In a case of 31-week preterm labor where magnesium sulfate is administered and contractions have stopped, which medication is likely to be prescribed next?

In the context of preterm labor at 31 weeks gestation, after administering magnesium sulfate to stop contractions, the next likely medication to be prescribed is betamethasone. This corticosteroid is used to promote fetal lung maturity by stimulating surfactant production in the fetus's lungs. Administering betamethasone can help reduce the risk of complications associated with preterm birth, particularly respiratory distress syndrome, which is a significant concern for infants born before 34 weeks.

By enhancing lung development, betamethasone plays a crucial role in improving the outcomes for premature infants, particularly when birth is anticipated within the next few days. In this scenario, the use of magnesium sulfate to manage contractions typically addresses the immediate labor concerns, but the priority then shifts to protecting the fetus’s health if preterm delivery remains a possibility.

Other medications listed serve different purposes. Rho(D) immune globulin is intended for Rh incompatibility prevention and is not relevant in this context. Terbutaline, a tocolytic like magnesium sulfate, is generally not administered after magnesium has already been effective in halting contractions. Indomethacin, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that can also be used as a tocolytic, has