antibiotics - safe?

[Lavitabellissima]

I am 28+2 and have had splitting ear ache since last Thursday. I can't eat, as when I chew, it feels like I'm being stabbed in the head with a rusty knife I am living on soup and hot drinks, hardly healthy

I went to the doctors on Thurs and although the Dr was really nice - she didn't want to give me anything as I'm pregnant, fair enough

By Sunday I was crying with pain and went to the NHS walk in centre - Dr gave me hydrocortisone ear drops with instructions of 1 drop twice a day (normal application for non - pregnant women 3 drops 4 times a day)

It is now Wednesday so it's nearly a week of being so miserable and in pain, I have booked another Doctors appointment at 11.30am.

Do I ask for antibiotics? I am pregnant with twins and they are obviously my first priority. It really hurts

Any advice?

Hello - sorry to hear you're feeling rubbish. There are definitely antibiotics you can take safely. I have taken amoxycillin twice in this pregnancy for gum infections (which is actually penecillin) and there's no problem with that. I don't like taking drugs atall but if you're really in pain then go for it.
Although your babies are obviously the most important thing, your wellbeing is important too. IMO it's better for the little ones if you're feeling well.
Hope you feel well soon x

There will always be a risk/benefit comparison when it comes to taking anything in pregnancy - did your GP explain why she didn't want to prescribe AB's? Was it because you're pregnant or because she doesn't prescribe AB's for ear infections (when DD had one the GP suggested they had new advice that AB's shouldn't be prescribed routinely for these)?

Either way, if it were me I'd want to understand what specific risks she's concerned about wrt the babies, and what specific risks I was exposed to by having a raging ear infection that wasn't clearing up - plus how likely the AB's would be to resolve it more quickly.

Finger's crossed you feel better soon, though, one way or another.

Thanks Smithy,

I just am worried that if I insist on antibiotics for my own pain, something will happen to the babies and I won't be able to forgive myself

Hopefully it will be a nice helpful doctor today

some anti-biotics, such as penicillin based anti-biotics (aka amoxil, amoclav) are safe in pregnancy. i think it is best to ask your doctor anyway. hope you feel better.

I suffer from recurrant ear infections :( I got an infection when I was about 7 weeks pg and spoke to my GP and she gave me ear drops and antibiotics. She said the antibiotics were fine for me to take (although I forget which one she gave me). I tried the drops alone and luckily they did the trick as I caught it early (from experience I've worked out with me if I treat it as soon as it comes I can get away with drops usually without proper oral antibiotics) so I didn't take the antibiotics. But since they are super strict with giving any med in the 1st trimester and they gave me no questions no quibbles antibiotics I'd say second trimester should be even safer to take them (if there is such a thing as safe!).

Btw has the doc taken a swab from your ear? If they do this they send it to the lab to find out what infection you have and from that can give you a specific antibiotic targeted to your infection. They don't seem to like doing this nearly as often as they should and just tend to prescribe a generic 'cures most things' antibiotic but it's possible that this won't work and you'll end out on another antibiotics anyway. If you're really really worried about taking anything and can hold out for another couple of days then get a swab taken so you know if you're going to have to take antibiotics at least they will work! But I'd say take the medicine - ear infections are horrible and I sympathise.

I just looked up antibiotics in my miriam stoppard pg book which gives different drugs and the potential effect on the baby and it says 'most are safe' so so long as your GP knows you're pg I can't see an issue.

Thanks everyone, that really helps, especially what Angels said about the swab.

I'll let you know the outcome at the doctors

I hope they are as I have just finished a course for a UTI, and it looks like I need different or stronger ones as it hasn't cleared.

I think if there is a risk that the infection could spread causing more problems, then they will prescribe them, but if it is something that can be treated without then they do try to avoid them.
But that is just my thinking, which isn't always very logical sorry.

DOn't worry, as previous poster said, you can take amoxycllin. I took it at 6 weeks pg, am now nearly 20 wks and on another 10-day course for a UTI. Not happy about it but the consultant has said there was no risk to baby, whereas there is a risk from not treating infections.

Thanks Ladies,

Dr prescribed me amoxycilin, and it already feels a bit better better today