I’m currently on progesterone injections (Makena) due to preterm labor with my first. I started at 18 weeks and will have to continue until 37 weeks. I don’t know any known risk to the baby but there are side effect to the mother like any other medication. They do hurt to the point you want to slap whomever is administered it (mines are given in the back of the arm) and it will be sore for 1-2 days after. I have developed little knots which are common and they do away after birth/injections stop. I also have notice I’m very tired but it’s all worth it to keep my little guy cooking until 39 weeks when I’ll be prepped for a scheduled c-section.

My injections are covered through my insurance and therefore, I have a specialist from care connections that reach out once per month to check in to see how things are going. They are required to do this until baby is born and in addition to my OB, I was able to asked them questions about the injections and they also said it’s safe.

Hi OP - I was on progesterone injections (Makena) from week 16-37 of my 2nd and 3rd pregnancies after first baby was premature due to PROM. No problems or side effects either time, and babies 2 and 3 were both born healthy at 40 weeks. I highly recommend doing this and wish you the best!

Anonymous wrote:These are questions for your doctor. Obviously, there is a reason she is putting you on the shots for essentially the entirety of your pregnancy.

OP is looking for anecdotes. Sorry you weren’t able to figure that out from her post.

Anonymous wrote:I took weekly progesterone shots until 36 weeks, and also took pills vaginally beginning at 22 weeks. I might have been a little more tired from all the progesterone but other than that baby and I were both healthy. I also made it full term!

Thank you Pp for sharing your experience! Was this your second baby? Wondering how it compared to your first pregnancy if you didn’t take progesterone the first time? Thanks!
OP

I took weekly progesterone shots until 36 weeks, and also took pills vaginally beginning at 22 weeks. I might have been a little more tired from all the progesterone but other than that baby and I were both healthy. I also made it full term!

This is why there are doctors. Most of us who took progesterone for ART stopped when the placenta took over. Your situation is different, and your cost of possible hypertension was deemed worth it to save your baby’s life.

These are questions for your doctor. Obviously, there is a reason she is putting you on the shots for essentially the entirety of your pregnancy.

Did you have any issues with hypertension, pre-term labor or any negative side effects? Did it seem to help you carry to full term?


Did you have progesterone shots or suppositories with a healthy and successful pregnancy? My Dr said that once I get to 16 weeks they will give me progesterone shots until 37 weeks for a previous pre term labor where my water broke. Wondering if there are any side effects to the baby or me if I get one shot every week for the entire pregnancy? Is the suppository safer option? Not sure if I should move forward or not with the progesterone. Looking for experiences either way. Thanks!