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Childbirth

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

strep B and membrane sweep

5 replies

star31 · 12/05/2007 13:22

I am 40 weeks + 4 days pregnant and have a membrane sweep booked for Monday, However I have Strep B and am concerned that this isn't a good idea. When my midwife said she was going to do this I asked if it was ok as I have Strep B and she said it was fine. I have done a bit of research on the internet and a few sites including the gbs website say they don't advise it as this could lead to moving the bacteria closer to the baby.
Has anyone with Step B had a sweep? I really want the baby to come now but don't want to risk it if there is a chance it could be dangerous to the baby.There seems to be a lot of conflicting advice, the midwives are very
laid back about it, as long as you get antibiotics on delivery everything will be fine. However I have read several articles where babies aren't fine and are seriously harmed or die from the bacteria which I know is rare but in some cases have been healthy until they have had the membrane sweep and then become infected.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

OP posts:
lulumama · 12/05/2007 15:22

if you are not comfortbale having a sweep, don;t have one..everytime you have a vaginal exam, whether strep b positive or not, there is a small risk of infection......also, a membrane sweep can break teh waters, and that too sets the clock ticking on getting labour started....you do not have to have the sweep

pinknfluffy29 · 12/05/2007 16:16

i have no advice on whether to have the sweep or not but when my son was born he had strep b and had to be kept in for 10 days while he had iv antibiotics - he was 4 weeks prem and was born grunting - fortunately he was fine and only had to stay in scbu for one night but it broke my heart watching him with his arm splinted for the cannula. and having blood taken often.

with 2nd baby i had the antibiotics iv but she was born in less than 4 hours - luckily she didnt have it.

can they give you the antibiotics once you are in labour???

Klaw · 12/05/2007 16:22

Have you been tested positive in this pg? Or are you just having the prophylactic ABs because you know you carry it.

I carry it but didn't get tested for dd as I didn't know enough about GBS and blindly followed orders, not that the hospital seemed to know what protocol to follow when I turned up in labour, but that's beside the point! I also had 3 attempted sweeps from 41wks. Now that I have researched more I wouldn't have a sweep for a future delivery for many reasons including the fact that a sweep can take bacteria from the vagina up to the cervix. Check out the GBS website, do your research, make an informed choice.

star31 · 14/05/2007 15:21

Yes I have tested positive this pregnancy. I have had the midwife around this morning and told her my concerns.She rang the hospital and spoke to a doctor, he was very sure that there was no problem whatsoever with having one and to only refer to the Royal college of obstetricians and gynaecologists website.I had showed her the gbs website which is a bit contradictory, it says they don't recommend them however there is no research to say they do any harm?
I still decided not to have the sweep today however I have the option to have one tommorrow.My midwife has said that having one will either bring on natural labour or get things moving so my body is more ready for when I have my inducement. Otherwise I will have my inducement on Friday and may have a harder labour.So now I am confused again, if I don't have it done will my birth be longer more complicated/painful?

OP posts:
Klaw · 14/05/2007 18:56

There is absolutley no need for an induction before 42wks if there are no other medical indications, eg low fluid levels, baby in distress, PE in you.

There is a greater risk of interventions and CS with inducing a baby which is not yet ready to be delivered and just being past 40wks is not a valid medical reason to get baby out.

Term is regarded at bewteen 37 and 42wks with 40 being the average. You're not actually overdue till 42+weeks and even then you may just be a slow cooker.

You can ask for expectant management instead.

Induction is my bug bear so please bear with me, I'd like to try and give you as much information so that if you CHOOSE an induction it is for reasons that you are happy with not just because the HCPs say you should have one. They are only offering you one, you are allowed to decline it.

Radical Midwives and induction

Kent Midwifery Practice and induction

If you have a sweep, be sure to ask what your Bishop's Score is, if it's lower than 8 or 9 then an induction is highly likely to be traumatic! Can't find the link I would normally post with this info so bear with me, I'll get back to you.

I hope that you can make informed decisions, so please ask for all the pros and cons for any procedure they 'offer'.

Also I'm not sure if I've made enough sense as I have a little lady nagging at me, she's not 100% at the moment....

Sending you happy, calm labour vibes!

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