EDITOR—We reported the outcome of a randomised trial of antenatal betamethasone before elective caesarean section at term, showing a reduction of more than 50% in admission with respiratory distress for babies delivered at 37-39 weeks (BMJ 24 September, p 662). Of the 35 babies admitted with respiratory distress, 19 control babies had transient tachypnoea and five had respiratory distress syndrome, compared with 10 babies with transient tachypnoea and one with respiratory distress syndrome in the intervention group. Fourteen control babies required intensive care, three with respiratory distress syndrome requiring ventilation …