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Updated: Oct 31, 2025
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Long-term Behavioral and Reproductive Consequences of Embryonic Exposure to Low-dose Toxicants
Published on: March 6, 2018
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Prenatal antibiotic exposure and birth weight
Nupoor Tomar1,2, Cecilie Skaarup Uldbjerg3, Bodil Hammer Bech3
1Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Australia.
Pediatric Obesity
|June 30, 2021
Summary
Prenatal antibiotic exposure generally does not impact birth weight. However, exposure during the second to third trimester may be linked to lower birth weight, particularly in preterm male infants.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Pediatrics
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Emerging research links early-life antibiotic use to later obesity.
- Limited data exists on prenatal antibiotic exposure and fetal growth.
- This study investigates the relationship between prenatal antibiotic exposure and birth weight.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between antibiotic use during pregnancy and infant birth weight.
- To explore potential differences in this association based on trimester of exposure, infant sex, and gestational age.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Danish National Birth Cohort and Danish National Medical Birth Registry.
- Included 63,300 mother-child dyads from 1996 to 2002.
- Employed multivariable linear regression, adjusting for predefined confounders.
Main Results:
- Overall prenatal antibiotic exposure showed no significant association with birth weight.
- Exposure during the second to third trimester was associated with a slight decrease in birth weight (p=0.03).
- A significant association was observed between prenatal antibiotic exposure and higher birth weight in preterm male infants (p=0.03).
Conclusions:
- Prenatal antibiotic exposure does not demonstrate a consistent association with birth weight.
- Specific timing of exposure (second to third trimester) and infant sex (males) may modify the relationship with birth weight, particularly in preterm infants.
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