A corticosteroid called betnesol is frequently used to treat autoimmune diseases or hormonal abnormalities. The proper operation and control of the body’s salt and mineral levels depend on the presence of corticosteroids.
When a baby is at risk of premature constipation, doctors typically prescribe this injection to hasten the rate of lung maturation. Read on to learn more about betnesol, including its dosage recommendations and potential adverse effects.
Is It Safe To Take Betamethasone Injection During Pregnancy?
The safety of betnesol during pregnancy cannot be determined based on the available research. Betnesol is classified as a category C medicine by the US Food and Drug Administration, meaning there are no well-controlled human research and animal studies have demonstrated negative effects on the fetus.
Only when a drug’s advantages outweigh its risks to the mother or the fetus is it advised.
In the case of preterm pregnancy, two doses of betnesol injection are administered intramuscularly, separated by 24 hours. Furthermore, delivery should take place 24 hours after the second dose.
Betnesol use during pregnancy for an extended period of time may harm the unborn child. However, as it is often only given for two days in premature deliveries, any negative effects may be minimal and the baby will benefit from quicker lung maturation.
Ideal Dosage Of Betnesol
When a mother exhibits indicators of an impending delivery, betnesol is given. Depending on the severity of your preterm risk, the doctor will choose the appropriate injection dosage for you.
According to the advice of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the pregnant woman should be administered the medication “based on the family’s decision regarding resuscitation.”
How Is Betnesol Given?
Betnesol is given in any of the following ways:
- Injection through a drip into the veins or muscles
- Topical application on the affected regions to treat inflammation.
- Directly injected into the inflamed tissue.
A few days’ worth of the drug is prescribed on a temporary basis. The dosage shouldn’t be abruptly stopped because doing so will cause withdrawal symptoms.
When Is Betnesol Administered During Pregnancy?
Between 24 0/7 weeks and 33 6/7 weeks of gestation, doctors typically prescribe Betnesol to mothers who are at risk for preterm delivery within seven days, including those who have ruptured membranes and multiple pregnancies.
Consideration to make
The presence of hypoadrenalism in children born to mothers who received corticosteroids during pregnancy should be carefully monitored.
Why Is Betnesol Prescribed During Pregnancy?
When there are any of the following complications, betnesol is recommended:
- Preterm labor: The lungs aren’t fully developed and aren’t effective when the baby is born before full-term, at roughly 32 to 35 weeks of pregnancy. Studies have shown that corticosteroids speed up the formation of alveoli, the tiny air sacs in the lungs that aid in gas exchange, as well as the production of surfactants, which is essential for the normal operation of the lungs.
Therefore, a betnesol injection is given in this instance to aid in the lungs’ fast development. It is administered about 24 hours prior to the scheduled premature labor.
- Premature rupture of membranes, or PROM, refers to a condition in which the membranes break before 37 weeks have passed, leading to preterm birth. The fetal fibronectin test (FFT), which analyzes cervical secretions for the presence of the protein fibronectin, is used to assess the risk (a protein that secures amniotic sac to the uterus). Injections of betnesol are recommended if the test is positive.
What Are The Side Effects Of Betnesol Injection During Pregnancy?
Here are the side effects of Betnesol injection during pregnancy:
- A diabetic mother may experience issues and need to take more anti-diabetic medication if her blood sugar level rises right after the injection.
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Betnesol injection during pregnancy may cause sudden rise of bloos sugar level - The immune system and inflammatory reactions in the body are likely to be suppressed by corticosteroids. As a result, you can be vulnerable to infections.
- A high dose may alter one’s mood and conduct. Some of the side effects include confusion, depression, irritability, lack of sleep, and delusions.
- Babies’ heart rates and movements slow down, and their growth is delayed.
Doctors advise giving a pregnant woman a Betnesol injection if there is a chance of premature birth. If the advantages outweigh the risks, a pregnant woman may be taken this medicine. A corticosteroid drug called betnesol aids in the development of surfactant and alveoli in newborns. This medication aids in reducing problems brought on by undeveloped lungs in preemies when administered 24 hours before to the predicted preterm delivery. Additionally, doctors administer Betnesol if the cervical swab test reveals fibronectin proteins, which hold the amniotic sac to the uterus, are present.
