Could a simple steroid shot before C-Section protect newborns from low blood sugar?
NCT ID NCT06716918
First seen Aug 25, 2026 · Last updated Aug 26, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial asks whether giving mothers a corticosteroid injection before a planned cesarean section at 37-38 weeks of pregnancy can lower the chance of their newborns developing hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). It will compare the rate of neonatal hypoglycemia in infants whose mothers received the steroid versus those who did not. The study includes 188 women with singleton pregnancies scheduled for early-term C-sections, excluding those with diabetes or other risk factors. The goal is to see if this common prenatal treatment offers a protective benefit for babies born at this stage.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Corticosteroid injection (betamethasone or dexamethasone)
- What this could lead to
- If effective, giving corticosteroids before planned early-term C-sections could lower the risk of newborn hypoglycemia, improving infant health outcomes.
- What could go wrong
- This is a single-center trial with 188 participants, so results may not apply broadly. Corticosteroids carry potential risks for both mother and baby, and the benefit may not be confirmed.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
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188 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jan 2025
- Finished
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Mar 2026
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
Women Health Hospital, Faculty of medicine, Assiut university
- Ages
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Children (under 18), adults (18 to 64) and older adults (65 and over)
- Sex
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Female participants only
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: \- 1. Women with singleton pregnancies at 37-38 weeks of gestation (early-term) scheduled for planned cesarean sections. 2\. Participants who have received antenatal corticosteroids prior to cesarean section as part of their prenatal care. Exclusion Criteria: * 1\. Women delivering before 37 weeks or after 39 weeks of gestation would be excluded, as the study focuses on early-term deliveries. 2\. Women with any form of diabetes, including pre-existing type 1 or type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes. This ensures that the study focuses on non-diabetic populations, as diabetes can independently affect neonatal glucose regulation and complicate the assessment of hypoglycemia risk due to corticosteroids. 3\. Women with severe maternal health such as preeclampsia, chronic hypertension, or other systemic illnesses, might be excluded to avoid confounding variables. 4\. Women who did not complete the full course of antenatal corticosteroids may be excluded, as the effect of partial doses could differ from complete treatment. 5\. Women with multiple gestations (e.g., twins or triplets) may be excluded due to the added complexity of multiple-birth pregnancies and their unique risk. 6\. Neonates with known congenital anomalies, genetic disorders, or other pre-existing medical conditions that could affect glucose metabolism
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Women Health Hospital, Faculty of medicine, Assiut university
Asyut, Egypt