Our fevers, combined with my water breaking more than 12 hours before delivery, put her at risk of infection. Neonatal intensive care was protocol, we were told. But they promised no antibiotics until tests confirmed their suspicions.
By the time I got to her bedside, her head had an intravenous needle in it delivering antibiotics. Days later, we took home a very colicky baby—who never had a bacterial infection after all.
Such is the tale of antibiotics. They work miracles when they’re the right answer. For millions every year, they’re the wrong answer, and we’re discovering there can be adverse effects—many beginning in your gut—and even grave consequences. Understanding why can empower you to have better conversations with your doctor.
