Antibiotic and pregnancy. Is it safe for a pregnant woman to use an antibiotic?

Antibiotics are a group of drugs that act as bacteriostatic (block the multiplication of microorganisms) or bactericidal (cause the destruction of microorganisms). They are used for bacterial or fungal infections. Although they are widely recognized as safe and low-toxicity drugs, they cannot always be used. Particular caution should be exercised by women who are expecting a baby, since an antibiotic during pregnancy can harm the developing fetus.

Is it okay to take an antibiotic while pregnant?

The use of any drug during pregnancy (even over-the-counter ones) should be consulted with a doctor. Some pharmaceuticals cannot be taken by pregnant women due to the risk of fetal harm or the lack of studies on the effect of a particular drug on the fetus. The same is true of antibiotics.

Antibiotic in pregnancy can be used in consultation with a doctor only if there are strict medical indications for it. These primarily include bacterial infections. Most often they involve the respiratory system or urinary tract. The doctor diagnoses them on the basis of a physical examination and laboratory tests (blood tests and culture of a throat swab or urine sample). In such cases, an antibiotic is the only effective treatment.

Antibiotic in pregnancy is also used for:

• pyelonephritis,
• determination of carriage of group B streptococcus – administered during childbirth,
• Sexually transmitted diseases (e.g., chlamydiosis, cysticercosis),
• other serious medical conditions.

Which antibiotic in pregnancy is safe?

It is not true that every antibiotic during pregnancy is dangerous to the health of the fetus. There is a group of drugs that have been thoroughly tested for this, and the benefits of their use far outweigh the adverse effects. Whether a particular antibiotic is safe during pregnancy also depends on the age of the pregnant woman. Particular care should be taken especially in the first trimester, as this is when all the major organs are being formed.

A woman should always inform her doctor that she is expecting a baby. This will allow him to match a safe antibiotic tailored to the age of pregnancy, which will not endanger the future mother and her baby. They are:

• penicillin,
• 2nd generation cephalosporin,
• ampicillin,
• amoxicillin,
• erythromycin,
• cefuroxime,
• Azithromycin (if necessary and only after the first trimester),
• metronidazole.

Worth reading: How to prevent and treat the flu during pregnancy?

Antibiotics banned during pregnancy

There are also antibiotics that are not safe during pregnancy and the mother-to-be should not take them. It is not advisable to use:

• tetracycline,
• doxycycline,
• tobramycin,
• streptomycin,
• sulfonamides.

Antibiotic in pregnancy – side effects

Some antibiotics in pregnancy can cause side effects. They more often affect the fetus than the pregnant woman. Research on the drugs confirms that they can cause serious malformations, premature birth and even fetal death. In contrast, in a woman, antibiotic therapy can result in an allergic reaction, gastrointestinal complaints (vomiting, diarrhea), vaginal candid iasis and oral fungus.

Any worrisome symptoms that appeared after taking an antibiotic during pregnancy, a woman should immediately report to her doctor. Especially if they are: bleeding from the genital tract, severe abdominal pain or uterine cramps. It is then necessary to perform tests to assess the condition of the fetus.

See also: Cough during pregnancy – does it harm the baby?