What is the standard medication used for antenatal corticosteroid therapy?

Antenatal corticosteroid therapy is primarily used to accelerate fetal lung maturity in situations where preterm delivery is anticipated. The standard medication utilized for this therapy is betamethasone, which is preferred due to its potency and ability to effectively stimulate surfactant production in the fetal lungs.

Betamethasone is specifically chosen because it is a potent glucocorticoid that has been demonstrated in clinical studies to significantly reduce the incidence of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and other complications associated with prematurity. Administering betamethasone typically involves a course of two doses given intramuscularly, usually 24 hours apart, allowing for optimal fetal maturation before an anticipated preterm delivery.

While other corticosteroids like dexamethasone are also used in certain cases for similar purposes, betamethasone is the most commonly recommended agent for antenatal corticosteroid therapy due to its established efficacy and safety profile in pregnant women. Hydrocortisone and prednisone are less commonly used in this context as they do not have the same effectiveness in promoting fetal lung maturity.