Open AccessDecrease in the Mortality Rates for Low‐Birth‐Weight Infants After Phenobarbitone Treatment
Author(s) -
Trolle Dyre
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.3109/00016347609156777
Subject(s) - medicine , pregnancy , low birth weight , obstetrics , birth weight , perinatal mortality , pediatrics , infant mortality , fetus , population , genetics , biology , environmental health
. A daily dosage of 100 mg phenobarbitone administered orally to pregnant women for three days or more immediately before delivery has reduced the various mortality rates for low‐birth‐weight infants by 50% or more. Since it is hardly possible to treat all pregnant women in this way it is recommended to administer phenobarbitone to women with high‐risk pregnancies such as former stillborn infant, former premature delivery, pregnancy complications, and planned induction of premature labour before the 37th week and until delivery takes place. If the mothers of low‐birth‐weight infants have not been adequately treated it is recommended that the newborn infant be given phenobarbitone injections immediately after birth and at 8‐hour intervals, 10 injections in all.