Which drug can be administered at 34 weeks to enhance fetal lung maturity?

Betamethasone is a corticosteroid that can be administered to pregnant women at risk of preterm delivery, particularly when delivery is anticipated between 24 and 34 weeks of gestation. The primary purpose of administering betamethasone in this context is to enhance fetal lung maturity.

Corticosteroids like betamethasone accelerate the production of surfactant in the fetal lungs, which is critical for promoting lung function and reducing the risks of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) after birth. The administration of betamethasone can significantly decrease the incidence of complications associated with prematurity, including severe respiratory conditions.

In contrast to betamethasone, the other options listed do not serve this specific purpose. Magnesium is often used for neuroprotection in preterm infants or for managing preeclampsia in pregnant women, but it does not affect fetal lung maturity. Aspirin is sometimes prescribed in pregnancy for certain conditions like preventing preeclampsia, but it does not promote lung development. Hydrocodone is an opioid used for pain management and has no role in enhancing fetal lung maturity. Thus, betamethasone is the drug of choice in this scenario for promoting healthy lung development in