[Control of uterine contractions with fenoterol. II. Significance of the beginning, duration and manner of therapy for the status of the newborn infant and early childhood development up to 4 years of age].

From 1976 to 1979, 404 pregnant women were treated with the tocolytic agent Fenoterol. The data of pregnancy, delivery and the children's development up to four years of age were computerized and correlated to the duration, beginning date and type of treatment. Compared to long lasting tocolytic treatment, delivery was significantly earlier after short term treatment, resulting in acompromined development of the infants. Early start of treatment and long lasting application, mainly the case in high risk pregnancies, postponed the delivery and induced normal development of the children. When the intravenous route was necessary the state of the newborn and the post partum development were less satisfactory than after oral medication, the latter developing without complications. Based on our results, late damages of Fenoterol on developmental parameters up to four years of children's age appear to be non existent.