Baby development and steroids (asked in wrong section before)?

Question

If you go into preterm labor the dr generally would check for dilation and give a shot of steroids to help develop babies lungs....why don't they just give it in general to pregnant women after a certain amount of weeks? Is there a risk to mom and baby in doing so?

Answer 1

it has alot of side effects on the mother and is not necessary for every woman. it is only to help in extenuating (sp?) circumstances. if it was given to everyone, they would probably have larger babies, which might mean more c-sections if unable to push out a large baby

Answer 2

unneeded steroids are not good.  they are given only as a last resort when they are worried the baby will come.  i was given the shot when i was found in preterm labor with twins, lucky for me they got my labor stopped and i went on to make it to 36 weeks (considered full term for twins).  steroids can do lots of great things, but to be on them for long term or when they are NOT needed, they can have some bad side effects.  most women make it to a healthy due date when baby is in no risk

Answer 3

Steroids aren't some kind of miracle drug. They are not that good for  the body at all. Doctors do this because the risk of the side effects of one to two doses of steroids are less than having a baby with undeveloped lungs. My baby( I adopted my niece) was born addicted. They expected her to be premature, so they gave my sister the shots to help poor baby. She indeed was 4 weeks early! Now she is a beautiful perfectly healthy normal 7 1/2 month old baby girl. Who keeps me incredibly busy!