Is There Such a Thing as Being to Cautious?

I also lost twins at 6 almost 7 months and in my next pregnancy we took almost every precaution possible. To me, after you bury a child (or children) there is absolutely no such thing as "too cautious". My doctor promised me up and down that THIS time she wasn't sending me home without a baby in my arms. I assume your friend is having bi-weekly NSTs and biophysical ultrasounds? I got the steroid shots at 33 weeks although I didn't have the medication to relax the uterus. I also spent several days in the hospital when my baby's fluid levels dropped slightly below normal. Overly cautious? Maybe but sitting at home stressing that this baby is going to die like your last one(s) can't possibly be any better. Although I am sure there are some effects to the baby, I know lots of people who have had both and have had no ill effect on their child. I think that the doctor is probably just trying to cover all of his bases especially after what your friend has been through. I really hope you haven't suggested to your friend that these precautions aren't necessary. I am sure that would hurt her feelings as you have no idea the anxiety she probably already feels about this pregnancy. I would just be supportive. If SHE feels that its over cautious she can bring it up with her doctor. I know my doctor was willing to deliver as early as 36 weeks but if you deliver that early by induction you have to have an amnio which brings its own risks. I ended up carrying my (totally healthy) son to 39 weeks but really wouldn't do anything different. I needed the reassurance that everything was being done to get him here safely. Now, I'm pregnant again and we aren't going to take as many precautions.

her dr knows best. if she is at 36 weeks then her baby has the best chance to survive if she gave birh now. the dr is just taking added precautions with the steroids to make sure the baby is as healthy as possible. the med to relax her uterus is probably so her body starts to prepare for birth and so when she goes to the dr again they may schedual an induction date. i hope all goes well.

A.,
What your friend's doctor is doing is pretty much standard of care here in LV. She'll be on tocolytics (medication that relaxes her uterus) until she is 36 weeks (possibly even 37), then if the baby comes, it comes. What doctors worry about with your friend delivering before 36 weeks is that the baby's lungs won't be mature. Doing a repeat ultrasound will not determine whether this is the case unless they did something called an amniocentesis (inserting a needle into her abdomen to pull off some amniotic fluid to test). This is not usually done unless they are planning to induce labor prior to 39 weeks gestation. Your friend can take her medication from home, she does not need to go to the hospital to have it given. But once again, your friend's treatment plan sounds like the norm. -an l&d nurse

My sister-in-law was on bed rest for 3 weeks (at the hospital) on steroids also. She was (I believe) around 40 weeks when she went in. From what I learned, it's common to use these meds to help speed up the development of the babies lungs.
She delivered her baby at 44 weeks and she is doing great today!! ( I think she is 2 months old now)..
Good luck :)