What treatment is commonly administered to stimulate fetal lung maturity?

The common treatment administered to stimulate fetal lung maturity is steroids. This is particularly important when there is a risk of preterm birth. Corticosteroids, such as betamethasone or dexamethasone, are given to the mother with the aim of accelerating the development of the fetal lungs and reducing the risk of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in the newborn.

Steroids promote the production of surfactant, a substance that helps keep the air sacs in the lungs from collapsing and improves lung function. The administration of steroids is most effective when given 24 to 34 weeks of gestation but can be beneficial up to 36 weeks in certain situations. This makes them a critical intervention in managing pregnancies at risk for preterm delivery.

In contrast, antibiotics are primarily used to treat infections rather than directly influencing fetal lung maturity, magnesium sulfate is typically used for neuroprotection in preterm infants or to manage preeclampsia, and tocolytics are administered to delay labor rather than enhance lung maturity.