Which steroid is often prescribed for fetal lung development in preterm labor?

Betamethasone is the steroid commonly prescribed for fetal lung development in cases of preterm labor. The key reason for this is that betamethasone is specifically used to enhance lung maturity in the fetus by stimulating the production of surfactant, a substance that reduces surface tension in the lungs and prevents alveolar collapse. Surfactant production is critical for effective breathing after birth, often becoming a concern when delivery occurs before 34 weeks of gestation.

This action of betamethasone is most pertinent in the context of preterm labor, as it has been shown to significantly improve neonatal outcomes by decreasing the incidence of respiratory distress syndrome in premature infants. Administering betamethasone during the late second and early third trimesters can help prepare the fetus’s lungs for successful respiration at birth.

Other steroids mentioned, although having therapeutic applications in various medical conditions, do not have the same indicated use or efficacy for stimulating fetal lung development as betamethasone does.