To ask you to talk sense into me (antibiotics, pregnant)

[MrsPickwick]

After 9 hours in a&e yesterday, I was sent home with antibiotics (co-amoxiclav) for the probable splinter in my knuckle. I'm 14 weeks pregnant. Obviously they've tried reassuring me of its safety, but in the absence of clinical trials, and the presence of 'do not take in pregnancy' warnings on the label and online, I'm scared to take them.

Obviously the consequences of any potential infection if I don't take them would be worse though.

Please talk sense into me. This is my first and probably only pregnancy, and I'm feeling so upset at this situation.

[YokoUhOh]

I had a 10 day course of penicillin a few weeks ago (probably about 24 weeks pregnant) and the baby is kicking away as we speak. (I'd come into contact with Scarlet Fever and had tonsillitis). Not much reassurance, but your baby will be fine. I'll probs have to have IV antibiotics during labour, too, but this is standard.

[BillSykesDog]

Pregnancy and drugs work in the way that there is an assumption you shouldn't take them In pregnancy because the effects in pregnancy aren't known for absolutely certain not because they are known to be harmful.

Basically they won't declare something as 'safe' unless it's been scientifically proven to be very, very safe. Normally this is done by running clinical trials. But running clinical trials on pregnant women is totally unethical and just not done. So for most drugs, they have no way of unequivocally stating 'these are safe for pregnancy' so the advice is not to take them.

In reality there are quite a few drugs that are basically known to be very low risk and doctors are usually happy to prescribe when needed even if the drugs company has covered their arse legally by putting 'do not take in pregnancy' on it.

Normally a doctor will have looked at the known risks of the medication and what it is used to treat and decided that the risk of leaving your condition untreated is a greater threat to you and your baby than any risk posed by using the medication. So I always feel pretty confident as long as it's doctor prescribed.

[icklekid]

I think you have to focus on the fact not taking them would be worse. I'm on several medications for hypermesis (hg) to try and stop sickness and have been since very early pregnancy. None of them are 'recommended' in pregnancy but the alternative is I get very dehydrated and baby suffers. It's not a nice choice but remember ethically they can't test medicines on babies however they won't prescribe anything unless they have a large amount of evidence that it is safe. Take care

[TheodoreEvelynMoseby]

I completely understand how you feel; I had a gum infection when I was 12 weeks pregnant and was prescribed amoxicillin. I was so scared to take them I actually got a second opinion to make sure it was ok.

Everything was fine but it didn't stop me worrying a bit. I think when you are early on you in pregnancy you don't have the reassurance of feeling kicks to make you feel better.

Try not to worry and remember the baby needs you well

[gamerchick]

You went to a&e for a splinter?

[Runner05]

I'm 18 weeks pregnant with my first and only and I've already been on anti b's twice for UTI's.
Pregnant women are constantly getting infections and needing anti b's so I really wouldn't worry. Also at 14 weeks your into the second trimester where you can relax just a little.

Anyway, take the drugs and get better the dr's know what they're doing

[TestingTestingWonTooFree]

Gamerchick I guess this wasn't an ordinary splinter, they don't normally require antibiotics.

[Pippa12]

An infection can be dangerous to your baby too. I had a UTI which caused a threatened pre term labour at 33 weeks. I've also taken Aciclovir for shingles this pregnancy. Thankfully all was well but I would take them if I was you, I think it's your safest option.

[WellErrr]

I don't like taking antibiotics for s variety of reasons.

If it's not infected now, I'd just keep it clean with hibiscrub and dettol, and only take the antibiotics if infection developed.

I thought they'd stopped prescribing them 'as a precaution.' (Not doubting you!)

[gamerchick]

I hope not. We were told not to go to a&e unless it was life threatening over the Easter weekend.

[nam207]

When I was pregnant with DS I was prescribed antibiotics for an infection in my foot. I decided not to take them because of the baby and used salt soaks etc instead. When DS was born he caught an infection from me which he probably wouldn't have if I'd taken the medicine. I'm 27 weeks pregnant again now and if I was prescribed antibiotics this time I'd take them in a flash.

[Fairylea]

I have a kidney condition and take daily long term antibiotics. Took them during both my pregnancies with no issues at all. As you've said its more dangerous not to take them.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

The clinical trials have been done in pregnant digs, cats, cows, pigs and sheep ( pigs been physiologically very similar to humans) for coamoxyclav and it is considered safe as is licenced for pregnant individuals in all these species so that is pretty good transferable information.

[Noodledoodledoo]

I have had to have a general anesthetic and high dose iv penicillin this pregnancy at 15 weeks due to appendicitis. I am being battered from the inside this morning now at 23 weeks.

Completely understand concern but the infection could do a lot more damage.

[CharlW1]

Like Fairylea I on long term anti biotics and take them daily. I took them all through my previous pregnancy with DD and I'm taking them through this one too (28 weeks).
It's so dangerous to get an infection when you're pregnant so I would definitely take them. You wouldn't have been prescribed them if they were not needed.

[boatrace30]

I had three courses of antibiotics in my first trimester for a very stubborn UTI. Baby now 10months and doing well!

[Slowlygettingthehangofthings]

www.medicinesinpregnancy.org/Medicine--pregnancy/Amoxicillin/

For information on medicines in pregnancy you can visit this website. Its written by the UK Teratology information service, which is funded by the Department of Health.
Hope this helps.

[Skittlesss]

I was on antibiotics whilst pregnant and when I queried it with the doctor he said "the baby will be fine, in fact if she was coming early then they would give her these anyway".

[Feeches]

I was on antibiotics for a kidney infection late on in my pregnancy. They were prescribed by a doctor on the labour ward. No ill effects other than thrush. Baby had oral thrush early on which was remedied.

There's more risk from an untreated infection so I would take them. Just take a probiotic supplement once you're finished the course to try and restore the good bacteria in your system.

[chibsortig]

I had to have IV antibiotics for a seriously nasty UTI whilst 7 months pregnant and the only antibiotics that could treat it in pregnancy were via IV. DD is now 14 months.
If you didnt need it they wouldnt prescribe it.

[VinceNoirLovesHowardMoon]

Do you actually have an infection? I'm confused about that.
I would avoid antibiotics in pregnancy unless it was completely necessary. My ds has lacking enamel in his adult teeth which can be caused by antibiotics in pregnancy.

[MrsPickwick]

Thank you all, very very much. I'm going to be sensible and take them. I've also been googling, and weighing the many horror stories that surfaced on MN about the type of injury I have and rapid, scary infections developing, versus the zero horror stories about taking antibiotics while pregnant.

Gamerchick I know, I thought it was ridiculous too at first (I was told to go by a pharmacist), and I can think of lots of better ways to have spent my Easter weekend. The doctors I saw though, made it clear that I was in exactly the right place, and that the waiting til Tuesday for a GP would be dangerous. The splinter is deep inside my joint, and I've lost some function in my hand (only temporarily I hope). I had to be X-rayed and have to go in today for an ultrasound, so I'm guessing they don't think I'm taking the piss.

Thanks so much for the reassurance and sense-talking, everyone

[MrsPickwick]

Vince I don't know - they took blood, but I don't have the results yet. So it did seem at the time like a 'precautionary' prescription- but this was coming from both a consultant and registrar, who both seemed to think that the risk was high because of the nature of the injury. I don't know.

[TheCrumpettyTree]

I had antibiotics for a chest infection during pregnancy.

[Unicow]

What billsykesdog said. Take them and feel better soon. I have taken anti biotics and anti ds during pregnancy and my kids have shown no ill effects. They are into double figures now.