Betamethasone is a medication that plays an important role in preparing newborns for an early arrival, particularly when preterm birth is a possibility. This treatment helps to support the baby’s development, aiming to reduce potential health complications associated with being born too soon. Medical professionals can enhance a newborn’s chances of a healthier start to life if they arrive before their due date.
Why Betamethasone is Administered
Betamethasone is administered to pregnant individuals to accelerate the development of the fetal lungs. Preterm infants often have underdeveloped lungs, making them susceptible to respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). The medication stimulates the production of surfactant, a substance that lines the air sacs in the lungs and helps them inflate properly, preventing collapse. This process is crucial because premature infants frequently lack sufficient surfactant.
This corticosteroid therapy also aims to reduce the severity of other complications linked with preterm birth. Medical guidelines recommend administering betamethasone to pregnant women at risk of preterm delivery between 24 and 34 weeks of gestation. It may also be considered as early as 23 weeks or up to 36 weeks and 6 days of gestation if preterm birth is likely within seven days.
How Betamethasone Benefits Newborns
Betamethasone significantly reduces the incidence and severity of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in preterm newborns. This improvement in lung function is a primary benefit, as RDS is a leading cause of death in newborns. Studies show that antenatal corticosteroid administration can decrease the risk of neonatal death by as much as 31% and RDS by 44%.
Beyond lung development, betamethasone also helps to lower the rates of other serious health issues in preterm infants. It reduces the occurrence of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), or brain bleeds. It also decreases the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a severe intestinal infection. These benefits contribute to improved short-term and long-term health outcomes, including a reduced risk of conditions like cerebral palsy and periventricular leukomalacia.
Important Considerations for Parents
Betamethasone is administered as two 12-milligram doses intramuscularly, 24 hours apart. The medication is injected into the mother’s arm, leg, or buttocks, entering her bloodstream to reach the baby. For maximum effectiveness in reducing respiratory distress syndrome, delivery should occur between 24 hours and 7 days after the second dose. Even a single dose offers significant benefits, helping to decrease the death rate.
While generally safe, potential side effects for the mother are usually mild and temporary. These can include a transient increase in blood sugar levels and fluid retention. For the newborn, direct side effects are minimal; however, multiple courses beyond the recommended single course can be associated with lower birth weight and smaller head circumference, though this is not routinely recommended.
Healthcare providers carefully consider each individual’s situation. This is especially true for mothers with conditions like diabetes, as betamethasone can make blood sugar harder to control. The benefits of this treatment for preventing severe complications in preterm infants are widely recognized and outweigh the risks.