Antibiotics in pregnancy

Many women who are expecting a baby are interested in the question: can antibiotics be used during pregnancy? The answer to this question is not entirely clear: yes and no.

Among the huge list of existing antibiotics, there are enough drugs that are approved for use during pregnancy, since their effect on the embryo is not dangerous. However, there are also drugs that should be avoided.

It is also necessary to avoid the irrational use of antibacterial drugs, taking them without special need: for example, for a cold or acute respiratory viral infection.

[ 1 ], [ 2 ], [ 3 ]

Indications for antibiotics during pregnancy

The use of antibiotics during pregnancy should be entirely justified and appropriate. It is unacceptable to use antibiotics for preventive purposes during pregnancy, as well as to take them without a doctor's prescription or to change the dose and frequency of taking the drug.

Antibiotics for pyelonephritis during pregnancy

Pyelonephritis often occurs in women during pregnancy, which is facilitated by the heavy load on the renal system. Treatment procedures for this disease cannot be postponed.

Usually, the doctor prescribes antispasmodics, analgesics, antiseptics, as well as antibiotics from the list approved for pregnant women. These are ampicillin, methicillin, kanamycin, cephalosporin drugs. Antimicrobial therapy for pyelonephritis should be carried out in a hospital under the supervision of a doctor.

[ 4 ], [ 5 ], [ 6 ], [ 7 ]

Antibiotics for sinusitis during pregnancy

Sinusitis is not a disease that affects the outcome of pregnancy, but it causes a lot of discomfort to a woman. Antibiotics are not always prescribed for this disease: sometimes it is enough to restore normal breathing and ensure the discharge of mucous masses from the sinuses. Of the antibiotics, amoxicillin may well be prescribed if its use is justified.

[ 8 ], [ 9 ], [ 10 ], [ 11 ], [ 12 ], [ 13 ]

Antibiotics for polyhydramnios

Polyhydramnios is when the amount of amniotic fluid exceeds the permissible levels. This condition is often provoked by infectious or viral pathologies involving chlamydia, mycoplasma bacteria, and cytomegalovirus. If polyhydramnios is caused by an infectious agent, then antibiotic therapy is indispensable, otherwise it may pose a risk of fetal infection.

[ 14 ], [ 15 ], [ 16 ], [ 17 ], [ 18 ], [ 19 ], [ 20 ]

Antibiotics for cystitis during pregnancy

An inflammatory reaction in the bladder during pregnancy is dangerous because the process can easily spread to the uterus and significantly complicate or damage the course of pregnancy. As a rule, pregnant women with cystitis are prescribed only one of two approved drugs - amoxiclav and monural. The latter is most preferable due to the wide range of action and effectiveness of the drug.

[ 21 ], [ 22 ], [ 23 ]

Antibiotic for cough during pregnancy

Cough is a symptom of some disease (viral, allergic, and only sometimes infectious). Therefore, antibiotics for cough are not always necessary. If the cough is a consequence of bacterial bronchitis or pneumonia, then the use of antibiotic therapy is justified. The drug is prescribed by a doctor, taking into account the sensitivity of the pathogen flora to antibiotics.

[ 24 ], [ 25 ], [ 26 ], [ 27 ], [ 28 ], [ 29 ], [ 30 ]

What antibiotics can be taken during pregnancy?

First of all, it is important to remember that buying and taking medications on your own without consulting a doctor is absolutely unacceptable. This is especially true during pregnancy.

Among the medications that are allowed to be taken, there are those that can be taken throughout the entire period of pregnancy, or only at certain stages.

Antibiotics allowed during pregnancy:

• penicillin series (do not negatively affect the quality and development of the embryo). This series includes drugs ampicillin, oxacillin, amoxicillin, ampiox, etc.;
• cephalosporin series (have the ability to penetrate the placental barrier, but do not have a toxic effect on the unborn baby). Cephalosporins include ceftriaxone, suprax, cefazolin;
• macrolide series (in certain cases, allowed during pregnancy, at the discretion of the doctor). These are drugs such as erythromycin, oleandomycin, roxithromycin, telithromycin, azithromycin (sumamed), etc.;
• aminoglycoside series (gentamicin). It is used only in very severe cases with mandatory strict calculation of the drug dosage. If the dosage is not observed and if used without supervision, it can cause hearing impairment in the baby.

The Effect of Antibiotics on Pregnancy

Unfortunately, illnesses always come when you least expect them. And even during pregnancy, when it is extremely undesirable to get sick and take medications, you have to see a doctor and use antibiotic therapy.

Antibacterial drugs, in addition to the therapeutic effect, can also have an undesirable effect. Everyone knows the toxic effect of medications on the liver, intestinal microflora, and immune defense functions. All this can affect the overall health of the pregnant woman.

The effect of antimicrobial therapy on the embryo depends quite strongly on the gestation period, because it determines how protected the fetus is from the effects of negative factors. Antibiotics in early pregnancy are dangerous because at this time the embryo does not yet have the level of protection that the placenta can provide. Therefore, any substances, both useful and not so, will definitely get to the developing fetus.

Antibiotics in the first weeks of pregnancy should be prescribed only by a doctor who is competent in matters of taking medications by pregnant women. However, sometimes it happens that a woman takes antibiotics in the first days of pregnancy, not suspecting her "interesting" condition. The first days are the period of fertilization of the egg and implantation of the ovum. If you are worried about this, in such cases it would not be superfluous to consult a doctor and do several control ultrasounds, as well as take hCG to monitor whether the dynamics of the process are not disturbed.

Taking antibiotics in late pregnancy is possible, in principle, because at this stage the fetus is already formed and sufficiently protected by the placental barrier. However, there are drugs that easily penetrate this barrier and harm the child. Therefore, the choice of the necessary antibiotic should be made by a specialist.

Let's evaluate the possibility of using antibacterial drugs step by step:

Antibiotics in the first trimester of pregnancy

The first trimester is the beginning of the birth of a new person, the formation of tissues and systems of the embryo. At this stage, the baby is not yet protected at all, and any drug can cause irreparable harm. It is for this reason that most drugs, including antibacterial ones, are prohibited.

[ 31 ], [ 32 ]

Antibiotics in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy

At this stage, the main organ systems of the embryo are already defined. The second trimester is the stage of development of the brain and reproductive system, the best time to use approved antibiotics. The fetus at this time is already quite independent and quite capable of protecting itself.

[ 33 ], [ 34 ], [ 35 ], [ 36 ]

Antibiotics in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy

III trimester – the baby is almost formed, now its organs and systems are only improving. During this period, you can take antibacterial drugs from the list of drugs approved for pregnancy, so as not to provoke the appearance of pathologies and developmental anomalies in the child.

[ 37 ], [ 38 ], [ 39 ]

Antibiotics of different groups during pregnancy

Penicillin antibiotics during pregnancy are one of the most well-known and widespread in the world. They have a fairly wide range of effects, and are also often and widely used during pregnancy. Such drugs include ampicillin, amoxicillin, amoxiclav, oxamp and some others.

Amoxiclav during pregnancy is a combined antibiotic consisting of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid. The drug is considered one of the safest antimicrobial agents during pregnancy. It can be prescribed for oral or injection use.

Ceftriaxone during pregnancy is a strong antibiotic that destroys even those pathogens that are resistant to other antimicrobial agents. It is used more often in the second half of pregnancy, using intramuscular injections daily. Ceftriaxone is used for infections of the genitourinary system, respiratory and digestive tracts, skin.

Vilprafen is used during pregnancy for bacterial infectious diseases, mainly urogenital. It is most often used to treat ureaplasma: this pathology is extremely dangerous for both the pregnant woman and her child.

Cefazolin is used during pregnancy only if there are strict indications for the pregnant woman, and only from the second trimester of gestation. It is used to treat pneumonia, osteomyelitis, infections of the joints and bone system, skin, and urinary system.

Amoxicillin during pregnancy is a penicillin antibiotic, does not have a toxic effect on the liver, does not provoke fetal development abnormalities. It is actively used during pregnancy for the treatment of sinusitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, pyelonephritis, lymphadenitis.

Cefotaxime during pregnancy is a cephalosporin antibiotic that is not intended for use during pregnancy.

[ 40 ], [ 41 ], [ 42 ]

Linex during pregnancy after antibiotics

As is known, antibiotics do not have the best effect on the state of intestinal microflora, especially long-term use of drugs is detrimental to it. Bowel disorders, abdominal pain, flatulence, indigestion - these are manifestations of dysbacteriosis. In order to prevent the development of such a condition, you should discuss with your doctor the possibility of taking drugs that normalize intestinal flora before taking antibiotics. Such drugs include Linex - an effective and safe drug during pregnancy. It contains bifidobacteria, lactobacilli, enterococci, restores the level of beneficial microflora, while maintaining the body's immunity. The drug is well tolerated, has no side effects and contraindications (except for lactose intolerance).

However, even regarding such a safe remedy as Linex, you should consult a specialist. Perhaps in your case some other drug would be appropriate, for example, bifiform, lactobacterin, acipol, enterol, bifidum-bacterin or eubicor.

Planning a pregnancy after antibiotics

Before planning a pregnancy, most doctors recommend treating all chronic diseases of both the expectant mother and the father to avoid their exacerbation during pregnancy. And this is correct. However, often the treatment of such diseases is impossible without high-quality antibiotic therapy. What to do?

Reproductive specialists often insist that the start of planning should be determined no earlier than 2 months after the completion of antibiotic therapy. Pregnancy after the husband's antibiotics can be planned no earlier than three months later. Why? Antibacterial drugs do not have the best effect on the condition of sperm: their structure and structure are disrupted, there is a risk of developing embryonic development disorders. It is important that such altered sperm leave the body before conception, and it will take exactly 2.5-3 months for the renewal of male sperm.

Some types of antibiotics may not affect sperm quality: to clarify the situation, you need to consult a reproductive specialist.

Can a pregnancy test be wrong when using antibiotics? Definitely not, the test results do not depend on the use of antibacterial agents: the test strip reacts to the level of the human hCG hormone, and the antibiotic does not affect the hormonal background. A test error can be caused by a low sensitivity threshold of the test strip, or too early testing.

Doctors do not welcome the prescription of any medications during pregnancy. However, if a doctor has prescribed antibiotics during pregnancy, it means that there is a real need for this. It is much wiser to cure a dangerous disease in time than to wait until the infection affects the unborn little person.

Antibiotics Contraindicated During Pregnancy

During pregnancy, it is better to refuse any medications, especially antibiotics, and take them only in case of urgent need. There are drugs that, due to their properties, in addition to treating the expectant mother, can also have a negative impact on the developing baby. You should know the names of such drugs and avoid using them.

• tetracycline series (has a toxic effect on the embryo, can accumulate in the child's skeletal system). Such drugs include doxycycline, morphocycline, and, in fact, tetracycline.
• fluoroquinolone series (drugs in this group have not undergone clinical trials for their impact on the developing fetus, so their use is risky). The most popular of these drugs are ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, nadifloxacin, pefloxacin.
• chloramphenicol series (can provoke the development of certain types of anemia and hematopoiesis disorders).
• nitrofuran series (furadonin, furazolidone). May cause hemolytic anemia and methemoglobinemia in a child.
• quinoxaline series (experimentally proven embryotoxic effect, negatively affecting the embryo and capable of damaging the fetus). Dioxidine is one of these drugs.
• sulfanilamide series (contraindicated during pregnancy). These are the drugs Biseptol, Bactrim, Oriprim, Trixazole, Novotrimed, Oribact, Bactrizol.

[ 43 ], [ 44 ]