Could I get antibiotics during a natural birth?

smittie417 · January 2013

I am doing the initial research on birthing centers and a thought popped into my head. At my last OBGYN visit I tested positive for Strep B and they said it was nothing to worry about and I would automatically get an IV of antibiotics during delivery to protect the baby. My own research confirmed this.

But I'm new to the whole birthing center thing and a first time mom...so I'm wondering if they could even do that or am I going to HAVE to go to a hospital? Would this vary from center to center? Thanks for your help, sorry if this is such a newb question!

pepomntpat · January 2013

I can't remember if my birth center had IV drugs or if they would have prescribed something oral. Either way being GBS+ did not risk me out of the birth center.

kathleen02 · January 2013

My good friend was GBS with her third pregnancy and she had a home birth. Her midwife who works out of a birth center and does home births too had an IV to get the medications going but her veins were not cooperating so after several attempts they decided to forgo it. Not sure what the odds/risks are but I know the midwives were prepared equipment-wise.

mrndbsn · January 2013

I had all natural birth at a midwifery center and was grp b pos as well. It was baby #3 and they were worried I would go too fast for full dose, but I ended up 11 days past due so they gave me first dose, then waiting 3 hours to break my water then gave me second dose and finished that one just in time for the baby. I would think they would be equipped to give you antibiotics. The risk for the baby is too high to not!

Haley.Beth · January 2013

Any licensed midwife should be equipped and trained to administer IVs. It shouldn't be a problem, just something to talk to the midwife about and see what she prefers to do.

ConstanceGoodspeed · January 2013

If you are only 14 weeks pregnant you could ask your OBGYN/midwife to re-test you later in the third trimester. My dr's office doesn't even test patients until week 35 because of the way GBS can fluctuate. So, you may test positive now, but it may wane in the next few weeks and you might test negative closer to delivery (when it matters).