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Health Information For Parents
I’m pregnant. I’ve heard that progesterone shots can prevent early labor. Should I get them?– Izzy
If you’ve had a premature baby in the past, your doctor may prescribe progesterone shots during your current pregnancy to help prevent early labor.
Babies born too early (before 37 weeks of pregnancy) can have health problems, including:
Some premature babies do not survive.
The progesterone shot (sometimes called “17P” for the drug name [17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate] or its brand name, Makena®) can increase a woman’s chances of having a full-term baby.
17P has the hormone
progesterone in it, which helps prevent contractions. The uterus contracts during labor to help “push” a baby out of the womb for delivery.
Doctors recommend starting 17P shots during the second trimester of pregnancy, usually between 16 and 20 weeks. Shots are given by a health care provider in the hip or thigh area. They are given until 37 weeks.
As with any shot, there’s a risk of minor side effects like redness and soreness at the shot site. Rarely, some women get blood clots or have allergic reactions.
Find out what the experts have to say.
If your daughter is pregnant and planning to have the baby, many changes await your family. How can you support her through the challenges to come?
During your pregnancy, you’ll probably get advice from everyone. But staying healthy depends on you – read about the many ways to keep you and your baby as healthy as possible.
The sooner in pregnancy good care begins, the better for the health of both moms and their babies. Here’s what to expect.
Premature infants, known as preemies, come into the world earlier than full-term infants. They have many special needs that make their care different from other babies.
Some women are more likely than others to go into labor early. Find out what doctors can do to help prevent or delay early labor.
Babies who are born premature – before 37 weeks of pregnancy – can have health problems that last their whole lives. Learn ways to prevent early labor and have a healthy pregnancy.