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Antibiotics and babies

6 replies

Nic1000 · 28/02/2008 21:26

My daughter was prescribed both antibiotic drops and broad spectrum oral antibiotics for an eye infection a couple of days ago. Problem is now she has nasty green poo, a gurling belly and has developed nappy rash for the first time since she was born 4 months ago. GP has said green poo is likely to be a reaction to disturbance of gut flora due to antibiotics.

Am kicking myself for giving her the oral antibiotics without just trying the topical drops first but her eye was really swollen so we took her to A&E and this is what she was prescribed. I really didn't want to give her antibiotics so early in life and have spent the last hour looking at the internet about studies linking allergies such as asthma to early exposure to antibiotics and making myself feel very guilty for giving them to her. I would love to just stop the oral antibiotics but I know I shouldn't.

Is there anything I can do to rebalance her gut bacteria? (I breastfeed 99% of time with the occasional bottle of Aptamil at 10-11pm)

Poor thing has had a terrible 2 weeks - 2 colds, her first real accident (a bump to the head) an eye infection and now nappy rash. :-(. Have been feeding her lots in the hope of killing whatever is in her system and trying to undo some of the damage caused by antibiotics. Wondering if I should stop the occasional bottle of formula too whilst she is on the antibiotics?

OP posts:
constancereader · 28/02/2008 21:31

Feeding lots is ideal I would think. Don't beat yourself up about giving the antibiotics - we all tend to trust the health professionals who look after us. Her gut will soon be back to normal with the breastfeeding.

intravenouscoffee · 28/02/2008 21:46

You can get probiotic drops from the chemist, infacol make them. Quite pricey (£10 a bottle) but should help to rebalance things if you're worried. If she was seen at A and E and prescribed oral antibiotics and drops then it's likely the infection was quite a nasty one and you definitely did the right thing giving her the antibiotcs (sorry, nurse in my spare time). The BF will be ideal too. Hope she feels better soon and don't panic too much about studies on the internet, the breastfeeding alone will significantly lower her risk of allergies and asthma and it's a vv small risk anyway.

babyinarms · 28/02/2008 21:48

If her eye was that swollen she probably needs oral antibiotics too, so dont beat yourself up about it.
I remember when DS was few months old, after dose of gastro, I bought him some probiotic powder in the chemist called RESTORE . You put a sachet in his feed daily and it helps restore friendly bacteria in the gut. Worth a go i think.

emandjules · 28/02/2008 21:50

our daughter was born low birth weight and got a nasty eye infection in special care. The doctor told us that some eye infections needs systemic (oral ) antib as well as eye drops. Don't beat yourself up about it. DD had nasty poo aswell and is now five with no allergies or anything.

babyinarms · 28/02/2008 21:54

PS: I think you would feel worse if you didnt give her the antibiotics and the infection got worse.

Nic1000 · 29/02/2008 10:52

Yes thats true babyinarms. Thanks for the suggestions everyone I will try and buy some probiotics today

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