Tested positive for Group Strep B... other experiences advice welcomed

[cityangel]

I am 36 weeks pregnant and just got my private ECM GBS test results through and got a positive . I am trying not to worry as I understand about a quarter of women carry it.

I rang the hospital and as I have had no complications in pregnancy I can still use the birthing centre and pool, but will need intravenous antibiotics 4 hours before birth and monitoring. Aparently the risk increases when my waters break.
I'd just like to know others experiences of treatment and outcomes both positive and negative. Did anyone have antibiotics as an injection rather than a drip over 45 mins?
Thanks in advance

[claricebeansmum]

Go off to the Group Strep B website

[goingfor3]

The first couse of antibiotics was given by a drip, took about 30 mins after that they were given through a canula in my hand.

[cityangel]

goingfor3 did your baby have to have antibiotics as well?

[goingfor3]

DD1 was unwell at 5 days old so had iv antibiotics then, DD2 was unwell at birth so had iv antibiotics, ds was fine but as a precaution due to the girls being uwell he also had iv antibiotics - it's unlikely your baby will have them unless showing any signs of illmess.

[cityangel]

all useful info thanks

[Ebb]

My waters broke but no contractions. Was given a routine swab. DS born the following morning. Midwife arrived at home 2 days later to say the swab had revealed I was group B positive. I was prescribed antibiotics and DS was checked by the doctor. I have been told I will have to have IV antibiotics in my next labour whether I test positive or not. At least you know you are positive where as I didn't. The worry as to whether DS would be okay has been awful. I will be glad when he gets to 3 months and is more or less out of the 'danger zone'. Incidently I asked my midwife about GBS while I was pregnant and she said the test was unreliable as one day you could test negative and the next positive. Also it was best to be tested 2 weeks before labour but I had DS 2 weeks early. Mind you, if I'd had contractions straight away I would never have been swabbed and never known I was GBS positive and not be abnormally worried about my baby.......

[cityangel]

Thanks for sharing Ebb. I am pleased to be armed with the information. I've got to admit its adding to my first time labour wanting baby to be ok worries

[AllBuggiedOut]

I fund out I carried it after DS2 was born. I'd been swabed hen I first went into labour because some of my waters had leaked. When I was home from hospital with him I got a call from the GP to tell me about the result, which terrified me at the time, although in reality the numbers of babies who are affected are mercifully small. DS2 was fine. (And I presumably had it with DS1 too, who was also fine.)

I had to go into hospital as soon as I knew I was in labour with DS3 to get the antibiotics. It was pretty tedious as the midwife wanted to monitor me for an hour before giving the antibiotics to ensure I was in established labour (could have told her that myself having done it twice before...). Like goingfor3, the drip took about 30 mins. Had a second dose 4 hours later after which they broke my waters and DS3 was born. He had no problems.

My only advice would be to research beforehand how much monitoring is recommended. My midwife wanted to monitor constantly, although wasn't really able to give me a satisfactory explanation as to why, and I still wonder whether it was strictly necessary. I don't know whether I was just unlucky to get somebody over cautious (she wouldn't even put the drip in herself and needed the doctor to do it) or whether that level of monitoring was necessary.

Good luck!

[AllBuggiedOut]

Oh yes, I forgot about the thrush. Not as badly as TMMJ by the sound of things, but a mild case of vaginal thrush a few days after he was born, which Canestan from the GP sorted out.

[TheFallenMadonna]

I tested positive while pregnant with DD. I had IV abs (I don't remember a drip - I thought it was an injection, but the whole experience is somewhat hazy in my memory) after my waters broke and again after four hours.

We were advised to stay in for 48 hours for monitoring. DD did develop a fever about 14 hours after delivery which got everyone running around for a bit, but it disappeared after an hour or so, and she was fine. Goodness knows what that was all about...

Anyway, it does freak you out a bit doesn't it. But they will be on the ball for you. Most people are unaware that they carry it.

[cityangel]

Thanks for sharing your experiences lots for me to investigate. Is there anything I can do to minimise the risk of thrush or get rid of it quickly if I got it?

[goingfor3]

I'm really prone to thrush, had it constantly for the first few months of pregnancy this time round but didn't get it after any of my labours.

[AllBuggiedOut]

If nothing else, I'm sure you could get a prescription from the GP before the baby arrives, so you're ready to treat it if you do get it.

[cityangel]

thanks everyone this is really helpful

I feel a bit less worried about it today.