They never want to do something that could make things worse, so they are pretty cautious about steroids. At the same time, they want to make sure you get them 48h before delivery. Some older studies showed the benefit wearing off, as you say, after a few weeks. But they benefit lung development up to about 34 weeks, so as early as you are, you could "age out" of the benefit and need them again in week 32. But multiple doses might affect fetal brain development because steroids also affect that pathway, particularly in larger doses IIRC. So they tend to want to do only one set of two shots of betamethasone over 48 hours, and then deliver within about a week.

It's all a balancing act.

I am 25w3d and my Bp has risen enough to be put on Labetalol. My protein is at 248 last check. My MW has said many many times that I should prepare to be in the hospital on bedrest, it's just "when" that we don't know.

I have asked about steriods for the baby just in case he is born early. The answer is always "I dont' think you will deliver in a few days so we will hold off." I am thinking that I'd rather do them and it had been a total waste (him making it close to full term) than to look back and wish I had pushed more to have them.

So my question is, why don't they just give me the steriod shots? If we know my BP is going up, we know my protein is going up, I have headaches all the time, vision disturbances, and off and on swelling, why not give me the shots? I know they only last a max of 2-4 weeks but if I made it to that point, his lungs would be much more mature.

Should I be pushing more for the steriod shots or is it really not something worth pushing for?