What to expect from an antenatal corticosteroid injection for preterm labour

Antenatal corticosteroids are medicines given during pregnancy when clinicians think preterm birth may be possible. They cross the placenta and help prepare the baby’s lungs and other organs for life after birth. The medicine does not stop labour or guarantee that birth will be delayed. Your maternity team may recommend a course arranged around your individual pregnancy and the likelihood of early delivery.

The injection is usually given into a muscle, often in the arm or thigh. You may feel a brief sting, followed by soreness at the injection site. Your team may also monitor contractions, your temperature, your baby’s heartbeat and other signs related to preterm labour.

Tell the maternity team about allergies, diabetes, medicines and any previous reaction to an injection. Keep the follow-up appointments they arrange, even if contractions settle. Drink and eat according to the instructions you receive, and ask how blood glucose should be checked if you have diabetes because steroids can raise it temporarily. Rest the injection area and use only pain relief approved for pregnancy.

Contact your maternity unit urgently for regular tightening, vaginal bleeding, leaking fluid, reduced fetal movement, severe abdominal pain, fever or feeling suddenly unwell. After the injection, seek prompt help for breathing difficulty, facial swelling, widespread rash or fainting, as these can signal a serious reaction.

Ask why steroids are recommended now, how many injections are planned, what monitoring you need, and what changes should prompt a return to hospital. You can also ask how the plan changes if labour stops or your waters break.