The effect of antenatal steroid administration on mortality and morbidity in newborns that 34 weeks and older

Objective: The effects of antenatal steroid (AS) administration on mothers during pregnancy were investigated on mortality and morbidity in newborns that 34 weeks' gestations and older.

Material and Method: Between January 2016 and June 2018, pregnant women who were followed-up from our hospital's gynecology and obstetrics outpatient clinic and children born from these pregnancies were included in the study. This study was conducted as prospective and retrospective. Patients included in the study were divided into three groups according to AS application: full cure, incomplete cure, and non-taking.

Results: A total of 727 pregnant women were included in the study, but 56 pregnant women were excluded from the study because they went to another hospitals to give birth. AS application on mothers; 251 (37.4%) complete dose, 176 (26.2%) incomplete cure and 244 (36.4%) was not applied at all. Newborn included in the study   are 379 (56.5%) male, 292 (43.5%) female,   317 (47.2%) were between 34-36 weeks and 354 (52.7%) were between 37-39 weeks. There was also a statistically significant difference in the rate of hospitalization in the neonatal intensive care unit, intubation time, oxygen requirement period, maximum FiO2, 5th minute Apgar score in children of  women that AS not applied.

Conclusion: We may conclude that AS application will decrease respiratory problems especially in newborns over 34 weeks and thus affect the mortality and morbidity in the newborn. A single cure of AS may   reduce the duration of intensive care unit and oxygen demanda.