Strep b: oral antibiotics now vs iv antibiotics during labor?

Karenin

This is my 3rd baby. With baby 2 I tested positive for strep b and had iv antibiotics during labor and all was fine. This time I tested positive again. I have a new OB (recently moved) and he wants me to take oral antibiotics now for a few days to try to clear it up. I'm not arguing with this I'm just curious as this is different what what my last OB did. Both OBs are great so it's not that I mustrust either one's approach, but I'm wondering if anyone knows the reason why you'd do iv versus oral antibiotics.

kmo8986

I hadn't heard of the oral antibiotics. Then will they test again closer to your due date to make sure you don't need IV? I tested negative my first pregnancy but ended up with IV penicillin anyway because my water broke and baby didn't come until 28 hours later. I would almost rather the IV, just because antibiotics mess with my stomach so why take them now if it isn't necessary.

tdart14

Do they retest? If they don't retest then I would go with it just to be safe. If they are retesting then I see no harm in oral antibiotics.

kaym6

How many weeks are you? One of the books I had said if you test positive before 35 weeks that they will treat you then and then retest again to determine if you need antibiotics before delivery (between 35-38 weeks) It stated that testing positive before 35 weeks isn't a valid indicator of if you will still carry it when you deliver. It sounds like they want to give you oral now and then I would think they would retest you closer to delivery I of course don't know for sure!

tdart14

Do they retest? If they don't retest then I would go with iv just to be safe. If they are retesting then I see no harm in oral antibiotics.

holocene

I'm guessing they will retest you. I'd take the antibiotics to clear it up before labour, if possible. 

Or, you can try an alternate route. Apple Cider Vinegar is very effect in treating group b strep, but you have to be pretty dedicated. I think you take a shot of 2 tbsp per day. There's a lot of things you can try. Probiotics, cranberry juice (the real, concentrated stuff), fermented cod liver oil, vit c, etc. 

Beverly0628

You should ask your new OB why he wants to treat your group B strep this way if you are curious. I'm sure he would have no problem explaining to you, in detail, the reason that he is choosing to go this route for your treatment, if you ask. Please do not rely on guesses from women on The Bump (most of whom do not have extensive education regarding this topic, are not deeply familiar with your medical history, and are not medical professionals/ did not go to medical school) regarding any medical treatment that your provider has deemed appropriate for you.
Additionally, group B strep is very serious and can cause sepsis and meningitis in newborns. It is irresponsible to entertain methods of treatment other than antibiotics (apple cider vinegar, vitamins, probiotics etc.) for group B strep, or any other serious bacterial infection while pregnant.
I'm not trying to be Debbie Downer here, but this is a pretty serious topic that you should only listen to a doctor's input on.
Good luck with everything and H&H rest of your pregnancy!

holocene

Beverly0628 - At this stage, I don't think it's irresponsible to try other methods, if you so wished. But only as long as you were ensuring that you were testing again later on in pregnancy. As mentioned, group b strep can have grave consequences and treatment has to be taken seriously. 

ETA: quote fail. 

ljhgrey

I tested positive early, found out due to UTI. Treated with antibiotics and it cleared, but no matter what I'm getting IV antibiotics at delivery because it can come back so quickly. I was comfortable treating it earlier with antibiotics because I truly think it can cause unnoticed infections that can cause premature rupture of membranes (I delivered at 36w5d last pregnancy because of early membranes rupture and I am convinced GBS is why). It can even infect the fetus in utero in severe instances. I didn't want to mess around with it.

maureenmce

Interesting, I've never heard of oral antibiotics beforehand, just the IV kind during labor.  I would definitely ask your dr some more questions about why he recommends that approach.  If you can take the oral antibiotics and be relatively sure of not having to take the IV kind it might be nice to get it out of the way and not have to be tied down to an IV  during labor (if you won't be anyway.)  

But if it has a high incidence of reoccurring and you may have to get both, I'd personally opt to wait (with dr approval) and just get the IV.  Better to only have to take antibiotics once, if you have a choice.

PedsIsHardcore

Beverly0628 said:

You should ask your new OB why he wants to treat your group B strep this way if you are curious. I'm sure he would have no problem explaining to you, in detail, the reason that he is choosing to go this route for your treatment, if you ask. Please do not rely on guesses from women on The Bump (most of whom do not have extensive education regarding this topic, are not deeply familiar with your medical history, and are not medical professionals/ did not go to medical school) regarding any medical treatment that your provider has deemed appropriate for you.
Additionally, group B strep is very serious and can cause sepsis and meningitis in newborns. It is irresponsible to entertain methods of treatment other than antibiotics (apple cider vinegar, vitamins, probiotics etc.) for group B strep, or any other serious bacterial infection while pregnant.
I'm not trying to be Debbie Downer here, but this is a pretty serious topic that you should only listen to a doctor's input on.
Good luck with everything and H&H rest of your pregnancy!

What she said. Your OB takes medical responsibility for you and I'm sure he is going with the protocol he is most comfortable with. It's a serious bacterial infection. Your OB is treating you with a method he knows is effective treatment for it. Unless your OB tells you otherwise, I wouldn't go for other treatment options. But that's also my opinion. At the end of the day it's your choice.

Karenin

Thanks everyone!I'm taking the antibiotics as advised- I wasnt considering trying other methods, and I'm asking about it next week at my appointment, I was just curious if others had done this too. They found it in a uribe culture. I'm nearly 28 weeks so I'm guessing it's because its early enough that tgey might be able to clear it up now and retest closer to labor. I can't remember when I tested positive last time- it may have been much later.

fishsticks-n-custard

holocene said:

I'm guessing they will retest you. I'd take the antibiotics to clear it up before labour, if possible. 

Or, you can try an alternate route. Apple Cider Vinegar is very effect in treating group b strep, but you have to be pretty dedicated. I think you take a shot of 2 tbsp per day. There's a lot of things you can try. Probiotics, cranberry juice (the real, concentrated stuff), fermented cod liver oil, vit c, etc. 

Oh god. Where's the vomit emoticon when I need it?! I didn't realize that was a thing. OP: I haven't heard about treating GBS with oral abx but I would think your OB/Midwife would be able to explain to you just what the process is and the reasoning behind it if you ask. As long as they retest, you're not hurting anything by trying. Plus if it was in a urine culture, he/she is likely trying to treat a possible UTI from GBS in which case definitely do it because a UTI in pregnancy can progress to pyelo pretty quickly and cause preterm contractions.