Medications, Pregnancy and Lactation

Antibiotic use during pregnancy: Risks and benefits for the mother and child

Despite the fact that antibiotics are among the most frequently used drugs during pregnancy, there is no agreement about the risks and benefits for pregnant women and their children.

The objectives of this research project are to: (1) determine the prevalence and trends of antibiotic use before, during and after pregnancy, (2) identify predictors associated with antibiotic use during pregnancy, and (3) evaluate the association between antibiotic exposure and prematurity, low birth weight and major congenital malformations according to the term of exposure. These different aspects of antibiotic use during pregnancy are studied using data from the Quebec Pregnancy Registry.