What is a potential effect of multiple doses of steroids during pregnancy?

Multiple doses of steroids during pregnancy can lead to decreased fetal head circumference. Corticosteroids are often administered to pregnant women preterm, particularly when there is a risk of preterm birth, to enhance fetal lung maturity and prevent neonatal complications. However, the administration of steroids has been associated with effects on fetal growth, particularly influencing the rate of growth of various fetal structures, including head circumference.

While corticosteroids can significantly improve outcomes for preterm infants by promoting lung maturity, the glucocorticoid effects can potentially restrict fetal growth, leading to a reduction in head size when administered in higher doses or over a prolonged period. This phenomenon is reflective of the intricate balance between administering medications to optimize fetal health outcomes and the potential for unintended effects on fetal growth parameters.

In contrast, the other options relate to positive outcomes of steroid use: increased fetal head circumference is generally not a noted effect; improved fetal lung maturity is indeed a positive outcome of steroid administration; and a lower risk of gestational diabetes is not associated with steroid therapy—it may actually increase such risks.