What Is Fetal Lung Maturation?
Fetal lung maturation is one of the most important aspects during the baby’s development process, especially when the baby has some kind of problem and is born prematurely.
In practice, when there is a risk of premature delivery, the doctor generally prescribes a special medication for the woman in order to accelerate the maturation process. Next, we will see the essential aspects of this topic so relevant to children’s health.
The importance of fetal lung maturation
The development of fetal lung maturation is one of the essential aspects for the baby to be able to breathe normally once it leaves the womb.
To facilitate vital functions, your small lungs must be perfectly developed at the end of pregnancy. This includes the alveoli and bronchi, as well as a substance known as surfactant, which all humans have.
Surfactant is essential for the proper functioning of the lungs; without it, they would quickly collapse. The reason is that this substance has the function of internally coating the alveoli and generating a kind of bubble that will allow them to remain open and allow the air to flow freely.
Fetal lung maturation in premature babies
Throughout the pregnancy, the fetus develops progressively. This development includes, of course, all the internal organs. In fact, the organs develop in the first three months of gestation.
Due to this development , external care is very necessary in this period. Any medication, bacteria or disease can trigger various types of malformations.
Although during the first three months the internal organs of the fetus develop completely, in the remaining time of gestation the maturation process occurs. This stage is essential for the child to be able to fully live in the outside world.
For their part, the lungs, which develop in the first weeks of pregnancy, do not fully mature until after 34 weeks. When the baby is born, his lungs must expand and exchange blood for air; this capacity is acquired around 34 weeks.
When labor is advanced before 37 weeks of gestation, various complications can occur, among which those related to the lungs stand out. One of the most frequent is known as Respiratory Distress Syndrome.
Can you help my baby’s lungs mature?
It is possible to help the fetus in the maturation process of the lungs. Fortunately, science has made giant strides in this regard, saving the lives of thousands of children around the world.
Various drugs can help in the maturation process of the baby’s lungs. For this reason, this procedure is also known as pharmacological lung maturation.
The application of this treatment is very simple. The doctor will administer corticosteroids to the mother through an intramuscular injection. You will be given one dose a day in 48 hours; that is, two daily doses.
Once the two doses have been applied, the lungs will mature. In case of urgent baby removal, the doctor will administer at least one dose before proceeding with the delivery.
General criteria for maturation treatment
There are certain general criteria that will indicate to the treating physician whether or not the application of treatment is necessary for the maturation of the baby’s lungs. In this sense, aspects such as gestational age and if there are any contraindications for the patient will be taken into account.
Women suffering from certain pregnancy complications should not receive maturation treatment, as their health can be seriously affected. Failing that, they must be monitored at all times.
For example, this treatment is especially contraindicated when the woman suffers from diabetes and is decompensated. The same when you suffer from high blood pressure.
In short, beyond the importance of fetal lung maturation, sometimes problems may arise that force the baby to be extracted prematurely. In a large part of these cases, there is the possibility of pharmacological maturation, with which it is possible to accelerate the maturation of the lungs in 48 hours and save the life of the baby.
