Babies whose mothers were given an infusion of magnesium sulfate, commonly known as Epsom salt, cut their risk for cerebral palsy by 45 percent.
Doctors believe that the treatment stabilizes the mothers blood vessels, keeping oxygen supplied to the baby's brain.
The research invovled more than 2,200 women at hospitals around the country who showed signs of early labor. These findings could be one of the most promising breakthroughs for premature delivery in more than 30 years, the researcher said.
