Preterm infants are at risk of mortality and morbidity. Antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) reduce the risks of neonatal death and morbidities, such as respiratory distress syndrome.~Standard of care for women at risk of preterm birth includes 2 doses of 12 mg betamethasone (for a total of 24 mg) to accelerate fetal lung maturity. There are no published clinical trial data on the benefits or risks of a single dose of antenatal corticosteroid vs. standard double doses.~Pilot trials are now viewed as an almost essential prerequisite to large, expensive, full scale studies. Thus, we plan to conduct a pilot clinical trial to determine the feasibility of a trial comparing half the usual dose (12 mg of betamethasone + placebo) to the standard double dose (12 mg + 12 mg of betamethasone), as well as the feasibility of the study protocol. Secondary outcomes will include process outcomes, clinical outcomes, maternal experiences, and provider outcomes.
Antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) reduce the risks of neonatal death and morbidities, such as respiratory distress syndrome, in preterm infants.~Standard of care for women at risk of preterm birth includes 2 doses of 12 mg betamethasone (for a total of 24 mg) to accelerate fetal lung maturity.~We plan to conduct a pilot clinical trial to determine the feasibility of a trial comparing half the usual dose (total 12 mg) of betamethasone to the standard double dose (total 24 mg) of betamethasone.