Antibiotics: Bactrum, macrobid?

Drewsmom · 09-02-2003, 01:59 PM

I'm 35 weeks now and am so happy that I've made it this far (actually I started at 28 wks with round 1) before needing to use antibiotics with this pregnancy for UTIs.

My CNM gave me Bactrum at first before the UTI was cultured and from what I read it's a class C drug that shouldn't be used in the last 3 mo.s of pregnancy. So, I didn't take it. Then a nurse told me (at a new practice that I switched to) that Bactrum can be bad for the baby's teeth. I hadn't read that. Does anyone know anything about that?

My new doctor wanted to prescribe Bactrum (or a sulpha antiobitic) as well (it must be popular with the dr.s around here) but respected my decision to not want to take it. He prescribed Macrobid. I have really tough UTIs that don't go away while pregnant. I'm still concerned about this as well and it does seem to be keeping the UTI at bay but not clearing it up. We may be looking at a one a day regimen until 38 weeks to keep the UTI under control. I had him check me last week and I'm not dialating but am 80% effaced. I know that's b/c of the contractions from my UTIs although he says it's pretty normal at this stage of the game.

pamamidwife · 09-06-2003, 09:21 PM

Another option is to take Cranactin, a concentrated cranberry supplement found at most health food stores. Drink lots of water, decrease the amount of sugar you eat or drink.

Pregnant women are more prone to UTIs because the ureter (the tube that brings your urine from your bladder outside your body) has a tendency to get compressed, thereby allowing urine to pool and grow bacteria.

How are you feeling now?

Drewsmom · 09-08-2003, 04:26 PM

THank you pamamamidwife for your suggestion. I took cranberry pills at the beginning but they didn't help much although I'm not sure I took that brand so I will go get some today. The things that have helped have been Black Cherry Juice and taking Uva Ursi made in a tea form. But the Black Cherry Juice held off my infections until my late 2nd trimester which I was so happy about. I'm off the Macrobid now for a day so we'll see how this next week goes.