Antibiotics During Pregnancy Could Increase Child's Risk of Asthma, New Study Suggests

In a Danish birth cohort study, exposure to antibiotics in mid to late pregnancy was associated with childhood asthma in vaginally born infants.

The recent research indicates that children whose mothers have used antibiotics during pregnancy may have a slightly increased risk of asthma. Experts quickly point out that the result does not show cause and effect.

That connection may be clarified by the reasons for using antibiotics - rather than the medication, said lead researcher Cecilie Skaarup Uldbjerg of Aarhus University in Denmark.

Uldbjerg said, "Previous studies have found associations between maternal infections in pregnancy and childhood asthma."

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The authority on drugs' reproductive effects, Dr. Anthony Scialli, went further and said something else might explain the slight rise in asthma risk. A medical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at George Washington University School of Medicine, Scialli, confirmed that maternal infections are one possibility.

He also pointed to several variables that were not considered in the study, including whether mothers breastfed, which was associated with a lower risk of asthma.

Scialli is a member of the non-profit Association of Knowledge Specialists in Teratology. The group operates the MotherToBaby program, which offers research-based information about pregnancy drugs' effects.

It is often best for pregnant women to stop taking medicine that is not entirely required, Scialli said. Antibiotics that are over-prescribed to the general public, he said, are no exception.

But based on these results, pregnant women should not forget the requisite antibiotics, Uldbjerg said.

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Q&A on common pregnancy medications, including antibiotics

MotherToBaby Pregnancy Studies provide much-needed information on pregnancy drugs and vaccines' safety.

1. How will pregnancy affect my medical condition?

A: Women with health problems can and do have stable pregnancies. But some health conditions, especially if left untreated, could increase the risk of complications from pregnancy. Our research can help define the risks associated with selected health problems so that these risks can be better handled by potential mothers and their health care providers.

2. How will my pregnancy be affected by the medicine I take, including prescribed antibiotics?

A: Many drugs or other exposures cannot affect (or may even have a benefit) pregnancy when taken during pregnancy. But some medicines can increase the risk of complications such as miscarriage, preterm birth, or congenital disabilities.

Your health status and the procedures you take to learn about the safety and difficulties in all pregnancy stages are discussed in our retrospective studies. Our study has been instrumental in recognizing drugs that may be detrimental to pregnancy and excluding significant risk for other medications.

3. During pregnancy, is my medicine safe for my child?

A: During pregnancy, 9 out of 10 women in the U.S. take medicine. Yet, most drugs do not have enough details about their protection when used in pregnancy. We will provide the details that moms and health professionals need to make informed care choices through your involvement in our observational study studies.

With all of that being said, it is often best for pregnant women to stop taking medicine that is not entirely required, Scialli said. Antibiotics that are over-prescribed to the general public, he said, are no exception.

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