MEDizzy - A client at 33 weeks’ gestation is admitted in preterm

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The Multigravid Client in Labor

A client at 33 weeks’ gestation is admitted in preterm labor. She is given betamethasone (Celestone) 12 mg I.M. q 24 hours × 2. What is the expected outcome of this drug therapy?

ExplanationBetamethasone is a corticosteroid that induces the production of surfactant. The pulmo- nary maturation that results causes the fetal lungs to mature more rapidly than normal. Because the lungs are mature, the risk of respiratory distress in the neonate is lowered but not eliminated. Betametha- sone also decreases the surface tension within the alveoli. Betamethasone has no infl uence on contrac- tions or carrying the fetus to full term.