NVS Staff Nurse - 2022
Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Easy

Which of the following drug is prescribed to an antenatal mother for fetal lung maturation?

Appeared in: NVS Staff Nurse - 2022

Explanation

  • Betamethasone is a glucocorticosteroid administered to pregnant women who are at risk of preterm delivery, typically between 24 and 34 weeks of gestation.
  • It works by crossing the placenta and accelerating the maturation of the fetal lungs.
  • Specifically, it stimulates the production of surfactant, a substance that prevents the air sacs (alveoli) from collapsing after birth.
  • This action significantly reduces the risk of the baby developing Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS), intraventricular hemorrhage, and necrotizing enterocolitis.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

  • Option A: Bromocriptine is a dopamine agonist and has no effect on fetal lung development.
  • Option B: Metoclopramide is an antiemetic and prokinetic agent that does not influence fetal lung maturation.
  • Option C: Metoprolol is a beta-blocker and is not used for fetal lung maturation.

Related Visual

Visual explanation — Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
  • Nursing practice connection: Knowing Pharmacological intervention for fetal lung maturation in antenatal care helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
  • Nurses are responsible for the timely and correct administration of antenatal corticosteroids, as the full benefit is achieved only if the course is completed before delivery.
  • What if? If a pregnant woman with diabetes receives betamethasone, her blood sugar levels can rise significantly. The nurse must increase the frequency of blood glucose monitoring and collaborate with the provider to adjust insulin doses as needed to prevent maternal hyperglycemia and its potential complications.
  • Patient education is a key nursing role. The nurse should explain the purpose of the medication to the mother, its benefits for the baby, and potential side effects like temporary blood sugar elevation.
How to Approach the Question
  • First, identify the core concept of the question, which is 'fetal lung maturation'.
  • This is a factual recall question related to obstetric pharmacology. Access your knowledge base about medications used during the antenatal period.
  • Recall that preterm birth is a major concern and that underdeveloped lungs are a primary complication. The intervention to address this involves accelerating lung maturity.
  • The specific class of drugs used for this purpose is corticosteroids.
  • Scan the given options to find a corticosteroid. Betamethasone is a well-known corticosteroid.
  • To confirm, quickly review the other options. Bromocriptine is for lactation, Metoclopramide is for nausea, and Metoprolol is a beta-blocker for heart/blood pressure issues. This confirms they are incorrect.
Concept Tested & Keywords
  • Concept Tested: Pharmacological intervention for fetal lung maturation in antenatal care.
  • Stem keywords: drug, antenatal mother, fetal lung maturation
  • Lead-in keywords: Which of the following

Question ID

QKjGIG12xQXAwNYpLb9UBQ

Reference Book

E6 Midwifery Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing Sandeep Kaur p. 6-11

E6 Pharmacology KD Tripathi Essentials 9e Part 2 p. 6-8

E6 Obstetrics Williams p. 26-46

Practise the full NVS Staff Nurse - 2022

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.

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