Antibiotics during pregnancy - pleas help!!

[Amtheyest17]

So I’ve had a suspected UTI for almost two weeks now. I went to the Drs on Monday and did a dip test, she said there were some white blood cells but no signs of nitrate. She prescribed antibiotics and said to see how I go & wait for the culture results. Unfortunately they haven’t come yet! I’m dead against taking anti bs unless there is deffo an infection as I am terrified (maybe irrationally) of antibiotics resistance and took them a lot when I was younger for various things but I’ve noticed this evening that the discomfort has gotten worse and I’ve started to feel nauseous & a bit shakey - I could just be cold but I am starting to feel just generally unwell. I hate the idea of taking Anti Bs when haven’t had a positive test for infection but also don’t want to put the baby at risk.

Has anyone else been in this situation? Do I just take them? Assuming people have gone on to have healthy babies after anti bs? She’s prescribed cefaflexin!

When I had a UTI in pregnancy the GP sent me from the surgery to A&E, it’s much more dangerous to have one than to take antibiotics. Doctors have a database for medicines that is safe in pregnancy and they wouldn’t prescribe if they weren’t sure.

I had them three times for UTIs in pregnancy, no idea how far along you are, but I was told they can trigger contractions if they get bad? So it was a no brainer for me, can't remember which ones I had though. I'd rather nip it in bud, UTI's aren't pleasant, I had one at 36 weeks and thought I was in labour due to the back pain. I wasn't thankfully

I just looked up cefalexin in the database I have access to and it is very well studied in pregnancy and considered very safe.

I have never had a uti whilst pregnant but I have suffered from them chronically over the years and have been hospitalised more than once from them.
They can get very bad very quickly, are extremely painful and even worse if/when they hit your kidneys.
Presumably the doctor knows your pregnant so would have prescribed a safe antibiotic for you and baby so I would trust that.
I'd you don't normally take antibiotics it should clear up pretty quickly with a short course; one of the problems I have is because I've had so many infections I need a strong, long course for it to be effective.
Obviously can't give medical advice, but I would trust your doctor and take the antibiotics because the effects of a very bad uti will be worse for you and your baby compared to prescribed antibiotics.

Hope you feel better soon xx

If you take the antibiotics, get yourself some probiotic tablets to restore the good gut bacteria that the antibiotics will kill off. Maintaining a good gut microbiome is important, especially in pregnancy.
You should be able to get Obtibac or similar from the chemist.

You should take the antibiotics. UTI’s are not fun and they can be a worry in pregnancy if left untreated. Hope you’re feeling better soon x

UTIs in pregnancy have a higher rate of complications - the NICE guidelines are very clear about offering an immeadiate prescription of antibiotics. I would be far more concerned about the UTI than taking the antibiotics!!

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/urinary-tract-infection-lower-women/management/uti-in-pregnancy-no-visible-haematuria/

I started antibiotics after a dip test but later the further testing came back all clear. The doctor said just to stop the antibiotics again after a couple of days. There's no point in taking them unnecessarily but if you do have an infection it is so important to start treatment as soon as possible so you won't end up taking a course for much longer without efficient results. That would actually be worse in terms of building resistance. Hope you feel better soon! X

Cephalexin is very safe. I Always took it in my previous pregnancies due to recurrent utis. I now take is every day as a preventive treatment and I am 27 weeks pregnant!
So no worries at all.

I've been suffering with recurrent UTIs for the last 7 weeks, I'm 28 weeks now.
I've been on nitrofurantain and 2 weeks ago was put on a low dose 4 week course of cefalexin. Take the antibiotics. It's only been the last 2 weeks my sample from the lab has showed my infection (e coli) has cleared, it has been a bugger to get rid of. The consultant won't give me a repeat prescription so when I finish the cefalexin in 2 weeks we have to see if it comes back or not. I wouldn't wish a UTI on anyone.

Oh OP check with your GP where they send your samples off to, if it's the same hospital you're going to give birth at call the maternity unit as they will likely have your results. My GP hadn't had any results 2 weeks ago since my first infection 5 weeks earlier. I saw my consultant the next day and they had all of my results, just doesn't look as though they send them off to the GPs very quick!