Experiences with 17p (progesterone shots)

Candace - posted on 09/19/2012

I was wondering if you notice anything adnormal about your children that you carried while taken the s17p? I also took the 17p because of a preterm baby in the past because of the shots I carried my son who is now 3years old. The problem we are noticing is that he is very active but not on the level of ADHD but focusing on simple task is a task alone for him. He has an extensive amount of fluid in his body that he is stays congested.

Carrie - posted on 06/04/2009

Thanks everyone for your stories. Just reading them made me feel better. Well, we are now the proud parents of a 33 week 1 day preemie boy. We made it 3 weeks longer than his sister did. He was born 1 week ago today. I can't really say if the shots helped all that much, but I have a feeling they helped some. I ended up sitting in the hospital for 5 weeks on strict bedrest. I was only allowed to get up to go potty and take short showers sitting down. They stopped my labor at least 3 or 4 times with the help of drugs. It has been a rough road but worth it. I do have to say those 3 weeks made a big difference. Looks like he might be able to come home soon.

Kaeti - posted on 05/31/2009

I've been on the shot since 16 weeks and I didn't go into labor this time until 30 weeks. And they were able to stop my labor with magnesium. Last time I only made it to 24 weeks and they couldn't stop my labor at all. So, in my situation, it really seemed to help. I'm now almost 34 weeks on bed rest and it doesn't look like she's coming anytime soon. I get off the shot at 36 weeks though, so we'll see.

Nicole - posted on 05/18/2009

I am the mother of a 3 yr old little girl whom I went into the hospital in preterm labor at 29 weeks with. They put me on all the medicine and had me in the anti-pardom unit at one of the best children's hospitals out there. I made it to 33 and a half weeks. I am now at 32 weeks with my second daughter, I have been taking the 17p shots since 16 weeks. I am on strict bed rest, as well as I have been taking Brethine since 19 weeks, I'm only dilated to 2 outside and 1 inside.. and hoping to make it to 39 weeks so I don't have to be shipped off to the hospital again. But I think those shots have helped me make it this far w/o dilating any further because as I said I have been contracting since week 19. I'll pray for you.. and good luck!

Stephanie - posted on 05/15/2009

My son was born at 31 weeks and I'm now expecting my 2nd in June. I took the shots once a week starting at 20 weeks. I started having contractions at 27 weeks and put on bed rest but the good news is that I'm now 34 weeks and still pregnant. I'm done with the shots now and my contractions are getting more frequent. the shots are the only thing that medically I can attribute to carrying this long. My dr. does think I will have the baby in the next two weeks or so but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I'll go full term. Best of luck with the rest of your pregnancy.

Teresa - posted on 05/12/2009

I carried triplets and started the shots at 16 weeks.....I had already had 4 children and those shots helped me carry 33 weeks...That was longer than they expected me to carry...

Aisha - posted on 05/10/2009

I have had success with the shot. I went into the hospital at 23 weeks with my first and had him at 29 weeks. My second I had an amazing doctor with several high risk doctors on the side. They all agreed to have me get the shot. I was on bed rest for about 2 months and never went into the hospital for anything except some contractions that did stop with bed rest. I don't know if the shot had a hand in it or if it was the other meds I was on as well. But I am now the mother of two sons. My second was born full term and is now four months old. I would not change a thing if I had to do it over again. I was told I would not carry a full term child by many doctors. I have an incompitant cervix and had preterm labor with my first. The shot was one thing I had to encounter and I believe in my doctors and the shot. I hope all goes well for you. I too got the shots once a week starting at 12 weeks or maybe 16 weeks until about 35 weeks I believe. I know there was a cut off and your doctors will tell you when you are not able to continue the shots.

Another thing......my son is perfect. I know they tell you there seem to be no recorded effects on the children but I wanted to tell you first hand that I have not seen or experienced anything from the shots with my little one. Like I said he is 4 almost 5 months old but nothing so far and I expect it to stay that way! Take care! :)

Patricia - posted on 04/25/2009

Hi Carrie,

I had my son at 31 weeks 13 years ago. Last year I got married and decided to start a family again and lost my baby at 18 weeks gestation. I had only had gotten in two 17p shots before the loss. I doubted the shots this time around again but after talking to my doctor and reading up on the studies i opted to go with the shots again. I am 31 weeks pregnant on bed rest since my bag ruptured a little over a week ago. Did the shots work? I'm not convinced that they helped but I feel pretty sure that they didn't hurt. Based on the studies the shots increase our chances of going longer than we would otherwise but are not a guarantuee because in reality so much of what happens to us is a mystery and unexplainable. It's made me realize that a big part of medical science is making the best educated decisions (i.e. guesses) based on the information we do have (which sometimes is quite limited). I am optimistic to have gotten this far given my loss last year and am expecting to not ever be able to go full term.