Strep b

[AmsterdamEv]

I was wondering if I could get some feedback from mums who had strep b during pregnancy. I was given antibiotics for strep b at around 31 weeks (found through a vaginal swab) and have been told that I'll have a urine test at 36 weeks to check if it's still there. If this test comes back negative apparently I don't need to have antibiotics during labour or stay in for observation. I am living in Holland and from everything I've read on the internet it seems that in the UK mum are given antibiotics during labour and monitored for 24 hours if they've tested positive at any point during their pregnancy so I'm wondering if I should push for the antibiotics to be on the safe side. I'd much rather have them myself than give them to the baby but I also don't want to have them unnecessarily! Would anyone be happy to share their personal experiences?
Thanks.

I have strep B which was discovered accidentally halfway through my first pregnancy. I wasn't tested again for it before I gave birth but was put on intravenous antibiotics during labour. During my other two labours I was also put on intravenous antibiotics as well. I think I was tested for strep B during my second pregnancy and it came back positive as well and they didn't bother during the 3rd. I don't know if this has changed as I had my last baby 5 years ago. The risk is small (I think 1 in 2,000) but still I was glad that I had the antibiotics. It was a little bit inconvenient to be on the intravenous antibiotics during labour because it was one more piece of kit I was attached to but it really was only a minor irritation. Good luck!

A urine test will only show up a very severe infection. You need a swab test at a minimum.

I'd push for the ABs though. My nephew died from undiagnosed bstrep. With DD3 I tested positive as I was aware, she became infected despite a fast labour no premature waters breaking. Luckily as they were aware and she was monitored she was given a week of ABs and is fine.

It's fixable but serious so I'd be cautious.

I had Strep B which was picked up at around 30 weeks too. I was supposed to have IV antibiotics during labour, but ds2 arrived too fast for them to be given. I ended up having to stay in for 36 hours for observation, during which time ds2's temp was taken every few hours, but all was fine and we went home 3 days after birth.

I found out I had it by chance when I was already overdue. I had the IV antibiotics in labour but less than 4h before birth as DS arrived fast, we stayed in for observation. This time they are testing at 38 weeks (taking swabs to midwife tomorrow, 38+4). If negative they won't do anything, if positive I guess it'll be antibiotics and observations again.

Thank you very much for your comments. It's really helpful and much appreciated!