about it, it's not a happy ending, so then I deleted it. So I will just leave it at that. You are a good mom, you love your baby, and whatever you decide is coming from that love. That is all you can control or be responsible for. That's how I dealt with the fear, just focusing on the love.

Thank you all for sharing. Especially, Jenny, this is exactly what I was looking for!

Its so hard to decide what is best when you have already lost so much and are not medically trained or even scientifically inclined. And when your trust in doctors is at an all time low.