Effect of antenatal steroid before elective cesarean section on prevention of respiratory morbidities of full-term neonates

Elective cesarean section (ECS) increases neonatal respiratory complications like transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN) and respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). This pilot study examined the effect of antenatal steroids on the prevention of respiratory problems in full-term neonates born via ECS.

This experimental study was carried out on full-term neonates (39-42 weeks) born by ECS to the mothers admitted to Babol Clinic Hospital, northern, Iran in 2016. The intervention group received betamethasone (12 mg, intramuscular, once a day) for 2 days before ECS plus conventional care, but the control group received only conventional care. The rate of respiratory complication and the admission rate of the newborn ward and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) were compared between two groups.

Overall, 200 full-term neonates (100 neonates in the experimental group and 100 neonates in the control group) were enrolled. Nine neonates (9%) in the experimental group and 8 neonates (8%) in the control group had TTN (P=0. 64), and one (1%) neonate in the experimental group and one neonate (1%) in the control group had RDS (P=1).

Antenatal corticosteroid administration to the mothers before ECS with gestational ages of 39-42 weeks does not reduce the incidence of respiratory complications.  Thus, further studies are needed to determined its effects in gestational age group more than 39 weeks.