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Pregnancy

Group b strep help??

16 replies

xkatyx · 19/01/2010 12:46

Hello all,

i'm writting this for my sister who had her son 4 years ago and didnt realise she had group b strep untill he was born very poorly. she is hoping to fall pregant again soon and was woundering what happens in pregnancy when mdwifes are aware of Group B strep and how they avoid the baby being so poorly, and advice would be much appreciated as she is very worried and can't seam to get any advice x

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mama2moo · 19/01/2010 13:10

Hi, my friend had it with her ds and they didnt know until he was born. She was tested with her 2nd and didnt have it again.

She may not have it again. I would have thought that because she has had it once they will test her a few times for it in her next pregnancy.

Fingers crossed for her

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tobago04 · 19/01/2010 13:19

Hi,i had strep b with first dd,only found out after the birth but we were both given antibiotics straight away and we were both fine,
with dd2 i went into hospital as soon as i went into labour and was given antibiotics automatically[they need to be given at least four hours before birth],went home next day,
am pregnant with no.3 and will have antibiotics in labour again,
have had no side effects from antibiotics and both dds are fine and health too,hope this helps

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xkatyx · 19/01/2010 13:23

Thank you all so much, that is defenatly reasuring, she also asked if any babies had complications a couple of week's after as my nephew (her son) just got home after 2 weeks in intensive care and was very poorly again as a result to gbs.

Thank you all for replying so quick

x

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scotlass · 19/01/2010 13:33

Hi, my DD was very poorly and in ITU after birth, she came out of the incubator after 48hrs and we stayed for a week with her receiving IV antibiotics. I had group B strep and they think it was related to it. She was fine after and is a very healthy 10yr old - has only ever had to go to GP once.

I wasn't tested in pregnancy with DS as its one of these transient infections so won't change the treatment plan if you are found early.

The plan was to get IV antibiotics in labout as tobago had but we only made it to the hospital in time for him to be delivered (10mins) so he had IV antibiotics and was observed for 48hrs which meant a 3 day stay. I didn't mind though, it was really scary seeing DD poorly so you definately are more vigilant for signs of illness with your second.

Tell her to make sure she finds out the hospitals policy and talk to a consultant if she's not happy with the policy in place.

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xkatyx · 19/01/2010 13:37

That is very helpful thank you very much, she was very concerned that she may not make it to the hospital long enough for 4 hours of antibiotics as the first was very quick.

but she is feeling more relaxed

thank you

x

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TheCalvert · 19/01/2010 16:57

I had GBS which was passed on to DS at birth, resulting in a week in ICU as DS caught sepsis from GBS.

Unfortunately I was not 'picked up' until after DS was born, but all my symptoms during a very long labour were classic and I was fortunate that the hospital I was admitted to began treatment of DS before a proper diagnosis was made from his heel prick test.

It was a very traumatic experience for all my little family, especially so since I am pregnant with our second (with 2 months to go). As far as I am aware, you need to tell all medical staff you are in contact with during the course of your pregnancy that you are GBS positive and that you have passed on the infection once already, which should automatically put you in the high risk category.

Hope this helps!

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xkatyx · 19/01/2010 17:20

Thank you all for your help, it is such a horrible thing that not many woman are aware of.

x

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mommymeggie · 20/01/2010 00:55

Hi, I have GBS and was tested positive with my first while in labour due to a high water break. They couldn't give my daughter the antibiotics until after she was born b/c they found out too late. She was born healthy and fine.

Now I'm pregnant and due anyday. I have been explained by my midwife that b/c I have GBS, when I go into early labour, I must call the ward straight away so they can have me come in and receive antibiotics at least 4hrs prior to birth. And if the birth is quick, then they do the same as b/f and give the baby the antibiotics afterwards or try and at least get one dose in me b/f I deliver.

The midwife told me I should feel lucky to know about the GBS b/c whenever I get pregnant, we know we can protect the baby rather than not knowing and baby be poorly.

Hope that helps

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bellissima · 20/01/2010 09:45

Don't they test you at around 36 weeks and give you antibiotics before as well as during labour if you are positive? Or is that only in other countries?

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xkatyx · 20/01/2010 13:59

the midwives here and doctors keep trying to shrug off the gbs here, i had my baby 4 months after my sister (who had gbs) and i asked to be swabbed and they just made out i was a pain in the bum for asking!!

I think maybe they should make it a bit more aware inseat of pushing it under the carpert.

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mommymeggie · 20/01/2010 14:28

I agree!! I think everyone who is pregnant and aware about GBS should ask for a test. There is a website to help get GBS known more in the UK look here. I didn't know anything about it b/f they told me after my daughter was born that I tested positive for it. I found that quite scary b/c it was like they made it up or something as I know no one who has it or even mentioned it to me, including my midwife.

I asked my midwife why its not becoming important to test pregnant women if the statistics are so high and she said the NHS feels that it is a waste of money b/c so few babies are affected. I think thats a load of rubbish b/c if they know about it and if I was one of the few unlucky ones who's baby was affected, I would be devastated b/c it could have been prevented!!

I am from the USA and they check for everything and thats one of the ramdom checks they do. I've heard in alot of other countries they check for GBS as well, just sadly here in the UK they don't.

So girls, don't be afraid to ask about it with your midwife and pressure them to test you. Knowing what I know now, i would be asking tomorrow if I didn't already know I had it.

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hippychick66 · 20/01/2010 22:04

Thanks ladies. This thread has been a big help to me. I had Strep B about 5 years ago (1 year after my second child was born.) It was discovered whilst they were checking for something else.

I'm now preg with #3 and am definitey gonna ask the MW if I will be tested towards the end of my preg. If not on NHS, I guess I could get a private test done????

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mommymeggie · 21/01/2010 00:44

I'm pretty sure if you've got it, its with you for life. I'm not 100 percent on that tho but its something to talk to your midwife about and tell them that you have been positive before. They didn't test me with my second one, they just put huge stickers in my notes that says Groub B Strep Alert- give Intrapartum I.V. Antibiotics. Maybe they will test you within the NHS b/c you've had it b/f? Best thing to do is talk to your midwife.

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SparklyGothKat · 21/01/2010 00:54

I found out that DD1 had GBS at birth when she was 2 years old!! She had spesis at 3 weeks old, but wasn't told that it was due to the GBS, we only found out when we got a letter from the consultant she is under for her cerebral palsy.

With DS2 who was born in 2007, they didn't test me but just gave me the AB during labour.

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hippychick66 · 21/01/2010 17:29

I am definitely gonna ask about this tomorrow. Didn't realise that it was something you had for life. Yuck - I don't want that little bacteria living in me!

I suppose I should be glad that they found out I had it before. I do know someone whose daughter was very ill because of it. She ended up in the special care unit and was seriously ill.

Thanks guys for nringing this to my attention.