What medication is administered to enhance fetal lung maturity if under 34 weeks gestation?

Betamethasone is the medication administered to enhance fetal lung maturity in pregnancies under 34 weeks gestation. This corticosteroid works by stimulating the production of surfactant in the fetal lungs, which is crucial for reducing surface tension within the alveoli. Adequate surfactant production helps to prevent respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in premature infants, a condition that can severely affect their breathing capabilities after birth.

Administration of betamethasone is typically given in a series of injections, and its effects can significantly improve the outcomes for preterm infants. Timing is critical; it is most effective when given to the mother within 24 to 48 hours before delivery of a preterm infant.

The other medications listed do not specifically enhance fetal lung maturity. Magnesium sulfate is often administered for neuroprotection against the possible outcomes of preterm labor and to prevent seizures in conditions like eclampsia. Hydralazine and labetalol are both antihypertensive agents utilized for managing high blood pressure in pregnant women, particularly in cases of gestational hypertension or preeclampsia, but they do not play a role in promoting lung maturity in the fetus. Thus, betamethasone is recognized as the standard treatment for