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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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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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Monkeychopsmummy · 06/10/2006 21:13

I was a Strep B carrier had iv antibiotics during labour. They put a thingy in the back of your hand so they can administer the antibiotics but each dose only takes about 20 mins then you are free to move around. I used a birthing stool and stood up for the main event! The only thing I would do differently next time is insist that a consultant or midwife put the line in the back of my hand as I had a useless junior Dr do it and she buggered it up twice before the consultant put it in properly. Because the stupid junior doc used the 2 best sites on the back of my hand the eventual site meant it wasn't very comfortable to bend my wrist - not great when you are leaning on the bed!

Monkeychopsmummy · 06/10/2006 21:20

Also I had 2 doses at 4 hours apart at least 4 hours before DS was born - this is ideal - but DS ended up having to have iv antibiotics for 2 days anyway because he had a bulging fontenelle - GBS infection in newborns is very serious so they treat whilst they are waiting for the blood test results. Fortunately all was well. DS only had a little bit of nappy rash as a side effect and that cleared up not long after we left hospital. The main thing is everyone will be looking out for symptoms as they know you are a carrier - so your little one will be protected. They don't know why some carriers pass it on during birth and some don't - most don't so try not to worry too much. I hope you have an active and positive birth experience - good luck

3andnomore · 06/10/2006 21:20

ACM...oh thrush when you are breastfeeding is horrible...and I never really looked into this connection properly, but I had probably vaginal thrush when I gave Birth to ms, and we had loads of bouts of thrush...ie. him in his mouth me on my nipples and in my breasts...thank god he was my 2. ds and by then I knew how much I hated the inconvinience of Bottlefeeding, otherwise I may have given in to the pain, lol!

Original poster

Princesitalinda · 06/10/2006 21:31

Thanks all. I will deffinitely mention that I am a carrier when phoning the hospital. With my first ds, I had an 18 hours labour. I've been told that with number 2s its usually shorter.... I am alright to understand that what's ideal is to receive at least 2 shots of iv antibiotics? (meaning labouring at least 8 hours?) If not, do they routinely give baby antibiotics or just if whilst observing they feel thats the best thing to do?

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Monkeychopsmummy · 06/10/2006 21:41

I think they would keep a close eye on the baby rather than routinely give antibiotics - The GBS support website has a guide for pregnant women who are GBS carriers - there is a protocol within that for dealing with babies of GBS carriers - if I recall correctly it is in the form of a flow chart. I printed the whole booklet out and put it with my birth plan and mat notes - just in case anyone needed to refer to it - but I have to say the hospital was great and I didn't have to bring it out and start pointing at protocols (but you never know so best to be prepared)!

ashm · 06/10/2006 22:14

I found out I was GBS positive with DS no1, he also tested positive and needed ABs. Had a nasty birth and went private with DS no2. Told the consultant I was positive and he said I would be given IV ABs prior to section. Never happened, was in to much of a panic to remember to ask. DS no2 was tested after delivery and was negative and was tested again, by mistake, in the postnatal ward and was positive. More ABs. At least the hospital I was at test as a matter of routine. Not all do. Insist on antibiotics during labour.

mrsdarcy · 06/10/2006 22:18

IME they keep a close eye on the baby, and ask you stay in hospital for a certain period (can't remember how long), and they have a low threshold for giving the baby abs.

My DS2 had IV abs as I hadn't had any in labour (the hospital was totally disorganised about how to deal with GBS ), and his temp went up v slightly. His swabs came back negative but it's just not worth the risk. It's why I mugged up on it more when I was expecting DD.

With DD I got about an hour of abs as my labour was v quick. They just kept an eye on her and she was fine.

mrsdarcy · 06/10/2006 22:18

Belgo, that's interesting about you having a home waterbirth with GBS. What did they do about monitoring the baby after delivery?

Monkeychopsmummy · 07/10/2006 00:13

P - I know how you feel I had a bit of a freak out when I got the test result but try not to let negative stories worry you too much - you know you are a carrier and are planning to have the antibiotics + they will monitor your baby so you are doing every thing possible to have a good outcome.

Can you have a chat with a consultant at your hospital? It might help you relax more if you know their procedures etc. Also - it might be useful to get your birth partner educated (if not already) on GBS and ready to fight your corner if they aren't quick enough with arranging the iv etc.

belgo · 07/10/2006 07:48

Mrs Darcy - the birth was very safe as my waters didn't break until dd was born. She was born at midday, the midwife stayed for two hours after the birth, then came back at 8- 9pm, then again at 8am the following day. The main problem was that they gave the antibiotics in a big bag of fluid (it can be given in a smaller bag), and that fluid meant that I had a filled bladder, but didn't realise because I had barely drunk anything. So I gave birth with a full bladder, and I think that caused me to lose a lot more blood then expected (but I'd really like to ask a midwife to confirm this). All in all, the care my dd and I recieved at home was more individual then in a hospital.

Original poster

Princesitalinda · 07/10/2006 09:24

Belgo - do you think it would be as safe if the waters break before you go in the pool? Or they felt it was safe ONLY because your waters did not break before?

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katyjo · 07/10/2006 10:14

Hi,
I had to have antibiotics, a syntocin (spelling?) drip, a blood pressure monitor and a fetal heart rate monitor attached added to that I was in the smallest labour room ever!! I wanted to be active so I sat on a ball at the end of the bed (room was so small midife had to climb over the bed to get around me!! The midwife was happy I was acitive and so was I, I am sure they will support your decision and you don't notice all the attachments after a while!! Good luck

Monkeychopsmummy · 07/10/2006 10:44

The short gas and air pipe was more of a hinderance to my movement than the drip! My bladder got so full that I couldn't pee because I didn't want to leave my wonderful G+A to go to the loo down the corridor! Belgo - I never thought about the antibiotic fluid contributing to that before - but I guess it has to go somewhere!

belgo · 07/10/2006 11:09

Because I had the antibiotics I think I would still have been allowed a water birth even if my waters had broken early. The antibiotics gave me a nasty case of thrush aftr the birth - not pleasant especially as I had a tear that needed stitches. But having just seen another thread about a newborn suffering from strep B menigitis, I'm very glad I had the antibiotics.

Monkeychopsmummy · 07/10/2006 22:54

I didn't have any side effects from the antibiotics - was lucky. I think I ate bio yogurt when I got home from hospital as I was a bit worried about all that penicillin in my system. Breast milk is pro-biotic for the baby isn't it?

belgo · 08/10/2006 09:01

The antibiotics can be given fairly quickly and the drip removed straight afterwards. Even if it does stay in your hand /arm, I see no reason why it should stop you moving about, just don't get it fully submerged under water.

ZacharyZoo · 09/10/2006 13:22

Had Strep B with DS born in April this year, found the drip uncomfortable, but was only attached whilst it was going through, for 20 mins 4 hours apart. The rest of the time was very active, never laying down, in fact it was the last thing i wanted to do. I did speak to the midwife at the beginning as i was very keen to be active after two previous labours laid on my back (12 and 9 years ago), which were pretty grim experiences. Midwife was fantastic, even when she had to put the monitor around my belly she let me stand up, the whole thing was very much lead by me and DH, with the midwife stepping in when needed. I worried that the whole thing would be managed for me because of the drip, but it really wasn't, it was definitely my best experience of labour. Just be clear with the midwife at the beginning about the way you would like it to go... good luck

Original poster

Princesitalinda · 10/10/2006 18:09

zacharyzoo - thanks for sharing your experience... did you have any form of pain relief as well (such as epidural or else?) or did you go for a full natural labour?

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ZacharyZoo · 11/10/2006 12:13

Just had gas and air towards the end, felt really in touch with the whole experience and DS was really alert, after my previous two experiences of pethidine and epidural it was amazing. Only hitch was that my placenta wouldn't deliver and i had to go to theatre and have an epidural for removal of the placenta! Best laid plans and all that, i suppose the positive side of that was that the drip was already there for the antibiotics i had to have after removal of the placenta!

noseymum · 12/10/2006 16:43

I had to have antibiotics through labour, but they just put a 'canula' (sp) in my hand and put them in when ever they were due. I had to have a drip, but not for that. It was for glucose I think.

swissmiss · 12/10/2006 21:49

I found out I was GBS+ 1 wk before #2 was born. Was in hospital for only 90mins before she arrived so the 1 dose of abs I was given was a bit pointless!! Once the meds were in, about 20mins, the drip was disconnected and I was just left with canula in my arm so staying active was no probelm.
As I didn't get the chance for at least 2 doses 4 hrs appart they insisted we stayed in for min 24hrs for 4hrly observations on DD. No tests were done on her.
Good Luck!

swissmiss · 12/10/2006 21:52

Ditto what Zacharyzoo said "Just be clear with the midwife at the beginning about the way you would like it to go... "

biddymc2 · 12/10/2006 23:53

Princesitalinda, I was told I had Group B Strep when pregnant. I am allergic to penicillin so had to have a special antibiotic written in prescription in anticipation of going into labour. Luckily enough this one only needed to be given every 8 hours. The first lot was administered quickly, probably only took about 15-20 minutes. I had a completely active water birth and stayed mobile (within reason) while the drip was in. The fabulous midwives just kept the valve in, in case I needed another dose 8 hours later - luckily wasn't in labour that much longer! We were kept in for 24 hours observation of DD1 and then that was it.

I think it depends on which hospital you go to, how open and comfortable the midwives are, and how clear you are with the midwives that about what you want. I delivered in a birthing unit, separate to the labour ward at UCLH in London.

Good luck!

mears · 13/10/2006 00:00

There is no need to actually have a drip in place - you only need a cannula in the back of your hand/wrist for the antibiotics to be given. You can certainly have an active birth or pool delivery - just discuss what you want with the midwives.

Belgo - out of ineterest - which part of the country are you in? It is unusual to get IV antibiotics at home due to the risk of anaphylaxis.

Original poster

Princesitalinda · 13/10/2006 00:06

thanks biddymc2 and all for sharing your experience - I agree that really depends on how "friendly" and patient, and busy the midwifes are. I am having number 2 in Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey, first one was born there too and had (overall) a pretty good experience. I was allowed to be in a bath and then in the birthing pool until it was clear I was going no where (ended up being induced, epidural and ventouse). I was not checked before for Strep B, so I dont know if I already had it with number 1 (luckily everything went fine). But now, knowing that I am positive for Strep B, I naturally want to make sure baby is protected... however, coming close to my due date, I am started to panic about the actual labour, and I guess I would love to be allowed to be active for as long as possible (hopefully in a bath/birthing pool again).... by what I read, I guess that would be possible

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