New Study Shows Steroid Treatment Carries Risks

A new study conducted by researchers from the Columbia University Medical Center shows that the steroid treatment that is often used to prevent premature birth from happening could be causing more harm that good. The researchers claim that the medication given to women, who could potentially give birth prematurely, could increase the infant's chances for developing illnesses like cerebral palsy.

Medication Potentially Harmful

The medication Betamethasone has more recently been given to expecting mother's who have increased chances of giving birth too early. This steroid medication reportedly helps to increase the speed of the infant's developing lungs. The recent study showed signs that when the medication is given in repeated doses to the mothers, which it typically is, there is an increased chance for the baby to be born with cerebral palsy.

The Study

Researchers from the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Network recently followed two groups of infants to conduct the study. The researchers split the infants into two groups, one group who had been given the medication and the other group which had not. By the age of two, the health of the children was pretty normal, except that there were 6 cases of children with cerebral palsy in the group that had been given the medication. (Source: AC Media) Do you have a child who was born with cerebral palsy? Please contact us today to speak with an experienced birth injury attorney who will enable you to receive legal guidance and compensation for your emotional and financial stress.