Abstract

Background: Fetal well-being is reflected in the fetal movements perceived by the mother. Corticosteroids are the most common therapy in clinical practice which can affect fetal activity.

Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of dexamethasone administration on daily fetal movement count (DFMC) in pregnant women.

Materials and Methods: A prospective and cohort study was performed in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital. A total of 100 pregnant women between gestational ages of 28 weeks and 38 weeks were enrolled in the study. They were asked to count DFMC on day 0, that is, before administration of injection dexamethasone, on day 2 (after 48 h of first dose), and during day 4 to 7. Women received injection dexamethasone 6 mg i.m. 4 doses at an interval of 12 h for various indications such as pre-term pre-labor rupture of membranes, placenta previa, pre-term labor, and previous cesarean. Outcome measures were changes in DFMC before and after dexamethasone administration.

Results: DFMC was significantly reduced on day 2 of injection dexamethasone administration and returned to baseline values after 4th–7th days of receiving dexamethasone.

Conclusion: Dexamethasone administration resulted in transient reduction in DFMC that mimics fetal compromise; hence, clinicians should be aware of this phenomenon to prevent iatrogenic pre-term birth of the fetus.

Key words: Antenatal Corticosteroid; Daily Fetal Movement Count; Dexamethasone