Antibiotics are used to help the body fight infection. Doctors will usually warn women to avoid taking antibiotics when pregnant, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy. However, in some cases, antibiotics actually play an important role in the delivery process to overcome certain health problems. So, what conditions make women need antibiotics when giving birth?
Who needs antibiotics when giving birth?
Here are some conditions that make you need antibiotics when you give birth:
1. Group B Strep (GBS)
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all pregnant women take Group B Streptococcus (GBS) tests when entering gestational age 35 to 37 weeks. GBS itself is a type of bacteria that is often found in the vagina and rectum in healthy women.
Through the GBS test the doctor will see whether or not you have the potential to bring group B streptococcus bacteria that can be transmitted to the baby during labor. If you positively carry the bacteria, your doctor will give you antibiotics (usually penicillin) during infusion. If you are allergic to penicillin antibiotics, your doctor may give several other antibiotics that can help during labor.
Although GBS is generally harmless to healthy adults, this bacteria can cause miscarriages and serious infections in infants. Taking antibiotics before labor will not protect your baby because bacteria will grow back quickly. So, health workers recommend that mothers to take this antibiotic during the birth process has been running, not before.
2. Caesarean section
In a cesarean section, your doctor may give you antibiotics. Because caesarean section involves surgery, the risk of infection will also increase. Well, antibiotics are given to prevent infection.
In addition, there may also be other reasons that make you need antibiotics during childbirth. Please discuss with the doctor for more information.
3. Premature labor
Infections in the uterus and vaginal infections, such as bacterial vaginosis (BV) infection can cause premature birth. Infection that occurs in other body parts can also trigger premature birth. Starting from infection in the kidneys, pneumonia, appendicitis, to infection of the urinary tract. Likewise with common infections accompanied by high fever (more than 38 degrees Celsius) in pregnant women.
Now, because of this fact, doctors usually use antibiotics to delay labor or at least help reduce the risk of infection. Even if the delivery process cannot be delayed, the use of antibiotics can help reduce the risk of infection.
4. Amniotic rupture for a certain period of time
Usually antibiotics are given 18 hours after rupture of membranes. Either because the membranes rupture is too early or intentionally solved to induce labor or accelerate labor.
This is done to prevent uterine infection or karioamnionitis (infection of the amniotic sac) if your GBS status is unknown. Sooner or later the administration of antibiotics depends on the protocol of the hospital or the doctor who handles you.
5. Have a fever during childbirth
If you experience a fever during labor, your doctor may give you antibiotics. The administration of this antibiotic is even given before the doctor knows the cause of the fever you are experiencing. This is done to prevent the transmission of any bacteria that you may have in your baby.