Are Antibiotics Safe for Pregnant Women?
Pregnant women might be more vulnerable to certain bacterial infections that could develop into severe complications when left untreated. Common infections during pregnancy are vaginal and uterine infections. Some infections can affect both the mother and developing baby, and certain illnesses that occur during pregnancy require intake of antibiotics. The good news is, there are antibiotics that are safe to use by expectant moms. Learn more about them.
Which antibiotics are safe?
Antibiotics are made to kill bacteria or stop them from reproducing. They are available in a broad category. Some are broad-spectrum, targeting different types of bacteria while others only fight specific bacteria. The more important question is, which ones are safe to take by pregnant women? Pregnant women often get scared by merely hearing the term antibiotics, but antibiotics are a significant part of medical practice. Doctors just need to choose the right antibiotic to prescribe for not all antibiotics are the same.
Antibiotics considered safe for use during pregnancy commonly include amoxicillin, ampicillin, augmentin, penicillin, cephalexin, clindamycin, and erythromycin. Penicillin is the most widely used during pregnancy and it has not been found to increase risks for birth defects. However, even if it has been safely used for years, resistant strains of bacteria develop. This forces doctors to use other classes of antibiotics. When talking about safety, doctors consider several factors such as type of antibiotic, stage of pregnancy, dosage and duration of intake.
Which antibiotics are unsafe?
The antibiotics that are commonly considered unsafe for use by pregnant women include Bactrim, ciprofloxacin, doxycycline, Furadantin, Macrobid, Macrodantin, minocycline, Septra and tetracycline. Bactrim and Macrobid have been associated with birth defects such as heart problems and brain malformations. Other risks when taking unsafe antibiotics are cleft lip and palate. Tetracyclines are not safe to use after the 15th week because they can affect the infant’s teeth. Azithromycin, metronidazole, and clarithromycin increased the risk of miscarriage when used during the first trimester.
Communicate with your doctor
Communication with your healthcare provider is key when deciding the right course of action for your infection. Your doctor knows which ones are safe to prescribe, considering not just the antibiotics but also drug interactions if you are taking other medications. He or she knows the safe dosage to treat your condition. Describe all your symptoms, your allergies, and other medical conditions. If there are side effects, be clear about them with your doctor as well.
Doctors are encouraged to be more responsible when prescribing antibiotics to pregnant women. They should only use them for confirmed infections, prevention of increasing infection and prevention of the early onset of sepsis. If possible, antibiotics should be avoided during the first trimester. Safe, narrow-spectrum antibiotics at their lowest dose are also best to use. Thus, there is no need to be afraid of using antibiotics when pregnant because your healthcare provider knows the guidelines for them to prescribe to patients with specialized needs such as yours. For your convenience, you can obtain antibiotics online UK retailers supply without any hassle.
