You will find diverse opinions and suggestions regarding the use of antibiotics during pregnancy. Even doctors contradict themselves sometimes: one doctor may allow you to take a certain drug, while another may recommend avoiding it. So what should you do? First of all, don’t trust all the information you find on forums or advice from other mothers: even if you are ensured that a certain antibiotic has had no secondary effects on a pregnant woman, it is not a proof that you will be safe from any risks. This way, it is important not to take antibiotics during your pregnancy unless there is no other treatment option and when the doctor tells you that the risk is low. Under no circumstances should you start an antibiotic treatment for a simple cold!
In certain situations, for instance when you have a risky infection, you will have to take antibiotics, but only when the doctor allows you to and only the pills you have information about and which have been on the market for a long time. In the case of recent pills, it is possible not to know the exact long-term effect, so don’t take antibiotics that are not considered safe.
Avoid taking antibiotics during the first trimester of pregnancy as much as possible, because any factor may influence and decide the ulterior development of the baby. However, in the case of certain conditions or infections that may harm you and your fetus more than the possible effect of the drug, you don’t really have a choice. The drugs, as well as other substances, have risks in the development of the fetus because these substances go through the placenta and reach the baby. During the first trimester, the fetus is more vulnerable to certain substances, because its organs are in development and any risk factors may harm more than after this trimester of pregnancy.
What should you do?
The most important aspect is avoiding to get sick! In order to do this, you should take certain elementary precaution measures: avoid crowded places or populated places where you may contact a virosis. Avoid standing in the cold, rain, snow, moisture; keep the hands’ hygiene, a clean house, without dust. If you have pets that go out, you should wash them when they enter the house – otherwise, wash your hands every time you touch the animal.
In order to keep an elevated immunity, adopt a diet as varied as possible, have frequent meals which include all the proteins, minerals and necessary vitamins. In addition, take nutritive supplements and multivitamin complexes.
However, in the case of risky infections, it is impossible for you not to take antibiotics during the pregnancy. Which are these infections? Bacterial vaginitis, listeriosis, hepatitis B, gonorrhea, syphilis, toxoplasmosis and infections of the urinary tract – these are common infections that may appear during pregnancy and which require antibiotic treatment, because untreated, they present a high risk of affecting the fetus’s development or even transmitting to the fetus.
Some antibiotics that have existed on the market for a long time have been tested – they contain ingredients about which everything is known; they are considered safe and they are the most recommended by the doctors: penicillin, cindamicin, erythromycin and cephalosporin. Penicillin is a type of riskless antibiotic, frequently used even during pregnancy in treating certain infections and virosis. Cephalosporin is also considered amongst the antibiotics having low risks during pregnancy. Another type of antibiotic frequently used and considered safe during pregnancy is macrolide, which is efficient in treating certain infections.
Antibiotics to avoid during pregnancy
The category of antibiotics called sulphonamides has high risks since the substances go through the placenta and affect the fetus. Avoid all treatments with such medicines. Another series of forbidden antibiotics is tetracycline: they go through the placenta and they are toxic for the fetus. Avoid such drugs both during the pregnancy, as well as while you breastfeed. Another type of antibiotics during the pregnancy that should be forbidden is chloramphenicol because it presents risks in the fetus’s development – the substances being toxic.
This article has only presented some general information, but you have to consult your doctor when it comes to drugs during the pregnancy – not only antibiotics, but also supplements and teas. Get information on the types and actions of the diverse medicines and follow the doctor’s recommendation. Never try to treat yourself with pills or teas!