Antibiotics after waters broke

[northlils]

My waters broke last night at 33 weeks, the doctors have decided as my DS doesn't seem to be in a rush & it's too early for me to deliver .. to put me on a course of antibiotics to prevent infections.
Just got home and was telling my friend about this, and she swears that antibiotics affect a child's health in later life 😭
Has anyone else been on a course of antibiotics for this sort of thing?
Sorry, just a very emotional mum here! TIA xx

Some antibiotics shouldn’t be used in pregnancy but a doctor would only prescribe the safe ones.

It is very common for pregnant women to have antibiotics for some reason or other. And their babies turn out fine.

If you are worried then you could look at giving your baby some baby probiotics after birth, as this will help rebuild any gut flora that might have been affected. But I really really don’t think you need to worry.

I'd assume you'd be given penicillin which is safe to take during pregnancy.
Here's what the NHS says about antibiotics in pregnancy
www.nhs.uk/conditions/antibiotics/considerations/

Just got home and was telling my friend about this, and she swears that antibiotics affect a child's health in later life 😭**

I would reconsider my friendship. What kind of a friend says this to someone who's waters have broken so early

The anti biotics you have been given will be safe for pregnancy, you can check with any pharmacist for piece of mind if it helps.

Good luck and I hope your wee one stays out for a few weeks yet

Your friend is uneducated and an idiot. This is completely normal practice and is safe, not having the antibiotics would risk an infection that could ultimately kill your baby in the worst case scenario. You’ve done the right thing for your baby, ignore your friend and I hope the rest of the pregnancy goes smoothly for you

I think you should take the advice of the hospital over the words of a friend OP. I’ve known two women whose waters broke a couple of days before their births and antibiotics were necessary, both of the children are in perfect health now at aged 5 and 2.

Good luck to you. I hope you can keep him in place for a couple more weeks!

Is your friend a paediatrician?

A doctor will only prescribe ones safe for use in pregnancy and you will need them .
My waters broke at 27 weeks managed to keep him in until 32 weeks and even then I got an infection that rushed around my body after delivery that put me in icu.
Ditch the friend she's useless.

Does your friend have a medical degree? Specifically in foetal medicine and outcomes?

No?

Ignore her and take the pills.

Pressed send to early.

I had PPROM at 34 weeks and was on antibiotics until my DD was born at 36 weeks.

She's fine.

Your friend is right to an extent, exposure to the antibiotics will have an impact on your baby's microbiome. But there is a risk vs benefit analysis to be done. You are 33 weeks, being born at this gestation carries a lot of risk such as infection and need for respiratory support. The antibiotics are being prescribed and advised so that your pregnancy can continue for as long as possible while minimising any risk of infection which would put you and your baby at risk. So in this case you need to consider what is the greatest risk to your and your baby, taking them, or not taking them? You can help to promote a healthy gut microbiome for your baby after birth by having lots of skin to skin as early as possible and breastfeeding. If you are unsure about breastfeeding then consider antenatal expressing to be able to give colostrum. This may be something to consider anyway if baby looks like they may be premature.

This is a risk versus benefit decision which has come down on the side of taking the antibiotics. Yes, there is a risk with antibiotics that the gut flora is compromised, research in this area is limited but many people take antibiotics in the normal course of life, around childbirth and often infants need antibiotics if they get sick. In this case, the risks to your baby of infection are greater than the risks associated with antibiotics.

To reduce the impact on you and your baby, you can take probiotics, now and after the birth if you are breastfeeding. You can also look into nutritional support for your gut to ensure that you and your baby's immune system and gut bacteria get as much support as they can.

Breath, talk to your baby and take each step as it come. Wishing you the very best for your imminent arrival.

Thank you everyone for your reassurance & advice
It's so hard as I'm already full of guilt as maybe I've done something I shouldn't have like lifting or ate something that day and my waters broke 🙈
I didn't need the extra guilt of being on antibiotics 😭
Fingers crossed we can keep him in for a little longer xx

My waters broke early with 2 of mine and I needed antibiotics. Both are fine now at 18 and 10 . They were born at 35 weeks and 32 weeks in the end

The last thing you want is to get an infection in your womb. That would be for more dangerous for you and the baby