Pregesterone Injections

Hi, D.,
I sell Arbonne products. Please don't stop reading, yet. They have a progesterone cream. Before using progesterone, I researched and read a lot. I have read on miscarriages, that were in the early stages, that progesterone may be helpful. But I don't know about the injections. Try looking on two websites. Arbonne based their cream on Dr. John Lee's( M.D) work in this field. He has many books on the topic, in paperback. His sight is johnleemd.com. A SECOND site that you mightlook at is: virginiahopkinshealthwatch.com At the top of the page on the right, click on CONTACT. You will find information about speaking to someone or e mailing them. There is a good possibility that someone there will know about progesterone injections. If not, maybe they can refer you to someone. Virginia Hopkins is dedicated to carrying on Dr. Lee's work. He died 2 or 3 years ago.
D., if possible, let me know how it goes. I certainly would like to know more about the injections.
I wish you well.
Sincerely,
D. F.

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

If you are not into injections, there are creams available that you can apply to your skin. Progesterone treatments are one of the most natural ways to prevent preterm labor and stop a cycle of repeated miscarriage, but they only work if the preterm labor or miscarriages are brought on by hormonal issues.

Do you have any idea what caused the preterm labor with your first two? The most common causes are dehydration, infection, and nutrition.

Unfortunately most OB's don't care/aren't taught enough about prenatal nutrition to pass anything useful on to their patients. Check out Dr. Tom Brewer's website for information on the Brewer diet. It is free, he's not selling supplements or anything like that. The Brewer diet is what is taught in Bradley childbirth classes and is what is recommended by many midwives.

http://www.blueribbonbaby.org/

That link is down for me right now, here is another:
http://parenting.ivillage.com/pregnancy/pfitness/0,,40hj,...

I've done the injection during IVF. Let me know if you want to know about the injections themselves.

Congrats D.! I have two toddlers...one born at 36 weeks, one born at 32 weeks. I am now pregnant with my third (due any day now), and we don't know what has led to my premature delivery in the past. So the specialist I have been seeing started me on Progesterone at 11 weeks, and I will go off of it this week at 36 weeks. However, I am taking the Progesterone pill, Prometrium, twice a day instead of doing the injections. My doctors said that studies have actually shown that they have the same effect as the shots. Plus, I have heard from another friend that the injections are VERY painful - UGH! Anyways, it has kept me pregnant, so I am happy. I have had no side effects from it. I had also looked extensively online for info about it, and couldn't find anyhing, so I understand your curiousity. I would definately ask about the pill versus taking the shots though!

WOW! we have such simular stories it's scarey. I had my oldest at 35 weeks, my middle child at 34 weeks, and JUST had my youngest at 36 weeks 4 days (with NO preterm labor this time thanks to Progestrone). I went into labor with my oldest at 30 weeks and was able to hold on to him for 5 more weeks, I then went into labor with my second at 24 weeks, and was able to hold on to him for 10 more weeks. This last time I was put on Prometrium (progestrone capsels that you insert into your vangina)100mg a day at 17 weeks, and stopped it at 35 weeks. I had no preterm labor this time. I was also put on modified bedrest which was better than the strict hospitalized bedrest I had the 2 times prior.
I believe in Progestrone as someone who just went through it. The only side effect I had from it was it made me more tired than usuall.
BTW- my daughter I JUST had 2 weeks ago was born completely healthy and got to come home with me.

I started seeing a naturopathic physician (in Oregon, where we just moved from) because of my infertility and other hormonal issues. I've gotten more help (and am now pregnant!!!) in 8 months of seeing her than I have in 15 years of seeing traditional MDs. Through saliva testing, she found that my progesterone was too low to support a menstrual cycle, much less a pregnancy. So we've been working on getting my hormones and such back into sync. I just had a phone appointment with her, for my new pregnancy, and she recommended that I continue using progesterone throughout the first trimester. It is the main hormone of pregnancy, and without enough of it I could potentially miscarry or whatever. She said that even if I didn't really need it, it would not hurt a thing, so it's to be on the safe side as much as anything. I am using a progesterone cream right now.

My daughter in law had the exact same senario you have - preterm with her first two, a miscarriage, and now pregnant again. At first I thought maybe this was her writing!!! Her doctor also suggested the progesterone shots but he said that it would only GUARANTEE that she go 36 weeks. She felt that was not enough of a guarantee for her to try it - besides it is expensive and a little bit experimental. Most importantly, though, she and my stepson prayed about it and decided that they did not need to do it but would trust God to keep the baby in the womb long enough to develop sufficiently. I suggest you pray and see how God directs you.
Only He knows best!

Dear D.,

I had problems similar to yours. I had a miscarriage, then during my second pregnancy i started having pre-term labor at 20 weeks. i was on bedrest until 33 weeks and delivered 6 weeks early. I then had 3 more miscarriages. Finally, my OB put me on baby aspirin and progesterone and i had a completely normal pregnancy and delivery with my second daughter. It made all the difference in the world taking that progesterone. I had no pre-term labor, delivered right on my due-date a beautiful and healthy little girl.
Good Luck to you!

Here are a couple sites that tell about this. They are very informative and hopefully will tell you what you are trying to find out.

http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?...

http://www.shawneemission.org/content/view/333/541/

hope this helps.

D.,
I am not a L & D nurse or work in OBGYN at all. But I remember from nursing school that they give progesterone shots sometimes for people that have alot of miscarriages when the baby comes unattached or when they are having trouble getting pregnant. I remember something about studying that the progesterone helps the egg and the baby to attach to the uterus when it can't sometimes.
It must not be harmful and it apparently just puts back into your body what it would and should have in there normally.
Like I said, this is just remembering..... but maybe this will help a little more to give you a little bit more to go on so you can find something on the computer about it.
I know that it had something to do with sticking to the uterine wall.
Sorry.... wish I could tell you more. M.

I had my first son at 34 weeks so my midwife suggested the progesterone shots for my second pregnancy. I started them at 19 weeks and continued through 35. My daughter was born at 38 weeks. It was wonderful to have a full term baby and not have to worry about the NICU and all the other things that go along with delivery before 37 weeks. Even though I was on the shot I started dilating at 34 wks. My midwife thinks the shots helped me keep from delivering sooner, but there's no way of knowing.
However,for me the shots were painful. I eventually got used to the actual injection, but I had a rash at the injection site after most of the shots. Sometimes it was better or worse depending on which muscle the injection went in. (The bigger the muscle the less painful.) I don't think every one has the reaction I did, it effects everyone differently. Some people don't react at all.
I'm not sure if I'll do it for our third child or not. I want to explore other options first.
The injections cost 100$ per vial. We had to have two and are still waiting to here if insurance will cover it. You can only get it at 1 pharmacy in Nashville and you have to pay up front.

Also, Vanderbilt is doing a study now about preterm labor. You have a midwife come to you house periodically, and a Nurses for Newborns nurse after the baby is born. You may want to look into it. You can get info through the Vanderbilt midwives if your interested.

Hi D.,

I did the injections in 2005 when I was pg with quads. I think the studies that are out are pretty conclusive that in women who have had singleton preterm babies that it helps prevent preterm labor in subsequent pregnancies. There aren't studies available for multiples, but my docs figured that it wouldn't hurt. The average gestation for quads in 28 weeks, and I went to 33. I don't know if the shots were responsible, but I'd definitely do them again. They weren't bad to have, just a pain to go in weekly for doctor's appts. I think I started them around 16 weeks. Hope this helps!

I had fertility treatment to have my twin boys. I learned a lot, and I learned that some women just don't make enough progesterone to sustain a pregnancy, so this is a GOOD thing for someone like you ( in my opinion). I also had a girlfriend who had 3 miscarriages before having her baby girl and she used progesterone suppositories ( sp????) to help her hold the pregnancy. From what I learned, there is really no health issues to worry about with progesterone for you or your baby.
Good luck!