theIndusParent Logo
theIndusParent Logo
  • Pregnancy
    • Fertility & Conception
    • First Trimester
    • Second Trimester
    • Third Trimester
    • Labour & Delivery
    • Post-delivery Care
    • Miscarriage
    • 9 Months
  • Baby
    • Development
    • Breastfeeding
    • Weaning
    • Health
    • Behaviour
    • Gear & Wear
    • Baby Names
    • Nine Months-0 to 1
  • Toddler
    • Development
    • Health
    • Behaviour
    • Life Skills
    • Trendy Wear
    • 9 Months Season 3: Toddler Years
  • Pre-teen
    • Development
    • Health
    • Education
    • Behaviour
    • Lifeskills
    • Fashion
  • Mums
    • Awesome Working Mums
    • Celeb Mums
    • Beauty
    • Fashion
    • Sex
    • Labour Story
  • Health
    • Nutrition
    • Fitness
    • Home Remedies
    • Chakra Healing
    • Experts' Corner
  • Family & Leisure
    • Relationships
    • For Dads
    • Essential Life Tips
    • Money
    • Recipes
    • Celebrations
    • Travel
    • Vastu
    • Astrology
    • Baby Photos
    • Video
    • Events & Workshops
    • Review
    • Contest
  • हिंदी
  • தமிழ்
  • বাংলা
  • Video

Study: Taking Antibiotics During Pregnancy Linked To Birth Defects

3 min read
•••
Study: Taking Antibiotics During Pregnancy Linked To Birth DefectsStudy: Taking Antibiotics During Pregnancy Linked To Birth Defects

A new study now shows a link between taking unsafe antibiotics in pregnancy, and an increased risk in malformations, specifically heart defects in babies.

According to a new study, it has now been reported that unsafe antibiotics in pregnancy, taken during the first trimester, is linked to a higher risk of birth defects.

Unsafe antibiotics in pregnancy tied to a higher risk of birth malformations

Macrolide antibiotics, more commonly known as erythromycin, clarithromycin, and azithromycin, are used to treat respiratory infections such as pneumonia and bronchitis. They are also used in treating urinary, skin and sexually transmitted diseases.

Children of women who were allergic to Penicillin, and who were prescribed macrolide antibiotics in place of it during the first three months of their pregnancy, showed an increased risk in birth defects.

antibiotics, medicine, pills, sick, prescription, health, unsafe antibiotics in pregnancy

The antibiotics may do more harm than good, especially during pregnancy. | Image source: Shutterstock

Higher risk of heart defects

The study, which was published earlier in February, found that mothers who had taken macrolides during the first trimester increased their risk of having children with major malformations, specifically heart defects, to 28 of 1,000 births.  This is in comparison to 18 per 1,000 births for mothers who were prescribed Penicillin.

Study: Taking Antibiotics During Pregnancy Linked To Birth Defects

The data was collected from 104,605 children born in the United Kingdom between 1990 and 2016.

The children were analysed for birth malformations and neurodevelopmental disorders diagnosed later in life and were born to mothers who had either taken penicillin or macrolides.

There was no link associated with macrolides antibiotics and neurodevelopmental disorders. The study also reported no risk found between birth defects and macrolides taken before the pregnancy.

Finding alternatives to macrolide antibiotics

Professor Ruth Gilbert, one of the authors of the study, stated in an article that even though the increase in risk was small, it was significant. She urged doctors and pregnant women to find an alternative solution to macrolides, depending on the type of infection.

However, she also further warned about the risks of not taking any antibiotics at all to combat bacterial infections, as the “infection itself can be really damaging to the unborn baby.”

This is not the first time macrolides have been associated with an increased link to congenital heart defects. Sweden warned against the prescription of Erythromycin taken during the first trimester, in 2005.

Further, a previous study in 2017, linked common antibiotics including macrolides, to an increased risk of miscarriage when used in early pregnancy. The study was published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

Macrolides are commonplace antibiotics and are household names in medication in Western countries.  Presently, only adults in the United States and the UK with a high risk of cardiovascular complications are warned against taking azithromycin and clarithromycin.

 

This article was republished with the permission of The Asian Parent.

 

img

Written by

theAsianparent

  • Home
  • /
  • Pregnancy Concerns
  • /
  • Study: Taking Antibiotics During Pregnancy Linked To Birth Defects
Share:
•••
  • COVID-19 and Pregnancy: FAQs And Answers From Experts

    COVID-19 and Pregnancy: FAQs And Answers From Experts

  • Was This Baby Born Skinless Because His Mum Took Potent Drugs In Pregnancy?

    Was This Baby Born Skinless Because His Mum Took Potent Drugs In Pregnancy?

  • Sleeping On The Back During Pregnancy Third Trimester Linked To Low Birth Weight: Study

    Sleeping On The Back During Pregnancy Third Trimester Linked To Low Birth Weight: Study

app info
get app banner
  • COVID-19 and Pregnancy: FAQs And Answers From Experts

    COVID-19 and Pregnancy: FAQs And Answers From Experts

  • Was This Baby Born Skinless Because His Mum Took Potent Drugs In Pregnancy?

    Was This Baby Born Skinless Because His Mum Took Potent Drugs In Pregnancy?

  • Sleeping On The Back During Pregnancy Third Trimester Linked To Low Birth Weight: Study

    Sleeping On The Back During Pregnancy Third Trimester Linked To Low Birth Weight: Study

  • Ages + Stages
    • Baby
    • Baby Concerns
    • Baby Development
    • Baby Formula Feeding
    • Baby health
    • Baby Milestones
    • Breastfeeding
  • Family Life
    • Family & Leisure
    • Essential Tips
    • Family Fun
    • Events
    • For Dads
    • For Mum and Dad
  • Health & Wellness
    • India
    • International
    • Lifestyle
    • Kid's Entertainment
    • Indoor
    • Learning Activities
  • Toddler
    • Toddler Behaviour
    • Toddler Development
    • Toddler Discipline
    • Toddler Education
    • Toddler Health
    • Toddler Life Skills
  • Gallery
    • News
    • Celebrity
    • Features
    • Bollywood
    • Video
    • Marriage
  • More
    • TAP Community
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore
  • Thailand
  • Indonesia
  • Philippines
  • Malaysia
  • Sri Lanka
  • India
  • Vietnam
  • Australia
  • Japan
  • Nigeria
  • Kenya
Partner Brands
Influencer Partner Brand LogoMama's Choice Partner Brand Logo
© Copyright theAsianparent 2021. All rights reserved
About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use
Articles
  • img
    Community
  • img
    Pregnancy
  • img
    Baby
  • img
    Toddler
  • img
    Pre-teen
  • img
    Mums
  • img
    Health
  • img
    Family & Leisure
  • img
    हिंदी
  • img
    தமிழ்
  • img
    বাংলা
  • img
    Video
Tools
  • ?Mom Community
  • Pregnancy Tracker
  • Baby Tracker
  • Recipes
  • Food
  • Poll
  • img
    VIP Parents
  • Contests
  • Photobooth

Download our app

  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Team
  • Community Guidelines
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Become a Contributor
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • ?Feed
  • Poll
Open in app