Question for anyone who has had antibiotics in labour for Group B Strep

[Wholelottalove]

I have tested + for Group B Strep and been given the info about having IV antibiotics in labour. I've done a little bit of reading about this and I'm getting confused. Some literature seems to say you need to have had the IV antibiotics 4 hours before you deliver, others give the impression the anitbiotics will TAKE 4 hours to go through.

Can I check which one it is? Don't fancy idea of being hooked up to an IV for 4 hours in labour (although obviously will have that if needs be). Would feel much happier if I knew the number of hours refers to the amount of time prior to delivering the baby you have to have had the antibiotics and they actually take only, say, 20 mins to go through, then can just be unhooked from IV and get on with rest of labour. (hope that makes sense)

Hopefully this will all be academic as I have had on + and one - swab and if it is negative at 36 weeks I'm hoping for HB.

If I do go into hospital and get the IV, can I still have a water birth? Will I need to agree this beforehand?

Would really appreciate any views/advice. Thanks.

i was told i needed to wait 4 hours before giving birth when the antibiotics had finished (think i might have had drip in about 30 mins?) but also i had to stay in 36hrs with ds as he needed to be monitred to ensure no probs re him and infection even though i got two complete doses of antibiotics in, so be warned, pack a good book!

good luck with your labour!

It means the antibiotics have to be in your system for 4 hours before delivery to give baby adequate protection. They go through very quickly - worst part is getting iv fitted while you are contracting! Think you can kiss goodbye to your water birth though. I have always had to deliver in labour suite in large hospital rather than say a community midwife run unit, and no water births allowed. Do try and make sure you get the drugs in time - i didn't make it with dd, and then had to listen to my tiny new baby screaming as an iv was put in her hand, and repeat this process for the next two nights. Horrible!

You can always do what I did. Have injections of ABs in your bum/thigh every 1/2 hour or so through labour. That way mobility isn't compromised and you don't have the discomfort of the IV in your hand.

You may have to insist on this and they might be a bit

IME of both my labours you will get thrush if you breastfeed after having the ABs so make sure you get treated promptly if feeding is painful.

You can have a water birth with the injections but not the IV.

They like to get them in 4 hours before.

I tested pos, i got to the hospital at 4cm, half hour later ds2 was being born so never had time for the anti bs, he was fine, we stayed in for 48 hours to keep an eye on him. no abs for him tho,

I was told i could go in the pool after the first lot went in but never had time.

If it's any help, after antibiotics, ds took about another 5 hours to arrive! Would definately go with whatever is quickest way of getting the drugs into you, as my ds only needed to be monitored, not have the iv.. thelennox you must have felt wrenched, just after giving birth and having to listen your dd screaming with the iv..

I had Group B strep and was allowed a waterbirth. I just kept my hand out of the water with the IV in it. I think it depends on whether your waters have broken, how long they have been broken, the hosptial and MW.

My waters had been broken for 20 hours when I arrived at the hospital. I was 5cm dilated and they started the IV which took about 30mins to run through and this was repeated every 4 hours until my baby was born (had 2 doses).

Do look out for thrush afterwards and take probiotics (good ones). there is also a garlic remedy that I did and it worked too....will have to look it up for you
good luck

Oh wow, thanks for so many responses so quickly.

I think I need to chat to my mw if my test is still + at 36 weeks as although my entire labour with DD was v long, the actual 'active'/non-latent bit was only 4 hours.

thelennox that sounds awful. I remember them doing that hip click test thingy with DD and that was horrible enough

My local hospital does have a birth pool on the main maternity unit, so I could still ask to use it I guess and keep hand out if it is free on the day.

The bit about thrush, I didn't know, so thanks for the heads up. Had a horrible time BF DD with tongue tie/mastitis etc so the thought of likely thrush is not filling me with joy! daxibaby if you have any more info, that would be fab, thank you.

Looks like different hospitals have different policies about length of time to observe baby/give antibiotics to baby etc. Again, if I had to go in, I was hoping to come straight home after a couple of hours.

I guess I may need to modify my expectations for this birth/immediate postnatal period. I am really, really hoping the test is negative at 36 weeks now.

SingingBear - thanks. Will def be having the anitbs if I test + so I will just go straight in when I go into labour. I don't want the baby to have to have them.

Just means I need to change my plans - ie straight up hospital at first contraction rather than staying at home as long as poss and staying in a bit longer after.

Think I'll be fine and you are right it is much better to focus on the positives of longer than planned stay in hosp - no housework for a start

I had a canula and they administered the antibiotics then let me get in the pool at 5cms dilated. Labour was 4 hours and I just made it within in the window that meant ds didn't have to have the antibiotics. My waters didn't break until they broke them (getting me out of the pool) so the risk of transferrence was greatly reduced. I only knew I had it from the home test kit the GBSS support group recommend.

I went straight to hospital (despite being told not to) and will be doing so again this time so as not to miss the window.

www.gbss.org.uk/
I put my wishes in the birth plan.

This time round the NHS test has picked it up and I have the GBSS sticker on my notes.

I had antibiotics (canula) with my ds. He arrived less than 4 hours after they'd administered them but as my membranes had stayed in tact until the second stage, there was a very low risk. They monitored him for 24 hours (4 hrly temps, I think). I didn't get thrush or have difficulties bf but he was very windy, which might have been a result of the antibiotics. We both took a (horrifically expensive) probiotic from the health food shop.

I had oral antibiotics couple wks prior to DD and then IV's before baby born but only just. They were only through about an hour before baby born. I had a water birth but they didn't want me to so had to sign a disclaimer form! Baby was fine but very congested so had to stay in for couple of nights but only stayed one night cos could not stand the noise!

Be glad that Most hospitals are happy to observe baby now. My ds2 is 7 And he had 2 have the iv antibi for 5 days. The actually used a vein in his head the poor pet.I was in hospital for 5 days. Think the shortage of beds led to a rethink of that policy

I had a water birth with Strept B. Had the first lot of ABs, got in the water - realised that she was going to come before I had chance to have second lot of ABs so she took the canula out, which was lovely, as there is nothing worse than flexing your wrist during a contaction and feeling the canula !!

stayed in for 24hrs to have her monitored.
Previous DD had to stay in for 48hrs.

I'd been really sad to find out I was Strept +ve this time as I'd hoped to be home in 6hrs, but like 4plus1 said, when you think about the risks, it is WELL worth staying in just in case. And indeed, I really enjoyed the time with my new little girl without her sisters around.