Strep B spanner in the works

[RainbowFlowers]

My first birth was emergency c section followed by baby and I having sepsis. This was so painful and distressing on many levels. Sepsis was due to the 3 days inbetween my waters breaking and having my baby.

Thinking about birth options for my second pregnancy has been so difficult. I had just decided that I would like to book an elected c section on 40th week rather than earlier in an attempt to feel like baby is ready. (I felt like baby was ready first time round as I never had any contraction until after a few inductions. But waters broke first) If I go into labour before then I'd most likely opt for a section. But depending on how I am feeling I would consider trying a VBAC. It took me 3 counselling sessions and 2 consultations to get to this decision and feel OK about it.

Yesterday at midwife app I had to give a swab (due to a symptom) to be tested for strep B. The thing that caused my sepsis was strep B. I feel like this is a massive blow, I haven't got the results yet but if I have it this will put me at risk of getting infected again at childbirth.

This makes me not want to try for VBAC at all so now wondering if I should change my c section to a week earlier.

Any advice, support or similar experience welcome. I feel quite unsettled.

Sorry, I have no personal experience so can't help - but you might get more responses if you post this in the childbirth/pregnancy topic, rather than the music topic!

We're moving this for you now, OP.

I have strep B and currently 35 weeks pregnant. I had it with my first who is now nearly 3, I was devastated when I first found out and scared but I had the antibiotics before she arrived and had a vaginal birth and all went well. I had to be induced as like you my waters broke early and contractions didn’t follow but other than that it went smoothly. I was thinking with everything going on now to have a section for my second pregnancy but I’ve decided that with already having a toddler jumping on me and running around everywhere the recovery would be too difficult and will have a vaginal birth again unless emergency section needed. As mentioned the first birth went absolutely fine and I had the antibiotics on IV drip so it wasn’t too bad! Hope you find some clarity! X

I've had GBS in many pregnancies my last baby caught sepsis dispite being given the antibiotics in labour now due soon and have to do it again I'd still prefer this to a section cause of recovery

I was under the impression that if you've had strep b in one pregnancy you automatically get antibiotics in the next labour (so doesn't really matter what your swab shows?) but I don't think this affects what type of birth you have?

I would strongly recommend calling your midwife to discuss this. Group B strep is typically associated with neonatal infection rather than infection in the mother. Group A strep is the one that causes significant infections for mothers. It’s possible that you have got these mixed up a bit so before you look for any answers I would advise checking exactly which one you have tested positive for.

Did you get antibiotics during your last labour? I have Strep b and been told you're given antibiotics when labour begins.

I had strep b in my second, however I tested after 39 weeks and received a negative result a few days before my labour. I opted out of antibiotics and my son was a successful vbac, born at 40+4. He was given them after though jic as well as being tested. His results were negative yet they gave him a second dose because it was hospital policy. I wasn’t keen on taking antibiotics if they weren’t necessary. If I had tested positive, I would have taken them.

With my first (and only) I chose an elective section and was booked for 39 weeks. I tested positive for strep b late on, this did not impact elective decisions/date. My waters broke naturally at home 2 days before my elective date, so I went straight into hospital and onto antibiotics. Had section about 6 hours after waters broke - technically classed as an EMCS, but wasn't actually an 'emergency' and was very calm. Baby had antibiotics after birth as a precaution, but didn't develop any infection. We stayed 2 nights to get all clear from baby blood test. So you don't necessarily need to push your section date forward, although you might not be given much choice on date anyway, and if you did naturally go into labour/water breaks, you can still have a section, just push for the antibiotics as a precaution immediately.