Premature birth remains a critical public health issue, with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) being the primary cause of morbidity and mortality. Glucocorticoids cross the placenta and enhance pulmonary maturation and surfactant production. A 2006 Cochrane systematic review of 21 randomised trials (3885 women and 4269 infants) concluded that “a single course of antenatal corticosteroids should be considered routine for preterm delivery with few exceptions” (see {1}). A decade later, this updated Cochrane review including 30 randomised controlled studies (7774 women and 8158 infants) supported these original conclusions. This Recommendation is of an article referenced in an F1000 Faculty Review also written by Katie-Jane Wynne.