Antenatal steroids

Metronidazole (Flagyl) Antenatal Steroids 2 g orally once Safe during pregnancy. During lactation, temporarily stop breast-feeding for 12-24 hours. 

Storosum JG, van Zwieten BJ, Vermeulen HDB, Wohlfarth T et al (2001) Relapse and recurrence in major depression a critical review of placebo-controUed efficacy studies with special emphasis on methodological issues European Psychiatry, 16, ill- i iS Stutchfield P, Whitaker R and Russell I, on behalf of the Antenatal Steroids for Term Elective Caesarean Section (ASTECS) Research Team (2005) Antenatal betamethasone and incidence of neonatal respiratory distress after elective caesarean section pragmatic randomised trial British Medical Journal, 331, 662-667... 

Chin S-OS, Brodsky NL, Bhandari V. Antenatal steroid use is associated with increased gastroesophageal reflux in neonates. Am J Perinatal 2003 20 205-13. 

Rotmensch S, Celentano C, Liberati M, Sadan O, Glezerman M. The effect of antenatal steroid administration on the fetal response to vibroacoustic stimulation. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 1999 78(10) 847-51. 

Antenatal steroids markedly reduce the incidence of neona- tal RDS and some other complications of prematurity. 

Fetal lung maturation can be accelerated with antenatal corticosteroids. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) consensus conference in 1994 concluded that all fetuses between 24 and 34 weeks gestation at risk for preterm delivery should receive corticosteroids regardless of gender, race, maternal infection, and availability of surfactant. A report by the National Institutes of Child Health and Development Neonatal Research Network noted that antenatal steroid use was associated with fewer pulmonary problems and mortality. Many women who are appropriate candidates are... 

Several perinatal/antenatal interventions can be adopted to prevent or minimize the severity of RDS. These include optimizing care at labor and delivery and control of maternal diseases to avoid factors known to predispose to RDS. Additionally, drug therapy to delay premature delivery (tocolytics) or to assist with lung maturation (steroids) can be instituted (Fig. 28-2). Early initiation of antibiotics to treat bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis also has been associated with significant reduction in preterm births. ... 

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