if you had strep B in first labour, can you get rid of it before second?

[Gemzooks]

I was on a drip of antibiotics in labour because tested positive for strep b, it was really demoralising being bunged straight on a drip on arrival. Now pg with number 2, does anyone know if you can avoid having it a second time round?

Hi Gemzooks,

The short answer is no, you can't avoid having it. If you are found to have it again, you can take ABs but recolonisation can happen in days.

I wanted a homebirth, so managed to time my oral ABs so I was mid-course when I went into labour. This satisfied the clipboard junkies in the labour ward.

I would get the test available off the GBSS.org website. you do it at about 35 weeks, if i remember correctly. It's the most accurate indicator as to whether you will be GBS positive during your labour.

you can then decide whether to go for IV ABs, oral ABs or to wait and see - they can keep you in hospital and do 24 hour observations before deciding whether to give your baby ABs.

You can also find more information on the RCOG website, in the information for Patients section.

I had it first time around but they weren't doing the drip on arrival in labour ward then (6 yrs ago) but now they automatically do it. All they gave me then was a two week course as soon as I tested +tive.

Then for DS, because I'd had it before, they said I'd need the drip as soon as proper labour started. It was ok and I could walk around, then had an epi so couldn't move around anyway. It was all fine and I'd rather have the antibiotics than not.

no you cant avoid it unless you end up having a c section

Unfortunately I don't think you can be 100% sure even with C-section as it can be passed to the baby in the womb.

there are some alternative remedies that can help, if you search on here.. not sure of the efficacy though. i think that there is some interesting stuff about strep b on the homebirth site, and there is a group b strep support site.

It's a shame the test they generally use to find strep B isn't the one recommended - I understand it gives true positives, but an awful lot of false negatives.

The charity Group B Strep Support www.gbss.org.uk is trying to get information routinely given to women antenatally, and for a reliable test to be offered to all women late in pregnancy.

If you haven't already (and you agree!) please sign the petition at petitions.pm.gov.uk/groupbstrep/ - it closes for new signatures on Saturday, 19th January 2008 so there's not much time left!

I've signed, please will you?