Betamethasone and pregnancy
Betamethasone can be taken in pregnancy, although it does cross the placenta to the baby. Other steroid tablets (like prednisolone) do not cross the placenta as much and may be better for pregnancy.
Talk to your doctor or specialist as soon as possible to see whether betamethasone is the right steroid to continue taking during pregnancy. Do not stop taking it before talking to your doctor.
Steroid tablets like betamethasone are commonly used in pregnancy and most doctors recommend continuing to take them if needed.
Taking betamethasone might affect your baby's growth. You may need extra scans later on in your pregnancy to check that your baby is growing OK.
If they're not well treated, inflammatory conditions can affect your baby, causing premature birth and growth problems. It's recommended that you continue steroid treatment during pregnancy to keep yourself and your baby well.
Betamethasone and breastfeeding
If your doctor or health visitor says that your baby is healthy it's usually OK to take betamethasone tablets while you're breastfeeding.
It is not known how much betamethasone gets into breast milk, but it's likely to be a small amount. If you're only taking betamethasone for a short time, your baby is unlikely to get any side effects. However, your baby may need extra monitoring if you take higher doses or if you're taking it for a long time.
If you notice that your baby is not feeding as well as usual, or is not putting on weight as you would expect, or if you have any other concerns about your baby, talk to your health visitor, midwife or doctor as soon as possible.
Betamethasone and fertility
There's no evidence to suggest that taking betamethasone reduces fertility in either men or women.
Speak to a pharmacist or your doctor if you're trying to get pregnant.
Non-urgent advice: Tell your doctor if you're:
- trying to get pregnant
- pregnant
- breastfeeding
For more information about how steroid tablets can affect you and your baby during pregnancy, visit the Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy (BUMPS) website.