Is it safe to take antibiotics while pregnant?

Taking Antibiotics While Pregnant

No drug, prescription, or over-the-counter, traditional or herbal, is 100% safe for 100% of the people 100% of the time. When you're pregnant, every time you take a drug there is the health and well-being of two individuals, one who is small and vulnerable, to consider. While a few drugs have shown to be very harmful to a developing fetus, many drugs have been used safely, and there are situations in which medication is absolutely essential to life or health.

The general rule should be: take medication only on the advice of a practitioner who knows you are pregnant, and only when it is absolutely necessary.

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Here are answers and opinions from FAQ Farmers:

• It is recommended not to take any over-the-counter medication, however in certain situations, such as bladder infections it may be needed. Consulting a professional doctor is always the best idea.

• There are many antibiotics safe to take while pregnant, be sure to inform your doc that you are pregnant if you're seeing someone other than your OB for an illness (for instance, I saw my regular family practice doc sometimes too). An infection may pose more of a threat to the baby than taking antibiotics- for instance, an untreated bladder infection may lead to premature labor or kidney failure.

• Your doctor should give you a list of medications that are safe for you to take while you are pregnant but generally what you take will in effect go to your baby as well so I would not recommend taking medications unless you positively have to and are directed by your doctor. The more chicken and other birds, and meats (unless organically grown) you eat the more likely your body will develop a tolerance to some antibiotics. This is in part because of the high dosages of antibiotics given to animals to prevent diseases where they are sometimes raised. So it is a good idea to refrain from a lot of meat and meat related products. This will allow the antibiotics that you may have to take be able to do its job more effectively.