A patient with preterm labor may be given corticosteroids to?

Corticosteroids are commonly administered to patients experiencing preterm labor primarily to enhance fetal lung maturity. When preterm labor occurs, there is a risk that the baby will be born before their lungs have fully developed, which can lead to respiratory complications such as neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS). Corticosteroids, particularly betamethasone or dexamethasone, accelerate the maturation of type II pneumocytes in the fetal lungs, leading to increased production of surfactant. Surfactant is a critical substance that reduces surface tension in the alveoli, allowing for more effective lung expansion and reducing the risk of complications at birth.

The use of corticosteroids does not directly decrease uterine activity, prevent chorioamnionitis, or prevent gestational diabetes, which is why those options are not correct in this context. The primary focus of corticosteroid therapy in the setting of preterm labor is to improve outcomes related to fetal lung development and reduce morbidity associated with prematurity.