Newborn babies born through caesarean section are at a higher risk of developing respiratory issues compared to those born through normal delivery. The risk also increases with elective caesarean section before labour. M…

Newborn babies born through caesarean section are at a higher risk of developing respiratory issues compared to those born through normal delivery. The risk also increases with elective caesarean section before labour. Moreover, premature birth is also linked with elevated breathing difficulties requiring neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) hospitalisation. A recent study has discovered that administering antenatal corticosteroids 24 hours to seven days prior to delivery can reduce the mortality risk and respiratory distress syndrome in newborns. In a clinical audit conducted at a hospital in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), 54 out of a total of 60 pregnant women were administered prophylactic corticosteroids. The remaining six women received none. Only two out of 54 women’s newborns required NICU care. Meanwhile, in the other group, five out of the six women’s babies needed NICU care. More importantly, the study findings revealed that both transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN) and respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) occurred at significantly higher rates in neonates born to mothers who did not receive corticosteroids. “In all women planning an elective cesarean section and 38 plus 6 weeks of gestation, we find support for corticosteroids to lower the number of neonatal respiratory complications, where delivery below 39 weeks is inevitable,” researchers said. However, the use of corticosteroids in high-risk pregnancies, particularly among diabetic and systemically infected women, is not well researched yet. Therefore, it is not recommended for prescription by medical experts. They have suggested waiting for further large-scale trials to clarify the potential long-term neurodevelopmental and metabolic risks associated with antenatal steroid exposure. 

Source: Deccan Herald