Babies usually start making surfactant sometime between the 30th and 36th weeks of the pregnancy. Nearly all babies have made surfactant by the 35th week of pregnancy. Drugs can be given to the mother to help start production of surfactant by a baby before birth. The most frequently used drug is betamethasone. We can tell whether a baby has made surfactant by testing the amniotic fluid.
Amniotic fluid is collected by amniocentesis.
After the rupture of membranes it may be obtained from the vagina. If the baby has not yet made surfactant, the mother may be given betamethasone and the doctor will try to delay the birth. There are many effective treatments for babies with RDS, and most infants recover completely within the first weeks of life. This monitor is called a cardiorespiratory monitor. The baby is also attached to a monitor that records the amount of oxygen in his skin.