So I have been researching the reasons for getting antibiotics when positive for group b strep. Obviously it seems like most people just get them....I was leaning that way, but there are some reasons to not just do it, including the baby being at an increased risk for other infections, including E. coli, and thrush/yeast infections, plus the risk of creating a resistant "superbug." Some would say that risk of these things is greater than the risk of the baby actually contracting group b strep and causing disease. I have also read about how passing through the vaginal canal sets up the baby's bacterial flora for life and am worried that if I take antibiotics this will not be an optimal environment, causing the baby to be prone to allergies, eczema, and other problems. It is hard to find any reputable places that have evidence for this though and I would like to take some references to my doctor to discuss. I am hoping someone here knows a good reference site, and would also like to hear other mom's thoughts about refusing the antibiotics. It is also hard to find reputable places that talk about restoring the flora of the vagina- I don't want to just read some article that was in a random magazine, I am hoping for a study or an article by actual doctors that discuss any of these concerns. Anyone know of anything? Thanks.
I never even thought about declining antibiotics. I didn't have it with my first so I didn't need anything but I did have it with my second and got the antibiotics. They're still young but I will say that so far my first has worse allergies and a worse immune system than my second.
I will chance allergies, thrush, and a weakened immune system over the possibility of sepsis, meningitis, and pneumonia which may have more severe outcomes in an infant.
I'm not sure what your sources are but I would seriously question the scientific validity of anything saying you should not take the antibiotics. Strep B in mother is the top cause of meningitis in babies. Those other things are nothing compared to that and the risk is extremely high for baby if you are not on antibiotics. Talk to a medical doctor!
I'm curious about this too. My mom said they didn't do these tests when she was pregnant, so why wasn't it an issue when we were born? Were there tons of cases of meningitis in babies? I'm all for vaccinating, but I'd like to know more about this. It's never bad to do research and know reasons behind things.
I go for my GBS test this week and it has been a concern of mine that if I come back positive I will have to be hooked up to an IV which I absolutely do not want. Similar to what you said, I read a few things that sounded like the antibiotics have been turned to as the go-to measure when it's not really necessary. That being said, I think I would feel beyond guilty if she caught something because I refused the antibiotics. So I am hoping if the need arises there will be an alternative to an IV. Good luck with your decision!
@nolababybaby I asked my dr about that and she said they treated everyone as though they were positive. Chances are your mom had an iv drip of antibiotics and either doesn't remember or didn't know it.
I have no research for either side, just some personal experiences. My mom was GBS positive. When I was born she hadn't had time to get an IV (we lived 2 hrs from a hospital). I caught GBS from her. I am allergic to every form of penicillin, so I couldn't be treated for the strep. I was in NICU for 2 weeks and they never knew if I would make it through the night.
Now I'm not saying that everyone will be GBS positive, or that their babies will have the allergies that I do. It's just an example of an issue that could arise from not taking the antibiotics if they are recommended.
Formerly known as Kate08young August '18 Siggy April Showers:
Me: 28 H: 24 Married: 7/22/14 Baby L: 8/4/2015 August 2015 Moms Baby E: 11/18/2016 December 2016 Moms TTC #3 08/2017 BFP 11/27/2017. Twin B lost 11/22/2017, Twin A doing well.
As a NICU nurse and a mom who is generally opposed to the overuse of antibiotics, there is NO WAY I could refuse them if I was GBBS positive. I've seen far too many septic babies to risk that on my newborn. So while I value your willingness to evaluate the need for them, I encourage you to follow your doctors recommendation on this medical treatment.
BFP May 2017.
BFP July 2014. Low Progesterone. DS born by repeat c-section for breech presentation. BFP November 2011 TWINS!!!. Lost a twin at 7 weeks. DS born VBAC. BFP July 2009. DD born via c/section for breech presentation. BFP Jan. 2009. Missed miscarriage at 9 weeks.D&C March 2010 December 2009 - Diagnosed with bicornuate uterus.
Would it be better to decline an antibiotics via IV for yourself, or risk your baby getting GBS sepsis and watching them get an IV in their arm, a lumbar puncture in their spine, and a catheter up their urethra? I work in pediatrics and have seen babies die and get brain damage from GBS sepsis. You would be making a mistake to decline these antibiotics.
Would it be better to decline an antibiotics via IV for yourself, or risk your baby getting GBS sepsis and watching them get an IV in their arm, a lumbar puncture in their spine, and a catheter up their urethra? I work in pediatrics and have seen babies die and get brain damage from GBS sepsis. You would be making a mistake to decline these antibiotics.
That is sad and scary. I'm Sorry you have to see that
@FutureCearleyF I will be giving birth in the hospital. It is the hospitals policy to stick an IV in every arm that walks through their door whether it is medically necessary or not, which I will be refusing. I don't do well with needles and I know I won't labor effectively being distracted by an IV in my arm. Which is why I'm very much hoping I'm not positive for gbs. Has anyone ever been offered an alternative to an IV for receiving the antibiotics if I do come back positive?
My mom delivered me and I immediately had pnemonia. She wasn't tested for gbs but I told her about it and she said she probably had it but they didn't test for those things back then. I was in the hospital for ten days to recover. I now have gbs and wouldn't want to have my baby in nicu and possibly not survive.
@FutureCearleyF I will be giving birth in the hospital. It is the hospitals policy to stick an IV in every arm that walks through their door whether it is medically necessary or not, which I will be refusing. I don't do well with needles and I know I won't labor effectively being distracted by an IV in my arm. Which is why I'm very much hoping I'm not positive for gbs. Has anyone ever been offered an alternative to an IV for receiving the antibiotics if I do come back positive?
I do believe once the day comes for you, an IV will be the last of your worries and your fear of needles will seem so small. I hope God grants you the strength and knowledge to do what's right for your baby regardless of what you initially prefered.
@FutureCearleyF I will be giving birth in the hospital. It is the hospitals policy to stick an IV in every arm that walks through their door whether it is medically necessary or not, which I will be refusing. I don't do well with needles and I know I won't labor effectively being distracted by an IV in my arm. Which is why I'm very much hoping I'm not positive for gbs. Has anyone ever been offered an alternative to an IV for receiving the antibiotics if I do come back positive?
I do believe once the day comes for you, an IV will be the last of your worries and your fear of needles will seem so small. I hope God grants you the strength and knowledge to do what's right for your baby regardless of what you initially prefered.
And honestly, you can't really feel an IV that's been inserted correctly. The needle is involved for only a minute, then just the flexible tube is left. I would be willing to bet once labor starts, a small piece of tape on your hand will be the last thing on your mind.
I have had an IV before for a surgery in the past. My arm might as well be paralyzed when it is in place. It is the mental discomfort more than physical. Just knowing it's there makes me queasy, to the point of them worrying I was going to pass out. I don't feel like I'm going to be able to relax and focus on getting through the contractions that way. Just praying that I come back clear of gbs so I don't have to worry about it!
Lurking from the August 15 board but I couldn't help but share my experience. My daughter was born in May 14 and at two weeks old she stopped using her right arm..after several days doctors finally realized that she had late-onset gbs. I had tested negative at 35 weeks so there's no definitive answer to how she contracted it. Two surgeries to drain fluid and clean out her shoulder and a week on the infectious disease floor for IV antibiotics at two weeks old. Our orthopedic surgeon had never operated on one so small. If there had been anything I could've done to prevent her having to go through it or my husband and I from having to watch helplessly I never would have given it a second thought.
This time around they're just marking me as gbs + due to the history so I will definely be taking the antibiotics!
I'm all for an informed patient, but I think there are some things that shouldn't be choices when someone else's life is on the line (i.e. your baby) because of all of the crap on the internet, particularly things like penicillin or clindamycin for group B strep that are considered standard of care.
At the risk of sounding like a paternalistic physician myself, your doctor went to four years of college, four years of medical school, and four years of ObGyn residency plus possibly a fellowship if you're high risk or seeing some other specialist. Talk to them about it instead of looking for sham articles on the internet.
I'm all for an informed patient, but I think there are some things that shouldn't be choices when someone else's life is on the line (i.e. your baby) because of all of the crap on the internet, particularly things like penicillin or clindamycin for group B strep that are considered standard of care.
At the risk of sounding like a paternalistic physician myself, your doctor went to four years of college, four years of medical school, and four years of ObGyn residency plus possibly a fellowship if you're high risk or seeing some other specialist. Talk to them about it instead of looking for sham articles on the internet.
This. This this this this this.
Do not refuse the antibiotics. They are not for you, they are for your baby.
As for the woman that is terrified of an IV to the point that she would put her baby's life in possible danger to refuse one, I've rolled my eyes ten times at you.
Love, Your friendly pediatric intensive care nurse who has seen more than a few babies die due to group b strep sepsis.
And God forbid something happens to you, your blood pressure drops and they are scrambling to get an IV in you, what are you going to do? Then you and your family will want to try to blame the hospital all because you wouldn't just simply get a cath in your arm or hand.
Ladies this is not about YOU, this is about an innocent life that does not get a say. Why would you even consider not getting antibiotics to protect an innocent life that you have spent nine months loving?! Plus, as a clinician I HATE when people go to the internet for information they should be getting from their doctor! Not to mention do you know how much training we go through to read/interpret studies and articles? So finding something online to try and back up your decision can put you and your child in jeopardy! Please reconsider!!!
I've had two hospital births and one at a birth center and never once had an IV. Different circumstances for everyone but just saying it's not necessarily routine and everyone gets one
I have had an IV before for a surgery in the past. My arm might as well be paralyzed when it is in place. It is the mental discomfort more than physical. Just knowing it's there makes me queasy, to the point of them worrying I was going to pass out. I don't feel like I'm going to be able to relax and focus on getting through the contractions that way. Just praying that I come back clear of gbs so I don't have to worry about it!
I am the same way with needles HOWEVER I would never put a petty fear of mine ahead of the health of my children. How did you manage through your pregnancy? I mean bloodwork and knowing a baby will push through your vagina or a section was coming?
Personal anecdote isn't solid evidence, but seriously getting antibiotics really is not going to be the determining factor for allergies. My mom was GBS negative and didn't need them and I have tons, with my sister she was GBS positive got antibiotics and my sister doesn't even get hay fever. Also, superbugs occur when antibiotics are administered for non-bacterial infections and when people don't finish their antibiotics, which effectively kills weaker bacteria while letting the stronger ones thrive. Not when an antibiotic is used to treat bacteria in the correct dosage. Medical professionals are really not trying to harm you or your baby.
It is great to see you take such an interest in your own & your babies health. It looks like you want to do the best for your baby, but may be getting different opinions on what is the best decision. I would recommend taking all your information you have found to your doctor and discuss each concern than decide what is the best decision in your situation. Medicine is not perfect and we all try to make the best decision based on the proven facts we have. Good Luck
I didn't know people did this (refused them). My dr treated me when the result came back positive (with oral antibiotics), but even though it was proven, the hospital still forced me to have it in my drip when I went into labor.
I'm pretty sure she was asking whether anyone had read anything about alternatives or side effects so that she could have an informed discussion with her doctor, not asking the board whether or not she should get the antibiotics. I haven't come across much about topic, so I'm also curious. It doesn't mean I'm not going to take the drugs. There are some really amazing doctors out there, but there are some really terrible ones as well. It's always best to be as informed as possible so that you can have a discussion and not just take medical advice blindly.
Also, my doctor told me today that you can take pills instead of an IV.
I know I'll get a warning for this but I'm totally warranted in saying this ... Fuck off. I had strep b , had to be induced , yes for 6 days before bub was induced I had antibiotics , and you know what he's healthy .. Happy, and feeding nicely .. I'm glad I had the antibiotics , after breaking my membranes and leaking fluid for 6 days I kind of liked knowing that he and I were at a lower chance of getting sicker or something more sinister ... FFs do it for the baby, I think it would be ridiculous not to
@cloudedskies , I'm so happy you're back! How's the LO and how are you recovering? As far as the debate, in my birthing class the instructor said that she would "highly recommend" getting the antibiotic. It's not even a question in my mind if I am positive. I'd rather my LO has allergies than risk serious complications.
Hey everyone- I never said that I wasn't going to get the antibiotics; I actually said I was leaning toward getting them. I just believe in researching my options and being an informed patient. Just because I am questioning something doesn't make me a horrible mother, as many of you seem to be insinuating. I am aware of the possibility of what can happen if the baby contracts GBS from me, and I am already freaked out enough that something I have could harm my child. I am just trying to make sure that this is in fact the best decision- I have spent hours reading about it, and just thought it would be interesting to hear other people's point of view. Just because I am not a doctor myself doesn't mean I am not capable of researching a concern so I can bring it to my doctor's attention and then be able to ask intelligent, thought-provoking questions. (Which is what I said in my post- that I wanted to bring info to my doctor- obviously I am trying to find real info, not just "sham articles on the internet"). I just want to know more than my doctor's printout and 1 minute conversation with me provided last week. Is it so horrible to question why medical procedures are being performed on you and your baby, to want to honestly understand everything that is going on? I also never said anything about getting or declining an IV catheter (I actually have no problem with that at all and would have one no matter if I was getting IV antibiotics or not). Nobody has actually discussed any of my concerns from the original post yet, either. And those actually are legitimate thoughts- I am not making this stuff up, people. Antibiotic resistance is a huge concern, and it doesn't seem as though doctors yet completely understand how birth sets a baby's microbiome for life. So I am just wondering where getting antibiotics the second you are born fits in to this debate.
I think the point is there is NO real evidence for not doing it. I applaud you for being informed but once it's realized real medicine does not support crazy tales, it's time to move back to science based medicine. As a previous poster pointed out, antibiotic resistance comes from incomplete usage of antibiotics, inappropriate use (such as for the flu), etc. it DOES NOT come from proper usage of antibiotics fo proven deadly bacterial infections. For a lay person seeking science based information, I recommend the Mayo Clinic and the CDC. Both of these places recommend antibiotics. Period.
I'm all for an informed patient, but I think there are some things that shouldn't be choices when someone else's life is on the line (i.e. your baby) because of all of the crap on the internet, particularly things like penicillin or clindamycin for group B strep that are considered standard of care.
At the risk of sounding like a paternalistic physician myself, your doctor went to four years of college, four years of medical school, and four years of ObGyn residency plus possibly a fellowship if you're high risk or seeing some other specialist. Talk to them about it instead of looking for sham articles on the internet.
This. This this this this this.
Do not refuse the antibiotics. They are not for you, they are for your baby.
As for the woman that is terrified of an IV to the point that she would put her baby's life in possible danger to refuse one, I've rolled my eyes ten times at you.
Love, Your friendly pediatric intensive care nurse who has seen more than a few babies die due to group b strep sepsis.
So I guess you just read the posts in the thread that suited you to "eye roll" at and not the very first thing I posted stating that I would be taking the antibiotics should the need arise?
ETA: "As for the woman that is terrified of an IV to the point that she would put her baby's life in possible danger to refuse one"
What a arrogant, disgusting and assuming thing for you to say.
I'm pretty sure she was asking whether anyone had read anything about alternatives or side effects so that she could have an informed discussion with her doctor, not asking the board whether or not she should get the antibiotics. I haven't come across much about topic, so I'm also curious. It doesn't mean I'm not going to take the drugs. There are some really amazing doctors out there, but there are some really terrible ones as well. It's always best to be as informed as possible so that you can have a discussion and not just take medical advice blindly.
Also, my doctor told me today that you can take pills instead of an IV.
THANK YOU! I asked if anyone knew of an alternative to an IV and in turn was told that I'm some kind of demon mother who would rather skip an IV than have a healthy child. Reading comprehension isn't for everyone I guess...
Re: Declining antibiotics when Strep B positive- reasons? thoughts?
Also-i agree with everyone to take the antibiotic!
My mom was GBS positive. When I was born she hadn't had time to get an IV (we lived 2 hrs from a hospital). I caught GBS from her. I am allergic to every form of penicillin, so I couldn't be treated for the strep. I was in NICU for 2 weeks and they never knew if I would make it through the night.
Now I'm not saying that everyone will be GBS positive, or that their babies will have the allergies that I do. It's just an example of an issue that could arise from not taking the antibiotics if they are recommended.
Formerly known as Kate08young
August '18 Siggy April Showers:
Married: 7/22/14
Baby L: 8/4/2015 August 2015 Moms
Baby E: 11/18/2016 December 2016 Moms
TTC #3 08/2017 BFP 11/27/2017.
Twin B lost 11/22/2017, Twin A doing well.
BFP May 2017.
BFP November 2011 TWINS!!!. Lost a twin at 7 weeks. DS born VBAC.
BFP July 2009. DD born via c/section for breech presentation.
BFP Jan. 2009. Missed miscarriage at 9 weeks.D&C March 2010
December 2009 - Diagnosed with bicornuate uterus.
This isn't the case at every hospital. Mine only gives IV with an epidural.
This time around they're just marking me as gbs + due to the history so I will definely be taking the antibiotics!
Do not refuse the antibiotics. They are not for you, they are for your baby.
As for the woman that is terrified of an IV to the point that she would put her baby's life in possible danger to refuse one, I've rolled my eyes ten times at you.
Love,
Your friendly pediatric intensive care nurse who has seen more than a few babies die due to group b strep sepsis.
Ladies this is not about YOU, this is about an innocent life that does not get a say. Why would you even consider not getting antibiotics to protect an innocent life that you have spent nine months loving?! Plus, as a clinician I HATE when people go to the internet for information they should be getting from their doctor! Not to mention do you know how much training we go through to read/interpret studies and articles? So finding something online to try and back up your decision can put you and your child in jeopardy! Please reconsider!!!
Also, superbugs occur when antibiotics are administered for non-bacterial infections and when people don't finish their antibiotics, which effectively kills weaker bacteria while letting the stronger ones thrive. Not when an antibiotic is used to treat bacteria in the correct dosage.
Medical professionals are really not trying to harm you or your baby.
There are some really amazing doctors out there, but there are some really terrible ones as well. It's always best to be as informed as possible so that you can have a discussion and not just take medical advice blindly.
Also, my doctor told me today that you can take pills instead of an IV.
As far as the debate, in my birthing class the instructor said that she would "highly recommend" getting the antibiotic. It's not even a question in my mind if I am positive. I'd rather my LO has allergies than risk serious complications.
I also never said anything about getting or declining an IV catheter (I actually have no problem with that at all and would have one no matter if I was getting IV antibiotics or not).
Nobody has actually discussed any of my concerns from the original post yet, either. And those actually are legitimate thoughts- I am not making this stuff up, people. Antibiotic resistance is a huge concern, and it doesn't seem as though doctors yet completely understand how birth sets a baby's microbiome for life. So I am just wondering where getting antibiotics the second you are born fits in to this debate.
https://midwifethinking.com/2014/01/15/the-human-microbiome-considerations-for-pregnancy-birth-and-early-mothering/
https://commonhealth.wbur.org/2014/06/birth-canal-bacteria-c-section
For a lay person seeking science based information, I recommend the Mayo Clinic and the CDC. Both of these places recommend antibiotics. Period.
ETA: "As for the woman that is terrified of an IV to the point that she would put her baby's life in possible danger to refuse one"
What a arrogant, disgusting and assuming thing for you to say.