A study of nearly 1200 babies finds breathing problems in premature babies can be reduced by giving mothers repeat doses of corticosteroids during pregnancy.
The study of 982 mothers and 1146 babies in 23 hospitals in New Zealand and Australia shows pre-term babies are less likely to need oxygen therapyor breathing support after birth if the mothers have taken repeat doses of the drugs.
Corticosteroids are synthetic versions of natural steroids in the human body such as cortisone, and can be used to prevent asthma attacks by reducing inflammation or swelling in the airways.
Betamethasone is a common drug injected into pregnant women to help to develop a baby's lungs when it appears that the mother will give birth prematurely.
Lead researcher Caroline Crowther, of Adelaide University, said a single dose of steroids was a common precaution, but she had looked at whether multiple doses were more effective.
"The results show that babies who are exposed to the repeat steroids had less lung disease when they were born," she said.
"So they had less respiratory distress syndrome, which is one of those complications of being born early."
About 41 per cent of premature babies had breathing problems. With repeated steroid doses that was reduced to 33 per cent.
"Babies born early [at less than 34 weeks] often have respiratory problems due to immature lung development and require neonatal intensive care," Professor Crowther said.
"Not all babies born early survive and those that do are at increased risk of later developmental problems."
But while the study results were promising, she said there would be further research when the children turned 2, and when they went to school.
