Uti/kidney Infection- Nursing 6 Wk Old; Trouble Finding Antibiotic That Works

Updated on July 07, 2011
A.F. asks from Des Plaines, IL
5 answers

My baby was born may 21; when he was 3 wks old I was diagnosed w/ a UTI. They gave me 250 mg Keflex 4 times a day for 10 days. I have been off it for over a week and on the Fourth of July I spiked a 103 fever and had chills. Went to see nurse practitioner at my OB practice yesterday morning and she dipped my urine and said there is definitely something funky going on- they sent it for culture again. She had a hard time finding an antibiotic to put me on while nursing so they just double dosed the Keflex and now I am on 500 mg 4 times a day for 10 days. I have lower flank pain too on rt side so I am thinking kidney infection. last night I developed body aches and joint pain in addition to my fever- any similar experiences? What antibiotics were you on during nursing? Took my four doses yesterday and still have 102 fever today.

This really sucks as I never had any issues after my other two births...and I feel horrible for my poor little boy's digestive tract. I am taking probiotica and eating yogurt...and drinking tons of water and eating oatmeal to keep my supply up!

Thanks for any advice mamas!

update: i know i dont have a mastitis in addition...they checked my breasts yesterday -- not that i thought i had one...they just wanted to explore all reasons for my symptoms; Pamela, Raven & Sons - thanks for the info- i will share Friday but i think maybe they were only comfy prescribing L1s!

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So What Happened?

Well-I am now on bactrim- bacteria came back as highly responsive to it...but was not MRSA. Doc said though that if fever goes higher during the night to head to the ER for IV antibiotics since I have now had the fever/chills nearly 4 days which is concerning. I am a bit concerned that the lactating authorities say you shouldn't breastfeed a newborn because AAP wouldn't prescribe it for any baby less than 2 mos....there seems to be no indication of what technically constitutes a newborn. My baby is 6.5 weeks, but didn't have any jaundice issues- it would be contraindicated then. Here's hoping it helps!

Cheralyn: I actually have about 6 days worth of pumped milk in my freezer... So depending on how Long another antibiotic course would be.... I might just be Ok with my frozen milk. Seeing my OB tomorrow. Also ordered Hale's book on Medications and Mother's Milk.

More Answers

M.M.

answers from Tampa on

Most antibiotics are considered safe while breastfeeding... so I'm more than a bit confused at your Dr's office stating they didn't know what to do.

Keflex is an L1 - Nursing compatibility from "Medications and Mother's Milk" by Dr. T Hale, 2008 Edition.

Simple infection (Mayo Clinic)
Drugs commonly recommended for simple urinary tract infections include:

Sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (Bactrim, Septra) ****L3* moderately safe****

Amoxicillin (Larotid, Moxatag, others) - ****L1* safest****

Nitrofurantoin (Furadantin, Macrodantin, Macrobid) ****L2* safe****

Ampicillin - ****L1* safest****

Ciprofloxacin (Cipro) ****L3* moderately safe - observe infant for diarrhea****

Levofloxacin (Levaquin) ****L3* moderately safe - observe infant for diarrhea****

1 mom found this helpful
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J.S.

answers from Chicago on

I had a UTI while nursing and the first antibiotic I took didn't help. The doctor sent a second urine culture in for more substantial testing and it turned out I had a rarer type of UTI that wouldn't have responded to the first antibiotic so they put me on another type of antibiotic. Just saying you might want to make sure they've figured out exactly what kind of bacteria you have and have prescribed accordingly. There are several antibotics you can take while nursing, so that shouldn't be an issue.

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C.T.

answers from Chicago on

Have you thought about pumping and dumping while you take a prescription that will work for your infection?
You can either feed the baby formula or check with a milk bank and see if they will donate (pasturized) breast milk. The latter is kind of strange but they do screen and pasturize it so it is safe..........

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M.P.

answers from Raleigh on

Have them culture for mrsa. I had a mrsa infection after the birth of my daughter (mastitis). Initially, I was given Keflex which did nothing. Being the stubborn person I am, I just chalked my continued crappy feeling and pain up to recently given birth. Also, I had never had mastitis and didn't know how long it took for it to completely resolve. So I let it go. I ended up 6 weeks later at a breast specialist, and had to take a 3 mos of very, very strong antibiotics. I had to quit breastfeeding due to the effects on my baby.
Don't play around. If it is MRSA (which is all over the hospitals), it can really get you in a big mess if not caught.

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M.E.

answers from Jacksonville on

I had several UTIs while I was breastfeeding. I am allergic to amoxicllin so they gave me cipro. I kept a close eye on my son, but he was just fine and I was feeling better within the first couple of doses.

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