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Are Steroids Used For Lung Maturity In Premature Babies?
Question: My unborn baby died the day after I had received steroid injections meant to help the baby's lungs. He was over 36 weeks and 9lbs 2oz (at birth, stillborn, of course) and we don't think the steroids were necessary. is it possible that the steroids killed our baby boy? He had been very active prior to these injections and I am led to believe that they should only be used in cases of premature babies from 24 - 34 weeks, XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Steroid injection is not likely to cause the death.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for trusting us with your health concern.
Steroid injections are widely used for lung maturity in premature babies till 35 weeks. Since your baby was over 36 weeks at that time, the use of steroid injection was necessary if there was no IUGR.
But the steroid injections are safe even if it is used after 35 weeks. The cause of death can be detected after autopsy. It is less likely and even more difficult to prove that the death of the baby was due to the injection given.
Please feel free to discuss further. I will be glad to answer the follow up queries that you have.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Rakhi Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Rakhi-Tayal
Steroid injection is not likely to cause the death.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for trusting us with your health concern.
Steroid injections are widely used for lung maturity in premature babies till 35 weeks. Since your baby was over 36 weeks at that time, the use of steroid injection was necessary if there was no IUGR.
But the steroid injections are safe even if it is used after 35 weeks. The cause of death can be detected after autopsy. It is less likely and even more difficult to prove that the death of the baby was due to the injection given.
Please feel free to discuss further. I will be glad to answer the follow up queries that you have.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Rakhi Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Rakhi-Tayal
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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