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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Alternatives to antibiotics for c-section recovery?

17 replies

shambala · 26/07/2006 14:12

I have placenta praevia and so need to have a c-section in about 4 weeks. I have been told that I will be given antibiotics as a matter of course to prevent any infection in the wound. I had antibiotics in the first few weeks of my daughters life and they caused her terrible problems. As a result I really want to avoid having to take them. Has anyone come across any natural alternative??

OP posts:

Medulla · 26/07/2006 14:15

You could refuse them and take them if you get an infection. Also which AB's are they going to prescribe? The same ones? Tell them that you had a rough time on them last time and they might give you differnet ones. I can't help you on the natural alternatives except to say keep your wound nice and clean, I think tea tree oil or lavender added to a bath is good.

Medulla · 26/07/2006 14:16

Forgot to say good luck

southeastastra · 26/07/2006 14:20

do you mean they caused you problems?

DominiConnor · 26/07/2006 14:52

I would say at this point that post natal antibiotics have more dramatically affected the life expectancy of women & babies as about pretty much every other medical advance put together.

Tea tree and other low quality so called "natural" biocides may help a little to keep the wound clean. I doubt it, and regard people who try that as objects of pity. Even if worked, if you get to the point where bath water is penetrating a post operative wound then you are in deep trouble.
And to be effective the biocide has to get in, since even a 100% sterile exterior wound doesn't help much with the bugs that will have got in from the surgery, including those from other bits of your body.

I am allergic to pennicillin, and being given the stuff at birth nearly killed me, and I will have the side effects for the rest of my life, so I'm not blind to their risks. But "natural" alternatives to antibiotics are not even slightly risk free.
It's fine to play hippy happy natural love with small cuts on your hand, or if you're feeling a bit slow that day. But turning down antibiotics after surgery is more a case for evolution in action than rational choice.

bluejelly · 26/07/2006 15:05

I really don't think there is an alternative to antibiotics. What probs did they cause you dd last time?

Medullathestalker · 26/07/2006 15:15

I have had 2 CS and was not given AB's after either of them nor did I go on to have wound infections. I worked ona gynae ward for a number of years and while I didn't look after women following CS I did look after women who had undergone other major surgical operations. It depended on the surgeon as to whether they gave AB's post op. Some treated infectionsif they developed some believed using AB's would prevent post op infections.

DominiConnor · 26/07/2006 17:50

Just because you wewre lucky enough to get away with it, hardly makes it a safe option to refuse critical drugs after surgery.

It is true the medics are not consisten about ABs.
But when I hear the word "natural remedy" I hear people trying to second guess qualified people.

Can you fix a broken video recorder ?
Much simpler than the human body.
If I offered a "natural remedy" do you think it would work ?
As it happens Pennicillin is a natural remedy.
You recall how it was discovered ?

TuttiFrutti · 26/07/2006 17:51

Like Medulla, I had a C-section last year and antibiotics were never mentioned. I didn't do anything special to keep the wound clean, just bathed once a day and after about a week my community midwife pulled the stitches out. I never had any infections, so I don't know why you have been told you need antibiotics - maybe different hospitals just have different procedures.

Medullathestalker · 26/07/2006 17:58

I'm not aware that luck had anything to do with it.

southeastastra · 26/07/2006 17:59

i had placenta previa too and was glad of the antibiotics tbh

Original poster

shambala · 26/07/2006 19:35

Thanks Medulla & Tuttifrutti - good to hear they aren't necessarily routinely prescribed. My stitches got infected after my first birth and I was given Amoxycillin & then Metronidazole to clear the infection up. My daugher, then aged 9 weeks, went from being an utterly placid little baby, to being riddled with thrush - vaginal, stomach & oral which caused her agony. She was treated with everything under the sun but it took 6 months get rid of, and even now aged 18 months whenever she is under the weather it comes back. Hence why I am keen to avoid a repeat!

OP posts:

Ellbell · 26/07/2006 20:00

I had a CS for placenta praevia and was also NOT given ABs. I had pain killers (just paracetomol after the first day) and an anti-inflammatory (voltarol?), but nothing else. ABs were never mentioned. Had no problems with my wound at all. I would ask why the hospital thinks ABs are necessary and explain why you were reluctant to take them. I thought hospitals were very reluctant to over-prescribe ABs and would avoid it unless really necessary. Obviously, if you do have an infection it's a different matter, and it may be necessary to take them. But as a purely precautionary measure, I'm not sure.

Asur · 26/07/2006 20:22

just thought I would share my experience. I had emergency c-section and they didn't really tell me much (after 57hrs of contractions every 2mins, I wasn't in a fit state to listen anyway) but I found out after that they gave me antibiotics in a drip right after the operation. If they'd asked me or read my notes (which they didn't read till I was leaving the hospital 36hrs later!) they wouldn't have given me them as I didn't want any. I personally go with the opinion that AB's should only be given if an infection occurs - it would be spotted fairly early anyway I would imagine.

I would just make it very clear that you don't want them and check they don't sneakily give you them in a drip

Ellbell · 26/07/2006 22:51

Is it possible that there's a difference between emergency CS and elective? I'm not a health professional, but is it possible that there's a greater risk of infection with the former (possibly if you've been in labour before having the CS)? With your elective, shambala, you won't be in labour and there will be plenty of time to prep you for the surgery etc. Dunno... just a thought.

Waswondering · 26/07/2006 23:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mears · 26/07/2006 23:23

It has been the recommendation for quite a number of years that a single dose of antibiotic is given intravenously once the baby has been delivered during C/S. This has been proven to reduce the number of wound infections post delivery. I would be surprised if that did not happen with everyone on this thread as it is recommended practice. It is still possible to develop a wound infection and that is when a whole course would be given.

Shambala - I can understand your concern but I wouldn't want to take the risk of developing a serious wound infection. It might be helpful for you to take probiotics to avoid the development of thrush.

jcscot · 27/07/2006 10:00

If I may just butt into the thread with a fresh question...

What would be the procedure if the patient has an allergy to antibiotics? I'm awaiting a decision on whether or not I'll have an elective c-section for medical reasons and I'm allergic to some antibiotics (penicillen, erythromycin, cefuroxime, doxycillin and ciprofloxacin).

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