Ask a STM+ March

ziggymama06

My MW's office just called and it turns out that my urine contains Group B Strep so it's colonized and I'll need an antibiotic IV at delivery.  I'm so upset by this.  I'm planning a natural labor to avoid things like this, if possible.  I read that the antibiotics reduce baby's gut flora for the first 12 weeks of life.  Anyone had this and what was the outcome?  Did you give your baby probiotics to help offset this?  TIA!!

[Deleted User]

I did give baby probiotics, I found in a liquid dropper form.  @ziggymama06 I didn't have the strep, but generally they will want to start an IV for you when you get to the hospital JIC anyway, so really, having it shouldn't have to be a big deal.  Believe me, I get it. I wanted a completely intervention-free L&D too, but even my doula encouraged us to pick our battles. ❤️ It will be okay. (((Hugs)))

ziggymama06

Thanks @BusinessWife!  I'm feeling better today about this than yesterday.  I realize giving antibiotics during labor is pretty common, so I'm coming to terms with this.  There's so many factors beyond my control, so I'm trying not to stress those that I cannot change and focus on what I do have control over.  

tyrion_

@ziggymama06 I’ve had two med-free deliveries (one because the epi didn’t take and one because I did it before so why not 🤷🏻‍♀️). With my son (failed epi) I had to have antibiotics at the end of labor and he had antibiotics when he was born (related to a fever we both spiked, not GBS). He was fine and we had no issues at all and I didn’t give him anything. 

ziggymama06

@tyrion_ Wow, that must have totally thrown you on your first when the epi didn't work!  I'm glad you and YS are fine and healthy.  Thanks so much for sharing.  I'm feeling better today about this all. 

rivercitynik

@ziggymama06 glad you are feeling better today! Sometimes we all need a day to let the info sink in while we adjust to the new reality, but I get that it must have been a hard thing to hear 💛

tyrion_

Also because I don’t want to scare any FTMs, I haven’t met anyone else irl with a failed epi. I was just the lucky exception! I also could have had it redone but opted to press on. 

WishesSheCouldCook

@ziggymama06 I was GBS+ with DD1. I wasn’t set on Med free last time but I did it! They were super great about intermittent monitoring so they would align the monitoring with my IV antibiotic. When I wasn’t hooked up I was free to move around and even used the tub at the end right before pushing. I think I got meds every few hours I want to say I had 3-4 doses. I did the first few rounds in bed but that was really uncomfortable so they let me do around in the recliner and that was a bit better. I labored mostly standing that was the only position that felt good as I had a lot of back labor. 

ziggymama06

@WishesSheCouldCook Oh wow.  Glad you were able to still move around and it didn't really impact your labor.  Thanks so much for sharing!! 

cornichonmam

@ziggymama06 I ended up getting a uterine infection in labour with DS and we both got the infection, so we had to stay in for nearly a week to have antibiotics. But most importantly there doesn’t seem to be any long term affects, no trouble breast feeding, no colic and as yet no allergies etc.

 

You can also ask them to re-test you nearer to your due date if you still want to avoid it.

whl1013

Hi FTMs & STMs,

I’ve got a new question for the group... I’m wondering how early you can travel with an infant and if anyone has experience with this? I know that the recommendation is limited contact for the first 4 weeks, but then I’ve read some conflicting information about recommendations beyond that. We canceled our trip this past week to Hawaii, and my family is looking to reschedule in October, which means the baby will be anywhere from 7-10 weeks old. Is this silly to plan a trip with a baby this young? 

coldlife

I don't think so. I know a lot of people who live in remote places and had to fly out to have their babies, which meant they flew home with said baby as young as 1 week old. We took a family vacation with our oldest daughter when she was 3 weeks old. 

cornichonmam

@whl1013 I think it will be fine, we took our baby away over night at 6w to a wedding and it was fine. It was only a two hour drive away though. By then you should have the feeding situation down and you'll feel more confident it what you’re doing but it will be before the 3-4 month sleep regression. Sounds like a good time to go actually, otherwise you’ll be waiting until next year and you'll have a older baby that wants to crawl to entertain on the flight.

whl1013

@cornichon @coldlife  Thank you for your thoughts on this!  I think we're aiming for late October or early November.  I appreciate your input

sarah0985

@whl1013 I delivered my first overseas. We flew to husbands family at 6 weeks and back at 7. I then flew to my family at 7.5 weeks and it was so easy. She slept majority of the time and was happy to be held and snuggled. 

RedBaramid

Alright moms, this is my second rodeo so I am turning to those who have done this more than twice... I was showering the other day and I looked down and my tits are leaking. I didn't believe it at first but then I really looked and sure enough off white liquid was starting to pool up and drip from the nips. I'm 19+3 today and I chalked it up to being stressed the other day but now it's to the point where occasionally I'm getting spots (v small ones) on tank tops and bralettes. Guys, I haven't BFed anyone since late 2014... and I'm not around any babies at all.  Is this normal? I've not been feeling as much movement as I was so I was starting to worry but then this started... Thank goodness my next appointment is a week from today. 

wildrainbow

@RedBaramid Leaking is normal. You can start leaking pretty early the second+ time around. Your body remembers. I think stress may be playing to some degree, but leaking is normal. Looks like you will be using breast pads a little early, sorry hun. 

[Deleted User]

Yeah @RedBaramid WSS, I never had enough supply to have to worry about leaking, but what you're describing is totally normal - And a Good Sign! :) I have been getting some very strong tingles like something is going on in there, too.

riatortillaxo

@RedBaramid I had some leaking with my last pregnancy. I'm not that far yet, but it happened with me when I was twenty something weeks and happened occasionally throughout the rest of my prgnancy.