Group B positive....yipee. Please Share

alimaried

Went in for my 37 week appointment today and the OB informed me that my swabs from last week came back positive. So, they plan to give me IV Penicillin every 4hrs while at the hospital. I had hoped to go completely IV free barring a major emergency, so this is a bummer to me. I still plan to walk with the pole and have them disconnect me in between doses so I can get in the tub.

I read up on re-testing to get a negative result but it seems to me that if its present in ones system, then its likely always there in some measure, so I'm ok with consenting to the antibiotics. Although the numbers are small, the risks are huge to a new baby so I'll go with it.

I need suggestions on what probiotics and supplements are best (most effective) for me to take up until birth and after, so I can boost my immune system and provide extra support to baby through my breast milk. Also, are there any probiotics or supplements safe to give directly to baby for her immunity as well? I just hate that she'll be missing out on all of the healthy flora as she passes thru the birth canal...little babes' systems should be getting equipped with all the natural immune defense possible and the penicillin will be taking some of that away ;(

Also, any idea how long the antibiotics will stay in my system and how much will be passing through my breast milk? If they're pumping me full of it every 4 hours I'd imagine the half life is pretty quick?

bandwife

Lots of conflicting info out there on if antibiotics transfer to baby in womb or through breast milk. My GP said it doesn't, my midwives said it did and to load up on probiotics after delivery.

I had a very gassy cholicky (sp?) baby and I wondered if it was because of the 3 rounds of broad spectrum antibiotics I got during labor. I was able to get a live probiotic, found in fridge section at a natural pharmacy (maybe try a Whole Foods or something?) that was made for children and had a newborn dosage guideline. It was expensive but I thought it was worth a try.

Honestly, I didn't notice a difference in my DS with the probiotics. 

Thanks for the reminder on this. I'll be doing an immune boosting regime a few weeks before GBS testing. Would be nice not to have to get antibiotics this time.

Hopefully some other ladies here have more info for you.

Good luck!

Jhontiel

This is literally more information than I got from my physician..urgh!! 

I asked about the effects having the antibiotic might have on development of my LO's immune system and he gave me a huge roll of the eyes and explained "Nothing in any of the literature I have ever read says anything about antibiotics having an effect on the babies immune. Stop reading the internet."

This is what I hate about the hospital experience. It seems just ignorant to dismiss this kind of information because it is not common practice or knowledge. I am going to take the antibiotic either way, though I am going to research a little more in depth about the effects on baby.

Thank you to the OP for posting! 

alimaried

For sure! And I totally agree with you.... the only reason I knew anything more in depth about gbs is because of the Bradley method class that SO and I took. I even asked my OB "since gbs could be present in the digestive tract, colon, OR vagina, if it's not present in the vagina swab then why give antibiotics for when baby passes through?". He shrugged and agreed that it was a routine practice that didn't really make sense. Makes me feel really trusting of my medical team lol. I understand that the medical community's common practices are geared toward the 'what ifs' and worst case scenarios but man o man does it make decision making tough! I've been blessed with a very smooth, uncomplicated pregnancy and if this birth goes well also I am SO going to a birthing center or having a midwife come to my home next time around

MelissaV10

I've also heard that if you test positive one week, the following week you could very well test neg.. The bacteria changes frequently and you could be completely neg by the time delivery rolls around.  But it's rare for the doctor to test again.  And fyi, the US and Canada are the only two countries that routinely test for Group B strep.  

Disclaimer, I am a FTM and don't have any experience, just been doing lots of reading!