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Original poster

Strep B and active Birth

67 replies

Princesitalinda · 05/10/2006 21:27

Hi, I've been told I am a carrier from Strep B and would need to have antibiotics during labour so that my baby would have the best chances not to catch it. My fear is that my chances of an active birth would be restrain, as I need to be having a drip? I would ideally like to lie in a hot bath or birthing pool to ease the pain and allow movement, but will they allow this in hospital? I could stay at home in a bath, but I have been told to go to hospital as soon as I feel I am in labour to have the antibiotics...

Anybody have gone through similar situations before? any advice?

thanks!

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jessicaandrebeccasmummy · 05/10/2006 21:29

i had group b strep with becky, and when i went in i was on the bed flat on my back with the drip in.... not that i actually wanted to move anyway, i was quite happy there!

Sorry i cant help, but if its any conselation - regardless of what the docs say, next time round im having a home birth!

(And i only managed to get one lot of anti-biotics before becky arrived, and although she did test positive for her, she never had any symptoms - oh and i also discharged myself from hospital 16 hours earlier than they wanted me to!)

HonorMatopoeia · 05/10/2006 21:32

I was just given the antibiotics every 3 hours (i think that was it) there was no drip, I was worried about that too but it never happened!

alexsCURSEDMUMMY · 05/10/2006 21:37

i was strep b positive with both of mine.
ds1-i laboured in the pool and then got out and lay on bean bags on the floor. he was born with me on all fours.
i didn't have any drugs with him and he was fine and so was i.

ds2 i did have the drugs. only one dose which took about 20 mins to go through.
i then walked around the room and laboured mostly leaning on dh for support. ds2 was again born on the floor with me on all fours.
we left hospital the next day and he was fine.

if you want to use the pool and you have a sympathetic consultant , get him to write his permission all over your notes.
have a look ta the strep b support website. just testing positive isn't neccasarily a reason to have the drugs.should look at other factors like-is the baby prem? when did your waters break etc.

Original poster
Princesitalinda · 05/10/2006 21:59

whats the website for strep b Support?

to be honest, I was not tested before giving birth to my first baby (and I am pretty sure I was already possitive by then) and he was born almost in a birthing pool (dilated upto 8cm, then stucked and finally induced, epidural etc).
He was not tested afterwards either... everything was quite fine...

But now, knowing (and having being scared by so much information and statistics) I would have the drugs, just dont want to be restricted if possible. I am not being seen by a consultant, just a midwife... do I need to ask special permission of somebody to use the birthing pool?

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alexsCURSEDMUMMY · 05/10/2006 22:03

it was just the midwives thing that you couldn't use the pool.the consultant said he couldn't see why not and wrote it all over my notes. the midwives pulled faces but went along with it.
here is the gbs websitehere

don't be scared by some of the stuff on there.

3andnomore · 05/10/2006 22:03

I know not quite what you asked for, but here goes anyway
link to Homebirth org website and there is a section about strep B and Homebirth, that might be interesting to you anyway

Original poster
Princesitalinda · 05/10/2006 23:05

thanks for the messages, websites are very interesting.

I would still hope for a sort of natural birth (i.e. waterbirth) but keep an open mind (if thats possible when you are labouring?)

OP posts:
beckybraAAARGHstraps · 05/10/2006 23:08

No drip. Active labour. Not a water birth.

Twohoots · 05/10/2006 23:10

Princesitalinda - keep in mind what you want but please also bear in mind that Strep B can be life threatening to babies if they catch during labour. I am sure you will weigh up the pros and cons though. I know a horrible story about a baby whose mother had strep b and they didn't know and the poor thing ended up seriously ill and is brain damaged as a result

I don't know the difference between a carrier and actually having it though.

Sorry don't want to scare you but it may be worth having a bit more of a look on the net before you decide.

Good luck - hope you get the birth you want and a healthy baby to boot!

alexsCURSEDMUMMY · 05/10/2006 23:12

3nomore-that article was REALLY interesting and reinforced what was my opinion-that just testing positive isn't a cause for concern.
i was given anti-biotocs in labour with ds29see below0 despite him being full term + and my waters not breaking until 5 mins before he was born. The main problem it caused us was thrush which i got in my breasts and which made the first coupe of months of b/fing a nightmare.

beckybraAAARGHstraps · 05/10/2006 23:15

DEFINITELY get the antibiotics, as soon as you start your labour. Ideally they like to get two lots in before delivery, and they are given at four hour intervals.

alexsCURSEDMUMMY · 05/10/2006 23:16

so what ifn you only have a 2 hour labour? testing positive is NOT the same as having gbs disease.

Original poster
Princesitalinda · 05/10/2006 23:17

I deffinitely want the antibiotics, my concern was about having a drip (which will immobilise me) or just having shots every 4 hours? Is it routine to have you on a drip or you could just ask to be given it every 4 hours? pros and cons?

OP posts:
alexsCURSEDMUMMY · 05/10/2006 23:18

if they do put it through a drip it takes about 20 mins and can then be closed off so you can move around.
read through the links and have a good think about your options.

Original poster
Princesitalinda · 05/10/2006 23:19

oh, and I was thinking the same... what happens if you have a very short labour and they can not give it every 4 hours?

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alexsCURSEDMUMMY · 05/10/2006 23:23

then it i can't see it making every difference. i think some hospitals like to give anti-biotics to the baby.as i said i only had one dose 2nd time and none first time-have got tow very healthy children.

hana · 05/10/2006 23:27

i found out I had strep b at 31 weeks with dd3
I was also worried about not getting enough antibiotics into me if I had a really short labour and was told that if that was the case - they would give baby antibiotics at birth and/or test for strep b. Was quite worried about it, but I asked lots of doctors and they all said the same thing.
I didn't have a short labour - but did have a fairly active one despite having a drip in my arm - was able to use birthing ball, lean against bed, walk around a bit pushing the stand - I was also monitored ( baby and my contractions) throughout but mamaged to not get on bed until last little bit. didn't want waterbirth or bath while in active labour
hth
good luck

Twohoots · 05/10/2006 23:37

Just had a thought, ended up with pethidine (after managing on just tens machine for 7 hrs, had it 50 mins before I gave birth - was a bit miffed really as I am sure I could have 'hung on' had I know DD was coming in 50 mins (mw didn't examine me to see how far along I was but I was obv fully dilated as started to push just after having injection) but with the benefit of hindsight etc - anyway I digress again sigh!) The mw insisted I lie on the bed (until this point I'd never sat down - just walked/wiggled hips etc). I was gutted as wanted a mobile birth. Once she'd given me the peth she could tell it was 'slowing' me down lying down so she let me stand up again (Baby obv had to be monitored but we managed - I could still wiggle hips etc). I gave birth standing up as I had wanted and was only on the bed for about 10-15 mins in all. Maybe you could stress you want as active a birth as poss - tbh if your MW is worth her salt she should let you be as mobile as the circs allow anyway - it's meant to be more beneficial these days and most are quite keen as it CAN help speed things up/keep things moving.

Sorry this is long .

sleepfinder · 06/10/2006 11:37

Don't want to be negative, but while
I didn't have Strep B they did put me on a drip to "move things along" and I was quite disappointed that this meant being told I had to lay on my back (midwife wouldn't allow even a birthing stool!!) - so it wasn't very "active" at all...

I think if you have an IV in your arm, for whatever reason, its possibgly going to restrict you going in a pool, amongst other things - as they get nervy about it being pulled out etc...

But at the same time, if you know you have Strep B then you're lucky to know ahead of time and be able to protect your baby with the antibiotics.

HandbagAddiction · 06/10/2006 11:46

I'm not convinced that having to have a drip will restrict your ability to move around. I was induced for dd2's birth via a drip and I didn't find it too restrictive. OK so you're not exactly going to be able to pace up and down over great distances and going to the loo is interesting as you have to wheel your drip thing in with you too. However, i did spend most of my labour on a birthing ball or walking short distances around the bed, or kneeling or standing and rocking...so a fairly active labour. Gave birth lying on my left hand side..which was a position suggested to me by the midwives as they didn't want me to lie on my back.

What was more restrictive was having to be monitored constantly because of the syntocinon drip. I can't believe you need to be monitored after the antibiotics so I should think you'll be ok.

milward · 06/10/2006 11:47

You can have the birth you want Princesita - the drip goes quick & you'll have an access point left in - but this wont stop you going in the pool/bath. I've had strep & was in the bath & fully mobile. If you're labour is too quick for all the antibiotics then your baby will have antibiotics after the birth.

If bf watch out for development of thrush in you or baby (check white spots in baby mouth, itching or pain in breast/nipple

  • easy sorted with an anti fubgal cream

best wishes xxx

Original poster
Princesitalinda · 06/10/2006 12:20

thanks a lot, its great to hear your stories / experiences. Its very encouraging, thank you. I am 37 + 4 days now, can't wait to have my little one with me. Pregnancy was fine all the way, but suddenly started to panic, due to hearing negative or sad stories. So hearing good ones really compensate and help me keep positive.

OP posts:
animalfarm · 06/10/2006 18:48

pls pls do make sure you get the anti-biotics - my dd had suspected gruop b strep - she had lots of awful tests and heavy duty antibiotics with side effects, it was truly awful

mrsdarcy · 06/10/2006 19:59

haven't read the whole thread so sorry if I'm repeating. I have GBS and when I had DD last year, they gave me the abs via a venflon. They site the venflon and the midwife can shove the abs in that whenever necessary. The venflon is rather uncomfortable but you can move around as much as you want.

One consultant at my hospital looked after a patient who had GBS who had a homebirth, with the consultant's "blessing". If I have any more children I'd want to have the venflon sited, and the 1st dose of abs, whilst at home as I have quick labours and wouldn't otherwise get the 4 hours.

Having said that, if you have a quick labour and the baby comes whooshing down the birth canal, the risk is tiny. It's babies who have a scalp monitor, and take ages coming down, who are most exposed.

Make sure your notes have GBS stickers all over them and that you have been prescribed the abs. Tell them about the GBS when you phone to say you are coming in. Ask to see you hospital's protocol - they should have one and it should specify how long they recommend you and the baby stay in hospital for afterwards.

belgo · 06/10/2006 20:03

I had antibiotics during labour for strep B. I still had a home water birth.

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