Anyone refusing group beta strep test?

happylady07 · May 2014

I obviously plan to discuss this with my midwife, and how they will handle my specific situation, but what is your hospitals policy if you are doing this?

The reason I'm considering refusing is I had a precipitous labor with my first (less than 3 hours total), so had I been group b + (I was negative) they wouldn't have had time to give me the antibiotics during labor had they wanted to. I also want to labor at home before heading in this time. I'm just curious if anyone had any information about doing this, how/if the baby will monitored differently after delivery, etc. From my understanding there is a 1% chance of baby having complications after delivery if you are in fact positive, and while I don't want to add any risk to my child, given my history I don't know that it will matter to know whether I'm positive or not.

Thoughts?

jendem8 · May 2014

I would still personally want to know. The complications can be very serious (though the risk is obviously low). I was researching it (here: https://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/groupbstrepinfection.html) and there are other preventatives if you are at risk. I don't see the harm in knowing either way though.

Do I have to take antibiotics, or is there a natural alternative? It is your choice if you want to take antibiotics. There are certain herbal methods that you can take 2-3 weeks before delivery that a midwife or homeopathic physician can provide for you.

tamarar5 · May 2014

Group B strep is so dangerous for the baby, I couldn't in good conscience refuse just making sure. But I think this is going to be a personal choice.

You might get lambasted for even suggesting the idea. But make your choice for yourself. Like you said, with precipitous labor, maybe they could administer antibiotics for a couple days before/after/around tour due date just in case?

Oharh · May 2014

I would get the test just so the doctors will know one way or the other if you deliver precipitously. That way if you are positive they can screen and monitor the baby. For those not treated with 2 doses of antibiotics for GBS+ before delivery, the baby has labs drawn and are started on antibiotics for 48 hours. This is what we do at our facility. GBS is usually harmless to adults, but can be fetal to infants. I'm not trying to scare you, but I would get the test. There is a good possibility you could be negative again this time.

Cat&S · May 2014

Get the test. They can give the baby antibiotics after birth if you're positive and don't have time for it during labor. If you don't get tested, the hospital will probably suggest antibiotics for the baby as a precaution. Why risk it? And I also don't get why you'd want to labor at home if you have precipitous labor.

Spinning42 · May 2014

I was + with my first and will be testing this time as well.

Unknown · May 2014

This content has been removed.

+RBL+ · May 2014

I may opt out and just ask for the antibiotics.

I was + with DS and told that it's not really something that goes away, so I would likely still be + this time around as well.

Rosebean · May 2014

I am with @notchotchke . How do you plan on laboring at home with such fast progression. I have precipitous labor too, and I can tell you, as soon as my water breaks I am hauling ass to the hospital. As to strep B test, it is better safe than sorry. It's a non option IMO. Baby's safety comes first and if they know, at least they can be prepared. That should also encourage you to make your way to the hospital sooner rather than laboring at home. It's really not about preference, but safety.

happylady07 · May 2014

I have to agree, I would rather be tested and hopefully be negative again so there are no doubts about the baby's risk after from it.

As to the why I'm hoping to labor at home some- I am VERY close to the hospital (less than 10 minutes door to door), and also not comfortable in a hospital setting at all. Although my first labor was precipitous, it was also artificially induced so there is no guarantee I'll go screaming fast again if I go into labor naturally. I did my first delivery with no drugs and clearly remember how different contractions were once I hit transition and then again once I was feeling pushing contractions. I will be contacting my doula the moment I think I'm in labor and trust that we will be able to make a decent judgement call about when to go in. My midwife wasn't concerned with my plan based on how close to the hospital we are, she herself had a fast first labor and her second wasuch longer. I would rather spend labor at home where I am comfortable if possible than rushing in the the hospital too soon.

Nuclearcupcake · May 2014

Just because you were negative/positive with one pregnancy doesn't mean you will be negative/positive again with the other. I personally hate IVs, I really can't stand them however, I will gladly have one if it means not risking my baby's health. The moms comfort doesn't come before risking baby's safety.

Robinischo · May 2014

Ck61 said:

I'm not trying to scare you one way or the other but I saw this linked in an older post and I thought you might wanna read it. https://greatminuseight.wordpress.com/2014/04/14/21-doulas-and-donts-my-cautionary-tale/ Although the lady knew she was + she decided to not follow recommendations and almost lost her baby. Just make sure you are really aware of how severe the risks are even if the chances are slim.

As soon as I saw this question, I thought of that blog post. I would at least read it before making any big decisions. I'd rather be safe than sorry even if it is just 1%. I tested positive with the one I lost, and they gave me antibiotics then and had planned giving me antibiotics again during labor. This time, I don't think I've tested positive yet. I forgot to use the wipe the time I tested positive, and I'm thinking maybe it wasn't a clean catch. I planned on following the recommendation though.

(edited for words)

ungraceful13 · May 2014

I was + with DD and I labored at home for a long time. They pushed the antibiotics when I got there and got the 2 bags in quickly. I will be finding out again this time. I think knowledge is power. I like to at least know what I am dealing with.

stephmt528 · May 2014

I was + with my first. My doc said he would just treat me as if I am again and not test again if that was ok with me. I'm good with that.

pmpkn219 · May 2014

I was positive last time and requested penicillin again this time, testing or not.

Never seen a GBS septic newborn if mom was + and treated. I've only seen it when the mom tested negative, and it's scary as hell. If I've had it once, as far as I'm concerned (for me), I could have it again, even if it's not there one day I get tested (it's not like your blood type that's always the same). So I'd rather antibiotics than risk a false negative.

At our hospital GBS+ mom but inadequately treated (precipitous labor, etc) get treated the same way as GBS unknown. Some places will test you at delivery if the baby is born before the test result is in, or if it wasn't done (I presume if it was oversight/missed appt, not informed decline). The lab at my old hospital could get the result back in about 12 hrs, so maybe that's a possibility?

happylady07 · May 2014

pmpkn219 said:
I was positive last time and requested penicillin again this time, testing or not.

Never seen a GBS septic newborn if mom was + and treated. I've only seen it when the mom tested negative, and it's scary as hell. If I've had it once, as far as I'm concerned (for me), I could have it again, even if it's not there one day I get tested (it's not like your blood type that's always the same). So I'd rather antibiotics than risk a false negative.

At our hospital GBS+ mom but inadequately treated (precipitous labor, etc) get treated the same way as GBS unknown. Some places will test you at delivery if the baby is born before the test result is in, or if it wasn't done (I presume if it was oversight/missed appt, not informed decline). The lab at my old hospital could get the result back in about 12 hrs, so maybe that's a possibility?

Thank you, I guess this is more the information I was looking for. How the hospital handles situations where they can't get your antibiotics in you in time, and I'm then curious what the risk factors are with that. I too have heard that you can initially test negative and then be positive later on, so it concerns me a bit that the test itself isn't that accurate if that is the case.

End of the day, I'm going to have to discuss this at my next appointment.

GPeterson24 · May 2014

I will be declining testing again. Here's a very thorough article outlining risks/benefits etc https://evidencebasedbirth.com/groupbstrep/.

If you do get the antibiotics or know you'll be having a c-section ahead of time it's probably a good idea to start taking a probiotic to avoid thrush/other yeast issues that can occur as a result of antibiotic use.

+RBL+ · May 2014

RedFirePhoenix25 said:

+RBL+ said:

I may opt out and just ask for the antibiotics.

I was + with DS and told that it's not really something that goes away, so I would likely still be + this time around as well.

I think a lot of docs will treat you automatically for each pregnancy if you were positive on a previous one. I didn't even think they tested you again. Probably depends on the doctor.

When I asked it sounded like they would test again, but it would likely be positive, so a retest seems pointless). So when the time for testing comes I'll just bring it up again.

Crunchycrysta · May 2014

My first baby passed away with GBS infection. I had a false negative test. Had my test come back positive, there's a good chance my daughter would be with us today. GBS is nothing to mess around with.

ebp913 · May 2014

I was positive with my first but I wanted to labor at home as much as possible. I didn't know just how close I was til I got to the hospital at an 8 and had my daughter 40 mins later. She was healthy and everything was fine but because they knew I was positive and didn't have time for the antibiotics, they took special precautions to watch for anything that might signal a problem. They watched her carefully while we were there and just told us to be mindful of anything abnormal at home. So glad that I had that information in case something had gone wrong.

You need to do the test even if you don't get the antibiotics.

MandMLeona · May 2014

Talk to your midwife. There is a douche that my midwife offers in place of the antibiotics that you can do during labor. So there is time for that even in most precipitous labors.

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