Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAntibiotic Safety During PregnancyAntibiotics Considered Safe During PregnancyAntibiotics to AvoidTaking an Unsafe AntibioticWhat They Are Prescribed ForManaging InfectionsOther Considerations
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Antibiotic Safety During Pregnancy
Antibiotics Considered Safe During Pregnancy
Antibiotics to Avoid
Taking an Unsafe Antibiotic
What They Are Prescribed For
Managing Infections
Other Considerations
However, careful consideration is needed when weighing the benefits and risks of taking any medications, including antibiotics, during pregnancy. This is because some medicines can cross the placenta and harm the fetus.
Dobrila Vignjevic / Getty Images
Can you takeantibioticswhile pregnant? Yes, you can; however, not all are considered safe. Your healthcare provider will help determine which one is best for you while keeping the following in mind:
You and your healthcare provider will weigh the benefits and risks of using any antibiotic against the risks the infection itself may pose to both you and your fetus.
Several antibiotics are generally considered safe during pregnancy. These include, but are not limited to, the following medicines:
Antibiotics to Avoid During Pregnancy
Antibiotics to avoid during pregnancy include, but are not limited to, the following:
What to Do If I Unintentionally Take an Unsafe Antibiotic
If you unintentionally take an unsafe antibiotic during pregnancy or before you know you’re pregnant, do not panic. You can do the following to minimize risk:
When Are Antibiotics Used During Pregnancy?
Antibiotics may play a vital role in ensuring the health and safety of both the pregnant person and fetus during pregnancy. Healthcare providers may prescribe these medications to treat a range of infections, includingupper respiratory tract infections(URTIs),urinary tract infections(UTIs),sexually transmitted infections(STIs),bacterial vaginosis, andgroup Bstreptococcus.
If left untreated, such infections can pose significant risks, leading to complications like miscarriage, premature birth, low birth weight, and even stillbirth.
In addition to their use during pregnancy, antibiotics may also be necessary during labor and delivery to address certain medical situations. For instance, preterm delivery, the presence of fever during labor, or the need for a cesarean section are possible reasons for antibiotic use.
Ultimately, the judicious use of antibiotics is essential for managing infections that may otherwise jeopardize the well-being of both the pregnant person and their child. Ensuring timely and appropriate treatment is crucial for promoting positive pregnancy outcomes.
Managing Infections During Pregnancy
Keep in mind that the immune system is suppressed (less active) during pregnancy. This immune suppression prevents a pregnant person’s body from rejecting the fetus.Knowing that pregnant people may be more prone to infections can help you proactively optimize your health. Tips to keep in mind include the following:
Not every infection will respond to antibiotics. Importantly, they aren’t effective against viruses like colds, the flu, or COVID-19.
The following considerations can help you decide if an antibiotic is your best choice:
Summary
Antibiotics may be prescribed during pregnancy to treat infections such as UTIs or respiratory tract infections. They may also be given during labor and delivery.
When choosing an antibiotic, your healthcare provider will consider factors like whether the medicine crosses the placenta and the risks of infection compared to the risks of taking the antibiotic.
In general, penicillins and cephalosporins are considered safe during pregnancy. Fluoroquinolones and tetracyclines are typically not recommended.
18 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cantarutti A, Rea F, Franchi M, et al.Use of antibiotic treatment in pregnancy and the risk of several neonatal outcomes: A population-based study.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(23):12621. Published 2021 Nov 30. doi:10.3390/ijerph182312621Bookstaver PB, Bland CM, Griffin B, et al.A review of antibiotic use in pregnancy.Pharmacotherapy. 2015;35(11):1052-1062. doi:10.1002/phar.1649Gamberini C, Donders S, Al-Nasiry S, et al.Antibiotic use in pregnancy: A global survey on antibiotic prescription practices in antenatal care.Antibiotics (Basel). 2023;12(5):831. Published 2023 Apr 29. doi:10.3390/antibiotics12050831Nguyen MH, Fornes R, Kamau N, et al.Antibiotic use during pregnancy and the risk of preterm birth: a population-based Swedish cohort study.J Antimicrob Chemother. 2022;77(5):1461-1467. doi:10.1093/jac/dkac053Blattner CM, Danesh M, Safaee M, et al.Understanding the new FDA pregnancy and lactation labeling rules.Int J Womens Dermatol. 2016;2(1):5-7. Published 2016 Feb 28. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2015.12.005Corrales M, Corrales-Acosta E, Corrales-Riveros JG.Which antibiotic for urinary tract infections in pregnancy? A literature review of international guidelines.J Clin Med. 2022;11(23):7226. Published 2022 Dec 5. doi:10.3390/jcm11237226Hesse MR, Prins JR, Hooge MNL, et al.Pharmacokinetics and target attainment of antimicrobial drugs throughout pregnancy: Part I-penicillins.Clin Pharmacokinet. 2023;62(2):221-247. doi:10.1007/s40262-023-01211-zJoshi MD, Pais GM, Chang J, et al.Evaluation of fetal and maternal vancomycin-induced kidney injury during pregnancy in a rat model.Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2019;63(10):e00761-19. Published 2019 Sep 23. doi:10.1128/AAC.00761-19Yefet E, Schwartz N, Chazan B, et al.The safety of quinolones and fluoroquinolones in pregnancy: a meta-analysis.BJOG. 2018;125(9):1069-1076. doi:10.1111/1471-0528.15119Muanda FT, Sheehy O, Bérard A.Use of antibiotics during pregnancy and the risk of major congenital malformations: a population based cohort study.Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2017;83(11):2557-2571. doi:10.1111/bcp.13364Fan H, Gilbert R, O’Callaghan F, et al.Associations between macrolide antibiotics prescribing during pregnancy and adverse child outcomes in the UK: population based cohort study [published correction appears in BMJ. 2020 Mar 4;368:m766. doi: 10.1136/bmj.m766].BMJ. 2020;368:m331. Published 2020 Feb 19. doi:10.1136/bmj.m331Andersson NW, Olsen RH, Andersen JT.Association between use of macrolides in pregnancy and risk of major birth defects: nationwide, register based cohort study.BMJ. 2021;372:n107. Published 2021 Feb 10. doi:10.1136/bmj.n107Muanda FT, Sheehy O, Bérard A.Use of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole during pregnancy and risk of spontaneous abortion: a nested case control study.Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2018;84(6):1198-1205. doi:10.1111/bcp.13542Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Medicine and Pregnancy.Kumar M, Saadaoui M, Al Khodor S.Infections and pregnancy: Effects on maternal and child health.Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2022;12:873253. Published 2022 Jun 8. doi:10.3389/fcimb.2022.873253Martinez de Tejada B.Antibiotic use and misuse during pregnancy and delivery: benefits and risks.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2014;11(8):7993-8009. Published 2014 Aug 7. doi:10.3390/ijerph110807993Chan MY, Smith MA.Infections in Pregnancy.Comprehensive Toxicology. 2018;232-249. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-801238-3.64293-9Ghouri F, Hollywood A, Ryan K.A systematic review of non-antibiotic measures for the prevention of urinary tract infections in pregnancy.BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2018;18(1):99. Published 2018 Apr 13. doi:10.1186/s12884-018-1732-2
18 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cantarutti A, Rea F, Franchi M, et al.Use of antibiotic treatment in pregnancy and the risk of several neonatal outcomes: A population-based study.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(23):12621. Published 2021 Nov 30. doi:10.3390/ijerph182312621Bookstaver PB, Bland CM, Griffin B, et al.A review of antibiotic use in pregnancy.Pharmacotherapy. 2015;35(11):1052-1062. doi:10.1002/phar.1649Gamberini C, Donders S, Al-Nasiry S, et al.Antibiotic use in pregnancy: A global survey on antibiotic prescription practices in antenatal care.Antibiotics (Basel). 2023;12(5):831. Published 2023 Apr 29. doi:10.3390/antibiotics12050831Nguyen MH, Fornes R, Kamau N, et al.Antibiotic use during pregnancy and the risk of preterm birth: a population-based Swedish cohort study.J Antimicrob Chemother. 2022;77(5):1461-1467. doi:10.1093/jac/dkac053Blattner CM, Danesh M, Safaee M, et al.Understanding the new FDA pregnancy and lactation labeling rules.Int J Womens Dermatol. 2016;2(1):5-7. Published 2016 Feb 28. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2015.12.005Corrales M, Corrales-Acosta E, Corrales-Riveros JG.Which antibiotic for urinary tract infections in pregnancy? A literature review of international guidelines.J Clin Med. 2022;11(23):7226. Published 2022 Dec 5. doi:10.3390/jcm11237226Hesse MR, Prins JR, Hooge MNL, et al.Pharmacokinetics and target attainment of antimicrobial drugs throughout pregnancy: Part I-penicillins.Clin Pharmacokinet. 2023;62(2):221-247. doi:10.1007/s40262-023-01211-zJoshi MD, Pais GM, Chang J, et al.Evaluation of fetal and maternal vancomycin-induced kidney injury during pregnancy in a rat model.Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2019;63(10):e00761-19. Published 2019 Sep 23. doi:10.1128/AAC.00761-19Yefet E, Schwartz N, Chazan B, et al.The safety of quinolones and fluoroquinolones in pregnancy: a meta-analysis.BJOG. 2018;125(9):1069-1076. doi:10.1111/1471-0528.15119Muanda FT, Sheehy O, Bérard A.Use of antibiotics during pregnancy and the risk of major congenital malformations: a population based cohort study.Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2017;83(11):2557-2571. doi:10.1111/bcp.13364Fan H, Gilbert R, O’Callaghan F, et al.Associations between macrolide antibiotics prescribing during pregnancy and adverse child outcomes in the UK: population based cohort study [published correction appears in BMJ. 2020 Mar 4;368:m766. doi: 10.1136/bmj.m766].BMJ. 2020;368:m331. Published 2020 Feb 19. doi:10.1136/bmj.m331Andersson NW, Olsen RH, Andersen JT.Association between use of macrolides in pregnancy and risk of major birth defects: nationwide, register based cohort study.BMJ. 2021;372:n107. Published 2021 Feb 10. doi:10.1136/bmj.n107Muanda FT, Sheehy O, Bérard A.Use of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole during pregnancy and risk of spontaneous abortion: a nested case control study.Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2018;84(6):1198-1205. doi:10.1111/bcp.13542Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Medicine and Pregnancy.Kumar M, Saadaoui M, Al Khodor S.Infections and pregnancy: Effects on maternal and child health.Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2022;12:873253. Published 2022 Jun 8. doi:10.3389/fcimb.2022.873253Martinez de Tejada B.Antibiotic use and misuse during pregnancy and delivery: benefits and risks.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2014;11(8):7993-8009. Published 2014 Aug 7. doi:10.3390/ijerph110807993Chan MY, Smith MA.Infections in Pregnancy.Comprehensive Toxicology. 2018;232-249. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-801238-3.64293-9Ghouri F, Hollywood A, Ryan K.A systematic review of non-antibiotic measures for the prevention of urinary tract infections in pregnancy.BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2018;18(1):99. Published 2018 Apr 13. doi:10.1186/s12884-018-1732-2
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Cantarutti A, Rea F, Franchi M, et al.Use of antibiotic treatment in pregnancy and the risk of several neonatal outcomes: A population-based study.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(23):12621. Published 2021 Nov 30. doi:10.3390/ijerph182312621Bookstaver PB, Bland CM, Griffin B, et al.A review of antibiotic use in pregnancy.Pharmacotherapy. 2015;35(11):1052-1062. doi:10.1002/phar.1649Gamberini C, Donders S, Al-Nasiry S, et al.Antibiotic use in pregnancy: A global survey on antibiotic prescription practices in antenatal care.Antibiotics (Basel). 2023;12(5):831. Published 2023 Apr 29. doi:10.3390/antibiotics12050831Nguyen MH, Fornes R, Kamau N, et al.Antibiotic use during pregnancy and the risk of preterm birth: a population-based Swedish cohort study.J Antimicrob Chemother. 2022;77(5):1461-1467. doi:10.1093/jac/dkac053Blattner CM, Danesh M, Safaee M, et al.Understanding the new FDA pregnancy and lactation labeling rules.Int J Womens Dermatol. 2016;2(1):5-7. Published 2016 Feb 28. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2015.12.005Corrales M, Corrales-Acosta E, Corrales-Riveros JG.Which antibiotic for urinary tract infections in pregnancy? A literature review of international guidelines.J Clin Med. 2022;11(23):7226. Published 2022 Dec 5. doi:10.3390/jcm11237226Hesse MR, Prins JR, Hooge MNL, et al.Pharmacokinetics and target attainment of antimicrobial drugs throughout pregnancy: Part I-penicillins.Clin Pharmacokinet. 2023;62(2):221-247. doi:10.1007/s40262-023-01211-zJoshi MD, Pais GM, Chang J, et al.Evaluation of fetal and maternal vancomycin-induced kidney injury during pregnancy in a rat model.Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2019;63(10):e00761-19. Published 2019 Sep 23. doi:10.1128/AAC.00761-19Yefet E, Schwartz N, Chazan B, et al.The safety of quinolones and fluoroquinolones in pregnancy: a meta-analysis.BJOG. 2018;125(9):1069-1076. doi:10.1111/1471-0528.15119Muanda FT, Sheehy O, Bérard A.Use of antibiotics during pregnancy and the risk of major congenital malformations: a population based cohort study.Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2017;83(11):2557-2571. doi:10.1111/bcp.13364Fan H, Gilbert R, O’Callaghan F, et al.Associations between macrolide antibiotics prescribing during pregnancy and adverse child outcomes in the UK: population based cohort study [published correction appears in BMJ. 2020 Mar 4;368:m766. doi: 10.1136/bmj.m766].BMJ. 2020;368:m331. Published 2020 Feb 19. doi:10.1136/bmj.m331Andersson NW, Olsen RH, Andersen JT.Association between use of macrolides in pregnancy and risk of major birth defects: nationwide, register based cohort study.BMJ. 2021;372:n107. Published 2021 Feb 10. doi:10.1136/bmj.n107Muanda FT, Sheehy O, Bérard A.Use of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole during pregnancy and risk of spontaneous abortion: a nested case control study.Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2018;84(6):1198-1205. doi:10.1111/bcp.13542Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Medicine and Pregnancy.Kumar M, Saadaoui M, Al Khodor S.Infections and pregnancy: Effects on maternal and child health.Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2022;12:873253. Published 2022 Jun 8. doi:10.3389/fcimb.2022.873253Martinez de Tejada B.Antibiotic use and misuse during pregnancy and delivery: benefits and risks.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2014;11(8):7993-8009. Published 2014 Aug 7. doi:10.3390/ijerph110807993Chan MY, Smith MA.Infections in Pregnancy.Comprehensive Toxicology. 2018;232-249. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-801238-3.64293-9Ghouri F, Hollywood A, Ryan K.A systematic review of non-antibiotic measures for the prevention of urinary tract infections in pregnancy.BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2018;18(1):99. Published 2018 Apr 13. doi:10.1186/s12884-018-1732-2
Cantarutti A, Rea F, Franchi M, et al.Use of antibiotic treatment in pregnancy and the risk of several neonatal outcomes: A population-based study.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(23):12621. Published 2021 Nov 30. doi:10.3390/ijerph182312621
Bookstaver PB, Bland CM, Griffin B, et al.A review of antibiotic use in pregnancy.Pharmacotherapy. 2015;35(11):1052-1062. doi:10.1002/phar.1649
Gamberini C, Donders S, Al-Nasiry S, et al.Antibiotic use in pregnancy: A global survey on antibiotic prescription practices in antenatal care.Antibiotics (Basel). 2023;12(5):831. Published 2023 Apr 29. doi:10.3390/antibiotics12050831
Nguyen MH, Fornes R, Kamau N, et al.Antibiotic use during pregnancy and the risk of preterm birth: a population-based Swedish cohort study.J Antimicrob Chemother. 2022;77(5):1461-1467. doi:10.1093/jac/dkac053
Blattner CM, Danesh M, Safaee M, et al.Understanding the new FDA pregnancy and lactation labeling rules.Int J Womens Dermatol. 2016;2(1):5-7. Published 2016 Feb 28. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2015.12.005
Corrales M, Corrales-Acosta E, Corrales-Riveros JG.Which antibiotic for urinary tract infections in pregnancy? A literature review of international guidelines.J Clin Med. 2022;11(23):7226. Published 2022 Dec 5. doi:10.3390/jcm11237226
Hesse MR, Prins JR, Hooge MNL, et al.Pharmacokinetics and target attainment of antimicrobial drugs throughout pregnancy: Part I-penicillins.Clin Pharmacokinet. 2023;62(2):221-247. doi:10.1007/s40262-023-01211-z
Joshi MD, Pais GM, Chang J, et al.Evaluation of fetal and maternal vancomycin-induced kidney injury during pregnancy in a rat model.Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2019;63(10):e00761-19. Published 2019 Sep 23. doi:10.1128/AAC.00761-19
Yefet E, Schwartz N, Chazan B, et al.The safety of quinolones and fluoroquinolones in pregnancy: a meta-analysis.BJOG. 2018;125(9):1069-1076. doi:10.1111/1471-0528.15119
Muanda FT, Sheehy O, Bérard A.Use of antibiotics during pregnancy and the risk of major congenital malformations: a population based cohort study.Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2017;83(11):2557-2571. doi:10.1111/bcp.13364
Fan H, Gilbert R, O’Callaghan F, et al.Associations between macrolide antibiotics prescribing during pregnancy and adverse child outcomes in the UK: population based cohort study [published correction appears in BMJ. 2020 Mar 4;368:m766. doi: 10.1136/bmj.m766].BMJ. 2020;368:m331. Published 2020 Feb 19. doi:10.1136/bmj.m331
Andersson NW, Olsen RH, Andersen JT.Association between use of macrolides in pregnancy and risk of major birth defects: nationwide, register based cohort study.BMJ. 2021;372:n107. Published 2021 Feb 10. doi:10.1136/bmj.n107
Muanda FT, Sheehy O, Bérard A.Use of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole during pregnancy and risk of spontaneous abortion: a nested case control study.Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2018;84(6):1198-1205. doi:10.1111/bcp.13542
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Medicine and Pregnancy.
Kumar M, Saadaoui M, Al Khodor S.Infections and pregnancy: Effects on maternal and child health.Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2022;12:873253. Published 2022 Jun 8. doi:10.3389/fcimb.2022.873253
Martinez de Tejada B.Antibiotic use and misuse during pregnancy and delivery: benefits and risks.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2014;11(8):7993-8009. Published 2014 Aug 7. doi:10.3390/ijerph110807993
Chan MY, Smith MA.Infections in Pregnancy.Comprehensive Toxicology. 2018;232-249. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-801238-3.64293-9
Ghouri F, Hollywood A, Ryan K.A systematic review of non-antibiotic measures for the prevention of urinary tract infections in pregnancy.BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2018;18(1):99. Published 2018 Apr 13. doi:10.1186/s12884-018-1732-2
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