positive group b strep?

cassiopeia5

anyone have any experience going through labor with a postive gbs result? my doc didn't seem too worried, but just looking for some advice/info... thanks!

AmberLiz99

I've never tested positive (yet, I'll get tested at my next check up) but my midwife says it's really common and they just give you antibiotics during labor. 

jschlaud

I found out today that I got a positive result too.  My OB didn't seem worried either.  She just said that I will need antibiotics when I am in labor and the baby will be watched more carefully (for gbs symptoms) for at least 48 hours in the hospital.  Her only concern was that I would only end up with one round of antibiotics because of my history of quick labor.

Rawa1416

25% of women test positive for GBS. It just means you will have to go to the hospital as soon as your water breaks to get antibiotics from an iv and prevent from passing the bacteria to your baby. Try not to worry too much (I know easier said than done) Here's a link with more info. https://www.cdc.gov/groupbstrep/about/fast-facts.html

cassiopeia5

thanks for your replies! trying not to stress (even though I'm 36 weeks haha!)

Rosehip15

I was GBS+ with both numbers one & two.  I got abx both times.  Labor itself isn't really any different, though you're "on the clock" a bit in regards to how long they'll let you go with your membranes ruptured. 

vulpini

I didn't get tested with my first pregnancy because I didn't make it far enough along for that appointment, so they just treated me as if I was positive and gave me an antibiotic drip.  It was fine.  Just an IV in my hand.  It did sting/hurt a bit (the antibiotic itself, not the IV) but when I told them that, they added something for thr pain.

jschlaud

vulpini said:

I didn't get tested with my first pregnancy because I didn't make it far enough along for that appointment, so they just treated me as if I was positive and gave me an antibiotic drip.  It was fine.  Just an IV in my hand.  It did sting/hurt a bit (the antibiotic itself, not the IV) but when I told them that, they added something for thr pain.

I also got the antibiotic drop the first time around since I didn't make it far enough along for the test so I guess I already know what to expect.  I don't remember it hurting though, but the whole experience was a blur... 

newbabymakes4

I had it with my first (haven't gotten tested yet with this one) and it's really no big deal.  Like the other ladies have said, you get antibiotics during labor.

marriedtoadutchman

jschlaud said:

I found out today that I got a positive result too.  My OB didn't seem worried either.  She just said that I will need antibiotics when I am in labor and the baby will be watched more carefully (for gbs symptoms) for at least 48 hours in the hospital.  Her only concern was that I would only end up with one round of antibiotics because of my history of quick labor.

For 48 hours? I haven't heard of that before. I had it with my 2nd and we were discharged within a few hours(under midwife care).
But like you I arrived at 9 1/2 cm and thankfully baby had turned a bit so i had the antibiotics for just under 4 hours

adiaz132003

I'm gonna be at a birth center and find out tomorrow if I'm positive or not but I was worried cause I know they need to give abx.  This birth center doesn't hook up any IVs so I was scared about having to go to a hospital. Turns out they have a drip they put in your forearm for 20 min then take it out so I don't have to leave it in.  And the medicine they have only need to be givin every 8 hours so that eased my mind so much.

goldie987

Antibiotics during labor reduce the risk of transmission to 0.025% (1 in 4000) and they typically won't let you go for more than 24 hours with your water broken to further reduce chance of transmission.  Depending on where you are delivering they will keep the baby for a little longer to watch for signs of infection.  My hospital requires a minimum of 24 hours after birth for monitoring so even if I wanted to leave earlier they wouldn't let me.  

kbequette08

I tested yesterday and I think I'll either find out this week if i'm positive or next week. I'm gonna be at a birth center too and they said they would hook up IVs there so I'm not completely worried if so.

GinnyJ2012

I was negative with my first and positive with my second. I arrived at 7cm so they hurried to get the IV set up and antibiotics started. It was a bit of a blur because I was throwing up from the contractions. I don't remember it being a big deal though. We stayed for 2 nights at the hospital, but that's because it's what in insurance coveres and I needed the recovery time away from DS1. 

photomama142

I was positive with my first pregnancy, but due to an extremely fast labor i showed up to the hospital 10 cm and didn't get an iv or antibiotics...baby's heart rate had dropped due to the fast labor and they just had me push him out as quick as possible.  Nothing bad happened (especially bc of the fast exit for baby) they just watched him closely afterwards.  

etr152517

I was positive with my first and will be tested next week with this one. My water broke with DS and I labored at home for 2-1/2 hrs before heading to the hospital. I know I got antibiotics at some point while I was in labor but i don't remember it being a rush to get them. 

rlbrooks84

I had with both my boys and even if I don't test positive this time, I'll find out next week, my doc wants me to get the antibiotics. It's not a big deal and if your docs not worried you shouldn't be either! 

AshleyBKeen

I just had the swab today (36 w) and my Dr said that I will be on antibiotics anyway because I tested positive for GBS early in the pregnancy on another test. Has anybody else had that happen?

cy&damonsmommy

I'm getting the swab today... I'll let you know what they tell me

AshleyBKeen

Rats! Too late to edit. I completely blanked on it at the Dr's. Does anyone else who is a STM have a Penicillin allergy? Do you happen to remember what they put you on other than amoxicillin?

jennjebaby

Well this is my second pregnancy and I tested positive in my first pregnancy. It wasnt anything major. When i went to the hospital to have my baby girl i just assure that the nurse and everyone know that I tested postive and that I needed the antibiotics.  Im going to do that this time around again. 

meggyme

AshleyBKeen said:

Rats! Too late to edit. I completely blanked on it at the Dr's. Does anyone else who is a STM have a Penicillin allergy? Do you happen to remember what they put you on other than amoxicillin?

From what I read it depends on the severity of your allergy. If it's anaphalactic, they will run a test on the type of gbs to determine the best alternative. If your allergy isn't severe there's another one they can use, but I don't remember the name of it. It started with a C.

waldropra

meggyme said:

AshleyBKeen said:

Rats! Too late to edit. I completely blanked on it at the Dr's. Does anyone else who is a STM have a Penicillin allergy? Do you happen to remember what they put you on other than amoxicillin?

From what I read it depends on the severity of your allergy. If it's anaphalactic, they will run a test on the type of gbs to determine the best alternative. If your allergy isn't severe there's another one they can use, but I don't remember the name of it. It started with a C.

I'm allergic to penicillin and was GBS positive with DD. I had vancomycin instead. 

peregrinefalconx

I tested positive. Not worried about it. Seems like you aren't really attached to anything for more than a few minutes at a time and they put the IV in a comfortable spot (they said on the top of your fore arm, which seems ok). I guess don't be afraid to make sure it's in a comfortable place for you.

alitria

@AshleyBKeen and @meggyme was it Clindamycin?  I am allergic to both that and penicillin and when I tell doctors I'm allergic to Penicillin, they will sometimes offer Clindamycin as a replacement. 

meggyme

@alitria I think that was it. Apparently some people that only have a mild penicillin allergy can use that. But severe allergies they have to use an alternative of some kind.

alitria

@meggyme It's too bad the doctor in urgent care who prescribed it to me was apparently absent that day in school, since I have life threatening penicillin allergy marked all over my medical records.  I guess that explains why I reacted though!  Fortunately, other than being extremely uncomfortable and hideous, 24 hours of benedryl and my asthma inhalers kept it from being a bigger deal. 

alitria

Vaguely related, how long did it take people to get their test results back?  I had mine done yesterday and I'm just curious if it's really fast or something that will take a few days or a week to get back.  I didn't get tested with my son so they just treated us as if I were positive when I was in labor.

meggyme

Mine took a little less than a week.

adiaz132003

alitria said:

Vaguely related, how long did it take people to get their test results back?  I had mine done yesterday and I'm just curious if it's really fast or something that will take a few days or a week to get back.  I didn't get tested with my son so they just treated us as if I were positive when I was in labor.

Just a few days

AmberLiz99

Just got my results today, and it was positive I guess this being my third pregnancy and never having it before the odds were against me. Not thrilled about having to have antibiotics, but oh well

SMLmom

I was... and forgot about that till now.  It was really a non-event.  I was induced so on an IV anyway.