GBS

AACaHa13

So at my appointment yesterday, my midwife said I tested GBS positive. Not cool. Now I am somewhat worried about going into labor and not being able to labor much at home because I need to get the antibiotic in for 4 hours before the baby is born. Its just a bummer! Anyone else test +? Or have experience with this in the past?

Limo526

I'm positive too. Makes me worried as well she said if my water breaks to call right away. I feel like it puts on added pressure but she keeps assuring me not to worry.

gnomely

I had it last time. I got at least three bags of antibiotics---my labor was long---but not a big deal really. The hep-lock was annoying, but that's about it. I didn't have to stay in bed when receiving the drip, but couldn't move far. We also had to stay an extra day for monitoring.

So...yeah, an annoyance but not a big deal in the scheme of things.

AACaHa13

Limo526 said:

I'm positive too. Makes me worried as well she said if my water breaks to call right away. I feel like it puts on added pressure but she keeps assuring me not to worry.

Yeah, same here. My midwife didn't act like it was that big of a deal but I can relate with the added pressure.
:-S

AACaHa13

KatieS7 said:

I'm GBS positive, have been with all my pregnancies. Ya, it sucks that you aren't able to labour at home very much but it it's the price you pay. With my second, from the time my water broke to when she was delivered was 3 hrs so I did not get the antibiotics for long enough...she was completely okay. I just spent last weekend in l&d and was able to get and move around in between bags of the medicine. The drip would actually only take 20 minutes so it wasn't bad being confined to the bed for 20 minutes at a time. It sucks, but you can do it!

 

Thanks for the encouragement!That is what I worry about...not having the antibiotics long enough! But I guess we will see what happens and its nice they monitor the baby closely afterwards. I have GD too so its just another thing to add to the list. Although not much longer to go!!

SarahinMD

I'll get my results at my appt tomorrow, but we talked with the midwife since there's concern/thought my labor will be fast this time. She basically said, "Eh, we do what we can. If we can get you both doses, we do, if not, we just do our best, and it will be fine." Good that they know, and I'm sure they'll do all they can, and things will be fine! Good luck!

J&Jaggies06

SarahinMD said:

I'll get my results at my appt tomorrow, but we talked with the midwife since there's concern/thought my labor will be fast this time. She basically said, "Eh, we do what we can. If we can get you both doses, we do, if not, we just do our best, and it will be fine." Good that they know, and I'm sure they'll do all they can, and things will be fine! Good luck!

This. I had it last time too. My MW said if I get to 40 weeks I can request for them to retest me because by then it could be negative. It is annoying but nothing to stress about.

AACaHa13

SarahinMD said:

I'll get my results at my appt tomorrow, but we talked with the midwife since there's concern/thought my labor will be fast this time. She basically said, "Eh, we do what we can. If we can get you both doses, we do, if not, we just do our best, and it will be fine." Good that they know, and I'm sure they'll do all they can, and things will be fine! Good luck!

haha! This is exactly how my midwife talked to me about it! They seem so at ease about everything and while that makes me feel better, I still worry about potential complications! Guess that is normal! Thank you

Missuskeekers

I tested positive and am totally freaking out. Not about the iv, I couldn't care less about that. I am more concerned about getting all the doses of antibiotics and I am really scared he will get early onset gbs anyways. I know the chance is small but if it happens, it's super scary!

Limo526

Missuskeekers said:

I tested positive and am totally freaking out. Not about the iv, I couldn't care less about that. I am more concerned about getting all the doses of antibiotics and I am really scared he will get early onset gbs anyways. I know the chance is small but if it happens, it's super scary!

This is my fear too but I'm trying to stay positive. As soon as I think my water breaks or I'm having consistent contractions I'm going to L and D.

Cosmic+Love

Missuskeekers said:

I tested positive and am totally freaking out. Not about the iv, I couldn't care less about that. I am more concerned about getting all the doses of antibiotics and I am really scared he will get early onset gbs anyways. I know the chance is small but if it happens, it's super scary!

I tested positive too and I am very nervous about passing it along. I've had an increase in discharge (sorry TMI) towards the end of pregnancy, and I keep thinking it's amniotic fluid. It isn't - I checked with the doctor. But, I already have this guilt that I'm a bad mom for even putting LO in this position.

BelhurstBride

I had it with DD. Having to get to the hospital earlier than planned wasn't fantastic, but it was okay. 

The Evidence Based Birth blog had an article on GBS that I found comforting. 

https://evidencebasedbirth.com/groupbstrep/

AACaHa13

BelhurstBride said:

I had it with DD. Having to get to the hospital earlier than planned wasn't fantastic, but it was okay. 

The Evidence Based Birth blog had an article on GBS that I found comforting. 

https://evidencebasedbirth.com/groupbstrep/

Thanks for sharing the article. I guess I wasn't aware that it can cause complications such as meningitis. I read that having the antibiotic during labor can sometimes have an effect on the baby's gut flora and cause issues later. I hate feeling like there is nothing I can do... I am pretty scared.

BuckyC

I'm so glad I found this post. I just got a call today from my dr that I tested positive. It's good to read that it's an annoyance but nothing to be too stressed about. As a FTM, I am worried, but you ladies have eased my mind a bit.

For those who've been through this before, were your little ones OK? Did they suffer any complications or need extra monitoring? I'm obviously most worried about passing it on to LO.

11dematosk

Ok this might seem like a stupid question, but how come a lot of websites say that a pregnant woman taking probiotics who initially tested positive, might test negative if they are retested. However, if you test positive the hospital will give you antibiotics not probiotics in order to prevent you passing it to the baby during labor. Doesn't this seem contradictory?

Also, won't giving women in labor antibiotics just increase your risk for a yeast infection, but now suddenly it's ok to have? This also doesn't make sense to me.

BelhurstBride

BuckyC said:

I'm so glad I found this post. I just got a call today from my dr that I tested positive. It's good to read that it's an annoyance but nothing to be too stressed about. As a FTM, I am worried, but you ladies have eased my mind a bit. For those who've been through this before, were your little ones OK? Did they suffer any complications or need extra monitoring? I'm obviously most worried about passing it on to LO.

DD was fine and because I was able to recieve the entire dose of antibiotics prior to delivery she didn't require any additional monitoring. 

According to the CDC's 2012 statistics there were only .25 early GBS infections out of 1000 births. It's incredibly, incredibly rare. 

CelticWife

11dematosk said:

Ok this might seem like a stupid question, but how come a lot of websites say that a pregnant woman taking probiotics who initially tested positive, might test negative if they are retested. However, if you test positive the hospital will give you antibiotics not probiotics in order to prevent you passing it to the baby during labor. Doesn't this seem contradictory?

Also, won't giving women in labor antibiotics just increase your risk for a yeast infection, but now suddenly it's ok to have? This also doesn't make sense to me.

I haven't received the results of my gbs test, but I do have antibiotics during labor for my CHD. The paperwork I have states that you have a 7% chance of having a yeast/vaginal infection after delivery; it goes up to a 15% chance with antibiotics.

AACaHa13

11dematosk said:

Ok this might seem like a stupid question, but how come a lot of websites say that a pregnant woman taking probiotics who initially tested positive, might test negative if they are retested. However, if you test positive the hospital will give you antibiotics not probiotics in order to prevent you passing it to the baby during labor. Doesn't this seem contradictory?

Also, won't giving women in labor antibiotics just increase your risk for a yeast infection, but now suddenly it's ok to have? This also doesn't make sense to me.

I don't get it either. I decided that since I tested positive, I would start taking probiotics and have my midwife retest me in a couple weeks if I haven't had the baby yet. She said if I retest and its negative, I probably won't need the antibiotics. She said if I still test positive and have the antibiotics during labor, by starting probiotics now it will really help decrease my chance of a yeast infection afterwards. I am taking florajen.

Limo526

Thanks for the suggestion I think I'll start taking them as well

11dematosk

AACaHa13 said:

11dematosk said:

Ok this might seem like a stupid question, but how come a lot of websites say that a pregnant woman taking probiotics who initially tested positive, might test negative if they are retested. However, if you test positive the hospital will give you antibiotics not probiotics in order to prevent you passing it to the baby during labor. Doesn't this seem contradictory?

Also, won't giving women in labor antibiotics just increase your risk for a yeast infection, but now suddenly it's ok to have? This also doesn't make sense to me.

I don't get it either. I decided that since I tested positive, I would start taking probiotics and have my midwife retest me in a couple weeks if I haven't had the baby yet. She said if I retest and its negative, I probably won't need the antibiotics. She said if I still test positive and have the antibiotics during labor, by starting probiotics now it will really help decrease my chance of a yeast infection afterwards. I am taking florajen.

Can you buy florajen OTC? Or does my ob have to prescribe it?

Limo526

Does it matter what kind of probiotic to take or any store brand is ok?

Simpkinsdillon6

I tested positive with my 3rd. He came so fast the nurse didn't have time for any pain meds, IV's, or antibiotics. I was so worried about the antibiotics but he did great and they didn't give either of us any antibiotics after the birth. You and your baby will be just fine:) good luck!

Missuskeekers

11dematosk said:

Ok this might seem like a stupid question, but how come a lot of websites say that a pregnant woman taking probiotics who initially tested positive, might test negative if they are retested. However, if you test positive the hospital will give you antibiotics not probiotics in order to prevent you passing it to the baby during labor. Doesn't this seem contradictory?

Also, won't giving women in labor antibiotics just increase your risk for a yeast infection, but now suddenly it's ok to have? This also doesn't make sense to me.

You take probiotics to help the good bacteria overwhelm the bad bacteria. Antibiotics are used to kill the bad bacteria but they also sometimes kill the good, which can sometimes result in yeast infections. You aren't taking the antibiotics for your health though, you are taking it for your baby's health.

Probiotics do not work quickly enough or reliably enough to be used during labor to prevent an infection to your baby.

I am personally taking probiotics to help reduce the risk to my little guy, and to give me some protection against yeast infections post birth, however I still fully intend to get antibiotics to protect my baby.

Limo526

Missuskeekers said:

11dematosk said:

Ok this might seem like a stupid question, but how come a lot of websites say that a pregnant woman taking probiotics who initially tested positive, might test negative if they are retested. However, if you test positive the hospital will give you antibiotics not probiotics in order to prevent you passing it to the baby during labor. Doesn't this seem contradictory?

Also, won't giving women in labor antibiotics just increase your risk for a yeast infection, but now suddenly it's ok to have? This also doesn't make sense to me.

You take probiotics to help the good bacteria overwhelm the bad bacteria. Antibiotics are used to kill the bad bacteria but they also sometimes kill the good, which can sometimes result in yeast infections. You aren't taking the antibiotics for your health though, you are taking it for your baby's health.

Probiotics do not work quickly enough or reliably enough to be used during labor to prevent an infection to your baby.

I am personally taking probiotics to help reduce the risk to my little guy, and to give me some protection against yeast infections post birth, however I still fully intend to get antibiotics to protect my baby.

What probiotic are you on? I'm wondering if it matters.

Missuskeekers

Limo526 said:

Missuskeekers said:

11dematosk said:

Ok this might seem like a stupid question, but how come a lot of websites say that a pregnant woman taking probiotics who initially tested positive, might test negative if they are retested. However, if you test positive the hospital will give you antibiotics not probiotics in order to prevent you passing it to the baby during labor. Doesn't this seem contradictory?

Also, won't giving women in labor antibiotics just increase your risk for a yeast infection, but now suddenly it's ok to have? This also doesn't make sense to me.

You take probiotics to help the good bacteria overwhelm the bad bacteria. Antibiotics are used to kill the bad bacteria but they also sometimes kill the good, which can sometimes result in yeast infections. You aren't taking the antibiotics for your health though, you are taking it for your baby's health.

Probiotics do not work quickly enough or reliably enough to be used during labor to prevent an infection to your baby.

I am personally taking probiotics to help reduce the risk to my little guy, and to give me some protection against yeast infections post birth, however I still fully intend to get antibiotics to protect my baby.

What probiotic are you on? I'm wondering if it matters.

I'm taking Ultimate Flora Vaginal Support.

Limo526

Thanks I went tonight looking for a good one but they all seem to be intestinal probiotics. Maybe I should have looked in feminine hygiene section?

AACaHa13

11dematosk said:

AACaHa13 said:

11dematosk said:

Ok this might seem like a stupid question, but how come a lot of websites say that a pregnant woman taking probiotics who initially tested positive, might test negative if they are retested. However, if you test positive the hospital will give you antibiotics not probiotics in order to prevent you passing it to the baby during labor. Doesn't this seem contradictory?

Also, won't giving women in labor antibiotics just increase your risk for a yeast infection, but now suddenly it's ok to have? This also doesn't make sense to me.

I don't get it either. I decided that since I tested positive, I would start taking probiotics and have my midwife retest me in a couple weeks if I haven't had the baby yet. She said if I retest and its negative, I probably won't need the antibiotics. She said if I still test positive and have the antibiotics during labor, by starting probiotics now it will really help decrease my chance of a yeast infection afterwards. I am taking florajen.

Can you buy florajen OTC? Or does my ob have to prescribe it?

I went to the florajen website and they have a place where you can type in your zip code for the nearest places that sell it. I found one at our nearest wal mart, it was in the pharmacy dept and did not need a prescription for it. I called to make sure they had it, They got it ready and I went and bought it. Florajen coupons are on the website as well. I am taking floragen3 because it is stronger.

Missuskeekers

Limo526 said:

Thanks I went tonight looking for a good one but they all seem to be intestinal probiotics. Maybe I should have looked in feminine hygiene section?

I got mine at a health store if that helps. All they carry is vitamins, supplements and probiotics so I think they have a better selection.

Limo526

Thanks I'm going to try gnc down the street