Betnesol Injection

Betnesol is the brand name of a medicine called betamethasone - one of many steroids. It is not used in normal pregnancy. However in the case of twins, steroids are used to (a) prevent premature delivery and (b) improve lung function. Please abide by your gynaecologists judgement. 


Betnesol, or betamethasone, is administered during pregnancy when preterm birth is a possibility. The steroid injection helps to produce surfactant in the baby's lungs, allowing them to inflate without sticking together. Normally, babies do not make this surfactant on their own until much later in pregnancy, around 32-35 weeks. Getting steroid injections into the mother at least 24 hours prior to a premature birth improves the baby's ability to breathe, reducing ventilation time and possibly reducing NICU time.

If your doctors are recommending this injection for you, they should have detected something that tells them your baby is at risk for premature birth. While fibroids can put you at risk for miscarriage and preterm labor, a fetal fibronection test (FFN) can more conclusively tell if this pregnancy in particular is at risk. If you have not had a positive FFN test, and you are not currently having preterm labor or carrying multiples, then you should ask for documentation of why this shot is being recommended for you and what your alternatives are. Betamethasone is not without risks; it can be lifesaving for premature babies, but it can have consequences on learning and development down the road. It is good to always take a second opinion.

How to encourage your baby to move

• Lie down on your left side (with support under your baby bump) and stay still.
• Put your feet up and relax.
• Play music to your stomach.

From 36 to 40 weeks

Your baby will be getting larger and roll-over movements happen less often. By now, your baby may have learned to suck his thumb. If his thumb pops out of his mouth, you may feel his head darting from side to side as he tries to find it again.

During the final two weeks of your pregnancy, the movements are likely to slow down. Instead, you may notice an insistent kicking underneath your ribs on one side or the other. This slowing down is normal, but if you're worried about your baby's movements, always see your doctor or midwife.

By now, your baby should be nestled in your pelvis, ready to make his journey into the world. His head can feel like a melon pressing on your pelvic floor. If your baby isn't head-down, find out how to get him into the best position for birth.

There will be times when your baby is sleeping and other times when he's active. He may liven up in the evenings or when you're lying in bed trying to get to sleep. Your baby may keep the same pattern of activity into his first few weeks of life, until he learns to tell day from night.

Elevated Heart Rate During Pregnancy

Third Trimester

The period of maximum cardiac output occurs between week 28 and 35 of the third trimester. By the end of pregnancy, at about 40 weeks, your circulating blood volume will have increased to 40 percent to 90 percent above pre-pregnancy levels. The heart depends on an ample blood supply to ensure adequate delivery of oxygen and nutrients to both mother and baby. In the third trimester, these changes are critical to meet the increasing demands of a rapidly growing fetus and also for preparation for labor. During labor, the heart rate elevates during contractions and in response to pain.

Warning Signs

Normally, the healthy heart can withstand the cardiovascular changes that occur over the course of pregnancy. However, previously unknown heart problems might become apparent as the pregnancy progresses and the workload demands on the heart increase. Some common warning signs can include a racing or pounding pulse, shortness of breath even when at rest, lightheadedness, fainting spells, a persistent productive cough and palpitations, or skipped heartbeats.This is why it is so important to keep all scheduled prenatal appointments with your health care provider.