antibiotics during pregnancy - 'safe' but would you?

[heartinthecountry]

Went to the doctor yesterday who has diagnosed me with sinusitus and prescribed amoxycillin. Have been pretty ill over the last 2 weeks with flu/cold/cough bug. Now do have quite bad sinus pain and headaches. I am 17 weeks pregnant.

However, although I know it is 'safe' to take amoxycillin, i am a bit reluctant to take it. I generally try and avoid antibiotics and although I know it won't harm the baby, I do feel a bit strange about effectively giving antibiotics to the baby before it is even born. Does anyone know if it will cross the placenta (assuming it will) and if it could possibly affect the baby's resistance to antibiotics in the future? Or have any other effect?

On the other hand, would it be negligent of me not to take them as if I get really ill maybe that would be worse for the baby?

Would just appreciate some thoughts. thanks

Hi

I took antibiotics when PG with DD (now 17 months) for Rosacea - a horrible inflamatory skin condition. Apart from looking really unsightly my chin was so inflamed and full of pustules that the pain was keeping me awake at night - as well as making me really miserable. so I did take some antibiotics (cant remember which?) for quite a while and I felt a bit bad but definitely couldnt have carried on without them. DD is absolutely fine (i'd like it if she slept more!) but she has been very healthy so far. So I would take them as I'm sure you wont need them for that long and you are also over the first 12 weeks. You deserve to feel better for your sake and the baby.

HTH

i wouldn't take them myself personally but because i've got a 21 month dd i had to take cocodamol (paracetamol + codein) to help me get through the day whilst i've been ill (i wouldn't even touch paracetamol whilst pg with dd). try to just drink loads and loads of water to clean your system out, this really helped me and rest whenever you can. it's really hard being ill when you're pg.

I used to work for a pharmaceutical company, not on antibiotics, but I have answered this question for other drugs lots of times.

OK, first off you cannot do clinical trials on PG women, so drugs cannot be marketed for use in PG women but drug companies know that they are used by PG women.

Doctors are required to report any abnormality in the baby to the company. The company then has to pass that information on the the comittee on the safty of medicines. Both the company and the CSM will be looking to see if there is any pattern of abnormalities and how often they crop up.

One of the drug I used to work on was considered safe in PG, because there was no pattern of abnormalities in babies born to mums who had taken it. In addition abnormailities were not happening any more often in these mums thna in those who hasn't taken any meds

Regarding the 'will my baby be immune to antibiotics' I can say that will not happen. It isn't the person who becomes immune to the antibiotic, but the bactria

THis is a case of a risk benefit decision.....there is a tiny risk if you are treated, and a risk if you are not treated.

When I worked for the drug company were were damn sure that it was ok to use before we would say so

HTH