Nitrofurantoin antibiotics at 33 weeks pregnant

[inwiththerosemary]

Hi,
I’ve been prescribed nitrofurantoin due to penicillin allergy, due to enterococcus strain UTI.

I am 33 weeks pregnant and seeing conflicting information about the safety of this antibiotic so close to the end of pregnancy. My GP has said it’s more risky closer to term but a lot online says otherwise.

has anyone else used this medicine at this stage of pregnancy and did everything turn out ok?

thanks!

I'm 31 weeks and just finished a course of these..... also for a UTI and also because of a penicillin allergy

I believe after 37 weeks NICE guidelines prohibit. I was on them for weeks in my last pregnancy and I went through all the guidelines then. I admit my DS is now 3 so it may have changed in the meantime. I was also prescribed nitrofurantoin due to a penicillin allergy. You need your GP/MW to refer you to a urogynae ASAP. I was moved onto cefalexin.

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/urinary-tract-infection-lower-women/prescribing-information/nitrofurantoin/#pregnancy-breastfeeding

It's changed to third trimester now so no I wouldn't be taking them. If your GP can't prescribe anything else you need an urgent referral to a urogynae.

thanks. Cefalexin won’t work for this particular strain of bacteria unfortunately. I was also prescribed trimethroprim, also ineffective for this strain and also have side effects from that one (peeling skin!)

I took it my whole pregnancy, until I switched to cefalexin at 37 weeks. I was told the risk is basically theoretical, and that a poorly treated UTI was more risky. Ideally you don't give birth for 2 weeks after stopping nitro.

@inwiththerosemary if it means anything my DS was born on time and has had no health issues (touch wood!) so hasn't done him any harm. I was moved to the cefalexin by around 28 weeks so before you are now, I had been on the nitrofurantoin for more or less 6-7 weeks though by that point. I'd definitely push for the referral though.