What was unusual to McCoy was that a premature fetus seldom presented itself headfirst.

Betamethasone and dexamethasone are used with the intention to help the lungs of a premature fetus develop before the fetus comes out.

Betamethasone is preferred over dexamethasone because it is thought to have better prophylaxis of brain softening of premature fetus.

Today's Columns An obstetrician has patented an artificial uterus that would suspend a very premature fetus in a liquid environment until its lungs matured.

A midwife once told Erszebet of the dszogos gyermek, the stunted child, a premature fetus born alive, a scurrying, spectral thing with a rat's feet and ears.

Induction may occur any time after 34 weeks of gestation if the risk to the fetus or mother is greater than the risk of delivering a premature fetus regardless of lung maturity.

If that fails, Dr. Cooper believes that very premature fetuses could be removed by emergency Caesarean surgery, with the umbilical cord and placenta intact, and placed in the artificial uterus.

Dr. Ribeiro said the falciparum parasite, which is spread by the anopheles mosquito and causes malaria, is known to have a grave effect on pregnant women, causing aborted and premature fetuses, stillbirths and infant deaths.