Group B strep

[francesrivis]

Hi, hope someone here can give me some advice. I'm 16 weeks pg with second baby. A couple of years before I had my first baby I had a group B strep infection which cleared up after antibiotics. To my knowledge I've never had it before or since. While pg with my first baby I had the private test at 35 weeks which came back negative, so did not have antibiotics in labour. My midwife this time round is saying their policy has changed and I will need IV antibiotics in labour. Obviously I don't want to put the baby at risk, but this doesn't seem right to me and also doesn't fit with what I've just seen on the gbss website. Has anyone else been given this advice, and what did you do? TIA

[purplemonkeydishwasher]

don't know much about it but surely they would test you first? if it came back neg why would they need ABs? not much help sorry.

[mamadiva]

I haven't been through it but I rememeber reading a story in a magazine and apparently you have to pay for the test now it only costs £30 to get it but still a bloody disgrace they spend more than that treating drug addicts so why put a ababys life at risk! Sorry to hear about your worries but congrats on the pregnancy take it easy!

[PortAndLemon]

Most hospitals I know of have a policy of treating you as currently GBS positive if you've ever been positive. This is partly because the single-swab test the NHS do (as opposed to the one you can get privately) is fairly unreliable and it's quite possible to get a negative result at 36 weeks and be positive at 40 weeks (with the better private test if you have a negative result at 36 weeks there's only something like a 5% chance of being positive at 40 weeks) and partly just playing it safe.

So your hospital's policy isn't unusual, but I'm not sure that makes it justified. You could start by asking them to explain why they would choose to ignore a negative screen at 36 weeks and see what you think of their answer.

[mrsfossil]

Hello don't have any experience of group b but maybe you should get a second opinion. You could ask your consultants advice. A friend of mine had a prem baby a couple of years ago. Her waters had gone a few days before, she diddn;t know until after the birth that she had group b but the baby did develope meningitis. Both are now fit and healthy. I don't want to scare you but it is best to be prepared as you don't know how long your labour will be and if your waters go a log time before you deliver then there is a risk that it will pass to the baby.

[slinkiemalinki]

I agree with you fracesrivis - seems odd - if I were you I would do the reliable private test at 36w or as recommended and go with the result you get from that private test - nobody can force you to have IV ABs just because of a policy change! Seems like madness.

[wombleprincess]

if you've had group b strep once, you are a carrier for life, you dont get rid of it.

[wombleprincess]

sorry, just telling you what my gp said to me, that if you ie the mother not the baby, have had group b infection you are a carrier for life. francesrivis, was it you or the baby who had it?

just because you carry it doesnt mean you will get it, but if you get it, you carry it. there is a big difference between having an infection and carrying it, which many people do for their whole life without any risk and even without knowing.

best place for info is www.gbss.org.uk/

[francesrivis]

Thanks for responses - pretty much confirms what I thought. Womble, it was me who had it, and not even in pregnancy - a couple of years before. I think I will go with the result of the private test

[Honeymoonmummy]

I've been diagnosed with a strep B infection 4 weeks ago and am now 32 weeks. I heard you can have a false negative but a positive is correct (I think that's the right way round!). I've been told it's unlikely I'll be allowed in the pool during labour because of the antibiotics they'll be giving me which is a shame but I'd rather make sure the baby is OK of course.

But I'm worried now on reading this thread - will getting antibiotics during the labour affect the baby?

[nicky111]

Hi I had a Group B Strep infection and passed it to DD1 during labour. I opted for a planned section for DD2 but she still had two days of IV antibiotics after her birth. The consultant told me that they think mothers who have previously suffered an infection may have lower levels of antibodies to Group B Strep and that they believe it is better to 'over treat' just in case. And having had a newborn with meningitis I can't agree more. Anyway, good luck with it all.:0

[Bettispaghetti]

I too was diagnosed as GBS+ after the birth of my first child. I Spoke to GBSS and they said if you have a ECM test up to 5 weeks before delivery and it is negative then there is a 96% chance that it will still be negative at delivery. However if it is positive there is a 87% chance of it remaining positive. My health authority give antibiotics as standard and will keep the baby in for observation for 48hrs. My last two labours have been really quick and you need to have the antibs at least 4hrs prior to delivery for them to have effect. If you don't then you may as well not have them. I will be taking the test and if it's negative I will insist on not having the antibiotics and won't stay in for 48hrs (I have 2 other children who need me at home). If it's positive I'm happy to go for the full monty. SPeak to GBSS. They are really helpful and will put your mind at rest.