Women going into premature labour should not be given drugs to delay birth, a British expert says today.
The drugs can successfully delay delivery for up to two days, according to researchers, but, according to Professor Zarko Alfirevic, there is no evidence they improve the health of the baby that is born.
And two drugs have already been linked to disability in children.
The British Medical Journal today publishes a review of the treatment and according to Professor Alfirevic, from Liverpool University, UK, this does not show evidence that the drugs reduce illness or death among newborn babies.
He cites a separate study of the use of antibiotics showing an increase risk of cerebral palsy among children born to mothers given these drugs.
The UK Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said last year it was not reasonable to use the drugs, known as tocolytics, and Professor Alfirevic says there is no evidence to change this advice.
Doctors could use the drugs provided they tell women they will not make the babies healthier by prolonging the pregnancy in this way.
He writes that doctors should be sure "babies are not coming to greater harm by our attempts to keep them in utero."
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