I hate watching the news, and I do my best to stay away from it. In my honest opinion, ignorance is bliss and I in no way, shape or form want to hear about things going on that I can’t control. Is it the right way to go about things? Probably not, but it works for me. So yesterday morning I get a phone call from my mother telling me about an article she read in her local paper The Morning Call. This particular article links certain antibiotics to birth defects. One of the main medicines mentioned in the article was Urinary Tract Infection medication, and it turns out that I regularly take that type of medicine. At first I was VERY angry at her for bringing this to my attention. I told her “my doctor told me it was fine the last time I was pregnant”, and yelled at her for making me worry. I did call my doctor just to be sure. I actually apologized for asking such a crazy question based on 1 newspaper article. And you know what he said?? He told me to STOP TAKING THE MEDICINE!
Studies Suggest Increased Risk of Birth Defects With UTI Treatments
Based on the article in the Morning Call
The new study is the first large analysis of antibiotic use in pregnancy. It found that mothers of babies with birth defects were more likely than mothers with healthy babies to report taking two types of antibiotics during pregnancy: sulfa drugs (brand names include Thiosulfil Forte and Bactrim) and urinary germicides called nitrofurantoins (brand names include Furadantin and Macrobid).
I personally have been taking Macrobid to PREVENT UTI’s. I have been doing this since my senior year in college, and it really has prevented me from getting them. When I was pregnant this past summer I was told that they prescribe this type of medication to pregnant women all the time, and it was completely safe. I honestly thought my doctor would tell me that the article meant nothing and to continue on my course. But that was not the case. He confirmed what I read in the article!
Birth defects linked to sulfa drugs included rare brain and heart problems, and shortened limbs. Those linked to nitrofurantoins (ny-troh-fyoor-AN’-toyns) included heart problems and cleft palate. The drugs seemed to double or triple the risk, depending on the defect.
Double or Triple the chances??? I certainly don’t need to raise the odds! So I will no longer be taking the medication. My doctor recommended daily cranberry pills and lots of water. I have tried that in the past but it hasn’t worked. I just hope it does this time.
My friend told me that getting this news now was a sign from God to stop me from putting pills that could potentially harm my future baby. I think she is right. So if you are trying to get pregnant, or plan to in the future please keep this information in mind and talk to your doctor. I’m glad I did!
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I’m really surprised your doctor didn’t tell you that possibly complication earlier, but I’m glad you found out! Better now than later.
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Actually it was a new study that just came out that week! Prior to that it was pefectly fine to take the meds!!! It’s crazy how quickly it can change!
My partner and I have been trying for our first baby for over 4 years now and have yet to be successful. We have undergone several rounds of IVF and each time the embryo was rejected by my body. I have tried several other alternative remedies such as the miracleofpregnancy.com which was useful but did not work for us. A friend of ours whom is in a similar position has tried the pregnancy miracle which has worked for them on the first attempt, we are really happy for them both as they too have been trying for nearly as long as ourselves. Has anyone else ever tried this or is it just coincidence do you think?
[...] November I wrote a post about a new study that connected some UTI medications and birth defectsOnce I found out that my doctor prescribed me Macrobid I was LIVID! I hunted that on call man down. [...]