Better Late Than Never: Antenatal Steroids in the Late Preterm Period

In pregnancies at risk for preterm delivery, antenatal glucocorticoid administration improves neonatal outcomes. In response to the “mission creep” that has driven nontraditional use of these steroids at earlier or later gestational ages than initially recommended, obstetric providers have pared back this use to 24 to 34 weeks' gestation; still, the beneficial effects of steroid therapy probably do not abruptly end when 34 weeks of pregnancy have been completed. To assess the benefits and harms of late-preterm steroid administration, investigators conducted a multicenter trial of one course of betamethasone given to women at risk for delivering between 34 0/7 weeks and 36 6/7 weeks. A total of 2831 participants were randomized to receive be…