Antenatal steroids

Question 1

What form and dose of steroids are used? When should this be administered?

Answer 1

24mg dexamethasone in two 12mg doses given 12 hours apart

Within 48 hours proir to birth

Question 2

What are the benefits of steroids given before delivery?

Answer 2

• Prevents RDS in pregnancies that birth between 24 hours to 7 days after administation
• Reduced neonatal death
• Reduced perinatal death

Question 3

What are risks of pre-delivery steroids?

Answer 3

• Developmental delay - educational attainment reduced e.g. English proficiency
• Neonatal hypolycaemia
• Affects maternal glucose especially in diabetes - but this should not be a CI
• If the woman doesn’t delivery within 7 days then likely to reduce birthweight by ~147g.

Question 4

What gestations are corticosteroids used in?

Answer 4

24+0 to 34+6 - offer corticosteorids to all women

Can be offered at later gestations before C-section but must explain the risks and benefits