Group Strep B? 6/11

kate0506

Hi not sure if new discussions like this are allowed, but I was informed on Friday after getting my results back that I have Group Strep B infection. Obviously the midwife explained what it is, but just wondering if anyone has gone through pregnancy with this, and how your labour was? I've been told I have to have antibiotics at start of labour. Kind of gutted as I wanted a home birth, but that's not going to happen now. 

eazybreezy225

I'm glad they caught it and are able to make precautions for the future.
I personally haven't had this. But I do have a relative that had the deeply unfortunate experience of having it and not receiving proper treatment. TW... baby Carson passed away within a week of birth due to complications caused by Strep B...end TW.
Essentially what happened was my cousin was never tested for it. Her doctor "forgot".

I know it really sucks you won't be able to have the original birth plan of a home birth, but it's not worth your baby's life.

missbmama

I had it with my last pregnancy and it wasn't much. I had to be to the hospital earlier than I would have liked but other than the antibiotics I was still able to go med free and had a very natural birth (for a hospital birth). Its definitely not something to ignore though

GraysonsMama

I had it with both of mine. You'll just get iv antibiotics in the hospital. Remind the nurse at intake. If you're not in labor long enough they will give baby antibiotics after it's born. It didn't change my labor at all but my plan was to labor in the hospital. Sorry that your plans are changing. 

kate0506

@eazybreezy225 that's so awful, and just because of the neglect of a doctor. So glad I know about it. I'm only 11+3 days so got plenty  of time to make new plans. Only wanted home birth as we have no one to have our son for us so figured this would be better. But may just go to hospital on my own while dh has my son now. There is no way I would want to take any risks with baby. 
I didn't have the test with my ds as far as I'm aware but now in the UK they have started testing every pregnant woman with it at your first appointment. 
@missbmama and @GraysonsMama thanks for sharing your experiences, it's great to hear that the antibiotics don't interfere with the birth as such. I had a med free water birth with my ds and I was just hoping I would have a similar experience this time providing everything else goes fine. 

ab920

I had it! You get to the hospital and they give you an antibiotic through your IV every 4 hours. Confirm they dilute the antibiotic because it burns and is extremely uncomfortable. But it only takes about 20 minutes and you're already dealing with contractions, so no big. 

mcfeldbb

I asked my dr when they test for this and they said 35 weeks? Is there a reason to test earlier than that? I really don't want to forget to do it or deliver and have problems if they didn't test in time. 

kate0506

@mcfeldbb I think they have just started testing early in the UK so that it's in your notes and they can plan well ahead that you will need antibiotics as soon as you go into labour. Maybe it's also to make sure it's not forgotten towards the end of pregnancy. My midwife did say that it can come and go, and may not be there at all when I come to giving birth. But as far as they're concerned, I had a positive result now so they will give antibiotics regardless. If you're concerned maybe ask if there is any chance you could have the test now so it's not forgotten? Better to be safe than sorry 

cait5413

@mcfeldbb it's standard (in the US) to test later; sometimes it will show up earlier, but if you ever test pos during your pregnancy, you'll get the antibiotics. If you went into labor early, they would probably test you then or go ahead and give you the antibiotics to be safe. You know that you need the test, so just advocate for yourself and remind the nurses if you go into labor early that you hadn't been tested. But most likely you won't need the test before 35 weeks.