Mumsnet Talk

Hi all, can anyone point me in the direction of a clear guide to the risks of taking IV antibiotics during labour - based on scientific research? I'd also be interested in hearing from Mums who have researched this, and either..

- Decided to take them based on their research, when they have been initially wary due to a desire for a natural birth

or

- Decided not to take them based on the evidence (if tested positive for GBS)

I am fully aware of the risks of GBS, so if you would like to highlight or discuss these then please start a seperate thread. I'm just really interested to find out more about the risks of IV antibiotics, so I can make a careful decision based on all the facts.

Some very brief internet research suggested the risks might be..

- Killing off all the good bacteria in the baby's intestinal tract
- Degrading baby's immune system by encouraging the development of bacteria strains that are resistant to anti-biotics
- Very small risk of death to mother and baby due to allergic reaction, even if mother has shown no signs of allergy prior to labour

Thanks,

Malinna

Don't know... But BUMP hopefully!

Maybe ask this under a pregnancy topic instead??

Sorry - I am being stupid here..

Another article..

http://www.healthychild.com/birth/treating-group-b-strep-are-antibiotics-necessary/

I think the risks to the baby are very small compared to the risk of the infection. What I would be worried about is the effect on your labour that being on an IV would have. Can the medical staff arrange it so you keep mobile? If you are stuck in one position the chances are you will find labour harder to cope with and it may be slower leading to more intervention.Many, if not all, hospitals will have a policy not only regarding IV for the mother in labour but also for the baby too. You need to know what they are likely to recommend after the birth and then you can decide if that's intervention you will accept.

Thanks Kelly, that's a really useful article!

The antibiotics take about 15 minutes to run through and are needed once every 4 hours. So it's not like you're hooked to a drip for the whole of you're labour.

Oh god! Have just spent far too much of last night wishing I'd refused the IV antibiotics when I went into labour and stayed at home like I'd planned. And now I see this to cement that feeling. Oh well - didn't have time to research at the time, but hopefully this may help someone else's decision.

As someone else has said, you do not need to be hooked up to the drip throughout the labour. Even if you are on the drip, it goes into your forearm, and you are still able to walk around and you should even be able to use the birthing pool.

I had a home birth six years ago here in Belgium, and received the IV antibiotics at home. I personally don’t think it has had any adverse effects on dd2, she is very healthy.

I've got the results of my GBS test in my notes and they also say which antibiotics you are given. Luckily, they're antibiotics that I've had before so no allergic reaction for me. One of them is Erythromycin.
I suppose it's like all antibiotics - if you've never had them, you won't know you're allergic to them until you're given them.

Just be careful when you 'research' or google it - plenty horror stories out there. And as many people will realise, (like travel reviews), most people are more inclined to share their nightmares than their successes.

I personally had the antibiotics due to lack of support over it with my partner. it did restrict my mobility, and due to the fact i have fast labours i didnt get the drugs in time and dd spent the first two days of her life with a cannula in because they insisted she had to have the antibiotics. turns out she was fine and never had the infection.

I refused all intervention with my third child, no antibiotics during or after labour and just watched for symptoms of gbs (hourly obs done at home etc)

this time round i will wait and see if i test + first. :p

Good luck. I would have treatment but then I have seen the devesation of the infection. Nattyw hourly obs would quite likely do lo little good. Each to there own though.