group b strep and water birth

[umboo]

hi

i had gbs last time two years ago and had the IV antibiotics. i'm nearly 16w pregnant and plan to retest for this pregnancy, this time privately at around 35 weeks as is recommended.

i was wondering if anyone has managed to have a water birth in hospital/birthing centre with gbs? was it easy to get the MWs to agree?

i'm worried that it would be so late in the pregnancy i would be upset at the last minute to have to give up my hopes for a water birth. obviously i know i may not have a water birth anyway- availaibility of pools etc- but id still like it to be an option...

thanks

hello
I tested privately and was GBS+ for 1st preg and had DS1 in a birthing centre - can't see why you cant have a line in while you're in the pool should you turn out to be + this time round
(As it happened DS2 was born at home before we could get to hosp or mws/paramedis could get here and was fine....)

hello...i was strep b positive for all three of mine, and was told that i couldn't have a water birth because of the IV line. was a bit gutted for DC2 but over it by DC3. However, you never know, and it's always worth asking....however, definitely not worth the risk of not having the antibiotics (and i'm sure you know the risks).

ps you might not be positive this time, i was apparently quite unusual in carrying it throughout all 3 pregnancies. fingers crossed!

I was tested for GBS a few weeks ago as I tested + after a previous MC. Luckily my results were - for this pregnancy. I did look into what would happen though and my local hospital's policy is to still allow women to use the birthing pool if appropriate. When I checked it depended on being monitored whilst receiving the IV antibiotics but then allowed to get in the pool if all is well. My local hospital does the IV antibiotics via the hand, push it for 30 minutes then leave you alone for 4 hrs. I guess it does depend on the staff on shift and also that otherwise everything is ok.

I did, although for a while I thought my birth plans were going to fly out of the window! I only got myself tested to "put my mind at rest" - didn't think for a moment I would come back positive.

I rang the MLU and was told I would need to come in for a chat with the lead MW, who was really supportive, and agreed that since my pregnancy had been pretty textbook, they would let me deliver there. She drew up a birth plan that said I would need to have IV antibiotics before getting in the pool, and a cannula would have to be re-sited each time I needed another dose, because it couldn't stay in if I was in the pool (and antibiotics needed to go it every four hours - usually the cannula would stay in for the entire labour).

I also chatted about it with the MW who cared for me in labour (in between contractions, lol) and, having done some research, I said that the idea of giving ALL GBS+ women antibiotics must be like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut - since the chances of a baby getting ill are so small - but, naturally, no GBS+ woman is going to refuse them She agreed, and said that she recommends women don't get themselves tested for that reason. She also told me that it was policy in that hospital to give all newborns born to GBS+ women IV antibiotics, but said rather pointedly that I could refuse it.

Anyway, I only got one dose of antibiotics in the end, since I delivered within six hours of arriving at hospital. I did refuse antibiotics for DD, and had to stay in for 48 hours as a result, so she could be monitored. That was no big deal, because after a third degree tear and repair I was in no fit state to go home early

thank you for all your replies. Its good to hear that xmasmummy you were - after a previous +. i'm hoping its the same for me!

i really hope the hospital allows it. i actually haven't decided which london hospital i'm going to give birth in yet, and i'm wondering whether this should be one of my criteria in choosing.

its also frustrating to realise that hospital policies are so variable in how to manage gbs. last time i was told i had to have teh IV antibiotics AND stay in for 48 hours. now, i didn't really mind as it was my first baby and i wanted to stay the extra days to get help with bfing, but this time around with a toddler at home i want to be home as soon as possible so i hope i don't have another 2 days in hospital on top of the ABs if i'm gbs+!

In that case I'd definitely make the hospital policy on GBS a factor in choosing your hospital. I know you are not planning a homebirth but I found a lot of great information about GBS and how it's treated and also lots of birth stories home and hospital on this website www.homebirth.org.uk/ if you go to the "Can I have a homebirth if..." section and follow the links for Group B Strep then there is a page dedicated to it. There are links at the bottom of the page to other informative sites.

thanks stillwaitingforbaby. i had considered home birth for ds, and ruled it out for a first birth for various reasons. right now whilst i'm totally pro HBing and absolutely love the idea- i just will never be able to forget how long the transfer from delivery room to theatre for my forceps delivery seemed, when it was just down one corridor. a transfer from home should it be needed would be even longer...but if dc2's birth goes well (is less traumatic than ds1) then i would probably consider HB again for a possible dc3. :)

There's an article written about group B Strep and waterbirth which appeared in The Practising Midwife in 2007. It's available from Group B Strep Support's website at www.gbss.org.uk/filepool/2007_04_Practising_midwife_water_birth_article.pdf if you're interested.

thanks that looks interesting!

I've tested positive for GBS in my booking urine test. I know that's not the same as from a vaginal swab but I assume they'll now do the swab test? The leaflet I've been sent by King's, which is where I'm booked, says you can have a water birth with GBS - if you need an iv line they just put a waterproof dressing over it.