BV during first trimester

[Powell130]

I was diagnosed last week or so and was prescribed 250 mg Flagyl 3x a day for 7 days. Now I've been googling and am finding conflicting info about treatment during first tri. Kinda freaking out!

Anyone else been diagnosed with it?

 

[Nerdy]

this is 3rd tri, BUT I will respond here since I happened to see it while stalking this board (yeah yeah I know... I have nearly 3 months to go before I'm here). I was diagnosed with BV after spotting/cramping from week 8 - 10 and was prescribed Metrogel at 10 weeks which freaked me right out since there was so much conflicting info about it being dangerous etc. And keep in mind I'm a complete and total nerd *points to screen name* and I KNOW that medication CANNOT cause congenital defects such as cleft palates etc etc, but when you're pregnant every little thing freaks you out. Now... That all being said, you need to keep in mind that your OB is NOT going to do anything that would hurt your baby or risk them being sued for malpractice. The benefits ALWAYS have to outweigh the risks that ANY medication can present, and trust me, I'm super weird about taking even tylenol during pregnancy but I did the Metrogel pessiaries and was VERY happy to see that the cramping and spotting stopped within 24 hours of dose one.

I'm now 14 weeks and heading boldly towards 15 weeks with a very active and healthy little one cooking in there. I suggest taking the Flagyl OR asking them to prescribe the Metrogel. Either way the risks of having BV are a lot scarier than the risks of the meds.

 

[Powell130]

It was given to me by a NP in the ER when I went in with weird tenderness on my left side (freaking out it was ectopic, but its not!) which made me a little less comfortable than being prescribed it by an OB.

I'm probably being my paranoid freak self tho lol I'm sure she at least took a peak at the info regarding taking during pregnancy. She was really understanding about my worries because I've had two miscarriages. She has had 4 herself.

I just can't help but worry a little! Oh the joys of first tri!

I also found info that like 1/3 will get it again within 3 months. Are you doing anything preventative to try to keep it from coming back? Would probiotics be enough?

 

[Nerdy]

Probios SHOULD be enough. I tried keeping DH from having sex unprotected, but we failed miserably at that, LOL. I never had any symptoms other than the spotting/cramping so I keep a constant eye out for that. Honestly, ER doctors are going to be the same way when it comes to not wanting to get sued. I'd ring your OB to tell her what's going on and see if she agrees with the treatment, and of course, bring up the MetroGel. I totally agree that it's better safe than sorry. I suffered one loss myself after dealing with the H1N1 virus back in 2009, so I totally can appreciate feeling nervous and gunshy.

 

[Baby.Love12]

I was told I had bv in first trimester even though I had no symptoms of it. I have had it before so I know what to expect with it. I was seeing my fertility specialist at the time however something told me not to do it. I called my ob that I would eventually go to when I got to second trimester and they told me it is usually not treated until second trimester. I never took anything for it and have not had any problems this pregnancy. I won't even take Tylenol bc I am so paranoid. Good luck!

 

[Powell130]

Did they give you a reason why they dont treat until second tri?

 

[Baby.Love12]

Just that the risk outweighs the benefit at that point.

 

[Powell130]

Risk of what?

 

[Baby.Love12]

They only like to treat it once during the course of a pregnancy. With any medication there is always risks of adverse effects. Sometimes bv resolves itself and if you still have it at 12 weeks then they will treat it.

 

[Ameli]

I had it in 1st tri and was prescribed flagyl but not allowed to take it until 12 weeks.

 

[Powell130]

They only like to treat it once during the course of a pregnancy. With any medication there is always risks of adverse effects. Sometimes bv resolves itself and if you still have it at 12 weeks then they will treat it.

I've read that but did they say WHAT the risks are?

 

[Powell130]

I had it in 1st tri and was prescribed flagyl but not allowed to take it until 12 weeks.

Y'all got me freaking out a bit over here. Were you told why?

 

[Becca_89]

Hi I had BV in the 1st trimester and i think I was given the same treatment as you. I spoke to a few people there in the clinic and then also spoke to my midwife after who said it would be fine. Which so far it has been.
Maybe call your dr and ask for his advice if it wasnt him/her who prescribed it.

For the rest of the pregnancy i avoided anything with a scent, or tried to stop bathing (which i do a lot of now)
Hope your ok xx

 

[Ameli]

I had it in 1st tri and was prescribed flagyl but not allowed to take it until 12 weeks.

Y'all got me freaking out a bit over here. Were you told why?

Sorry! I think it's mainly because there's not much research that's been done on it. By 12 weeks most of baby's systems are formed. If you're concerned I would ask your doc about it.

 

[MemmaJ]

I was treated for it in the first AND second trimester (it came back after the treatment in first trimester which was around 10 weeks, so I was given something different at around 18 weeks).
If it came back again after that, there was talk of low-dose treatment throughout the rest of my pregnancy as BV carries small risks in itself (and I already have history of pre-term delivery so no-one wanted t take any chances). It did clear up though with the different antibiotic.

Generally as long as whoever has given you the prescription knows you're pregnant, I would think that they probably consider if safe for use in that stage of pregnancy (or at least that the benefit of it outweighs the risk)