Antibiotics may be used during preterm labor  to prevent an infection. You will need antibiotics if an infection is causing your preterm labor. They type of antibiotics used depends on the bacteria causing the infection. However the most commonly used antibiotics during labor include the following :

• erythromycin
• clindamycin
• ampicillin
• gentamycin
• metronidazole

You have to know that antibiotics do not always clear up uterine infection and do not always prevent premature labor. If the uterus of the mother is infected and the child is not matured enough,  the health care professional might not try to delay the birth.

NOTE

Preterm premature rapture of membrane pPROM means that your water breaks before 37 weeks of pregnancy . When antibiotics are given to women with pPROM , the antibiotics may

• increase time from pPROM to delivery
• decrease the risk of infection in the vagina and  uterus
• lower the risk of fetal infection

Antibiotics are not a recommended treatment for women in preterm labor whose membranes are intact.  This means the amniotic sac has not raptured. However some women get antibiotics treatment to treat or prevent group B strep.