“I am 6 months pregnant and I am suffering from a viral infection. Will the antibiotics have any impact on my baby?”
I am 6 months pregnant and I have been suffering from a viral infection for which the doctor has recommended antibiotics. Will these antibiotics have any effect on my baby?
12 Answers
Antibiotics do not treat viral infections, and all the medications you take may pass to the BB by blood.
Depending upon what antibiotics are given to you not all antibiotics are contraindicated in pregnancy see your doctor
It is a difficult question to answer satisfactorily, but you are well away in pregnancy. The normal antibiotics usage shouldn’t affect the baby.
You never need antibiotics for a viral infection -only for a culture proven bacterial infection. Some antibiotics can have an adverse impact on your baby.
Viral diseases are most dangerous at the beginning and at the end of the pregnancy. Early on, while the baby's organs are not fully developed, viruses can cause developmental anomalies. In the last few weeks of pregnancy, however, the mother's immune system may not have enough time left to clear the virus from the maternal circulation before delivery, and she may give birth to a baby with the virus in her/his blood. The 6th month of the pregnancy is probably the safest time to have a viral infection. The baby has already been fully developed, it just has to keep growing. Also, at six months the maternal immune system will have ample time to clear the virus from the maternal blood, reducing the chances of neonatal viremia (virus in the baby's blood). Even a normal pregnancies brings about changes in the body which
make a pregnant woman more likely to develop complication during a simple viral infection (increased heart rate, increased oxygen consumption, decreased lung capacity, etc.). Your doctor may be worried about a pulmonary bacterial infectious complication and put you on antibiotics as treatment or prevention. There are antibiotics which can safely be used in pregnancy especially in the second trimester. I am sure your doctor is well aware of this.
In summary: Take it easy, your virus should be over in a few more days, however, if you develop shortness of breath, persistent high fever with persistent productive cough, you may need to go to the hospital. At this point in your pregnancy, your uterus is the safest place for your baby to be.
Dr. Miklos Toth
make a pregnant woman more likely to develop complication during a simple viral infection (increased heart rate, increased oxygen consumption, decreased lung capacity, etc.). Your doctor may be worried about a pulmonary bacterial infectious complication and put you on antibiotics as treatment or prevention. There are antibiotics which can safely be used in pregnancy especially in the second trimester. I am sure your doctor is well aware of this.
In summary: Take it easy, your virus should be over in a few more days, however, if you develop shortness of breath, persistent high fever with persistent productive cough, you may need to go to the hospital. At this point in your pregnancy, your uterus is the safest place for your baby to be.
Dr. Miklos Toth
Not at all, if your doc knows you are pregnant, he will put you on antibiotics that will not affect the baby.
Most antibiotics used in pregnancy are safe. Penicillin, amoxicillin, erythromycin, and cephalosporins are all safe. Stay away from doxycyclines or tetracyclines and fluoroquinolones. However, antibiotics are for bacterial infections, not for viral infections. There are antivirals used for influenza if started within 2 days of symptoms.
I hope you feel better soon.
I hope you feel better soon.
A viral infection does not require antibiotics. You could get an antiviral for the flu. This should not cause issues with your baby.
First off, if you have a viral infection, antibiotics are unnecessary. Otherwise, it depends on what antibiotic you are taking. Most OBs know what antibiotics are safe.
Assuming your doctor knows you are pregnant, I would say the medication is safe, however, many antibiotics should be avoided during pregnancy.
What is the name of the antibiotic?
What is the name of the antibiotic?