Feeling overwhelmed and scared about birth with Strep B and constant monitoring

[MrsMcJnr]

I'm 38+1 and am abroad. I have a DS of 16 months who was born in the UK. It took me ages last pg to get comfy around the whole birth process and in the end I had a great experience, very quick and drug and intervention free, I was very lucky. This time round things have been more scary due to the differences in the system here. I have tried to get myself comfy again and have lodged my birth plan with the hospital etc. Thing is, they are so medical here and I want the most natural birth I can have. I have a blood clotting disorder and have been told that this means I will need to be continuously monitored in labour. I don?t understand the reasons for that but to me that suggests limited movement and restricted positions. On top of that, with DS I stayed at home until an hour before he was actually born and that was great, no time for interventions but as is standard here I have been tested for Strep B and am positive and so have to go in early for IV Antibiotics. I do appreciate how serious GBS can be. I guess I am having difficulties weighing up in my mind how I can get my head around the labour and the possibility of being there for hours, being hooked up to drips and machines and how to feel positive about it all. Just venting really but would appreciate any comments

Best of luck with it all, my friend is having a baby in Spain and is facing similar issues. Let us know how you get on with the garlic!

Thank you

Only read OP.

I found out I was GBS+ with my second Dc.
I had IV AB's, but was not hooked up to a drip, just a single dose every four hours via a cannula. I had two doses only. TIP take mints in with you, the taste goes straight to your taste buds and is foul.

I was monitored more than I wanted to be and tbh, if I had another baby under the same circumstances, I'd insist on less monitoring and more time in the pool pre delivery. I had asked a consultant prior to labour about delivering in a birthing pool and he'd said no problem, but the MW said she thought this wasn't possible with GBS and this was when I was in labour...anyway, she checked and it was ok. Phew!

The worst problem I've had was getting internal breast thrush due to the AB's ~ 11 times to date and I wouldn't have known it was possible but for a bfing workshop which I nearly didn't go on!

(Susie100, I've heard about the garlic in muslim for thrush treatment too).

muslin?

LOL! ooops! yes, musliN. ROFL @ muslim up the fanjo! No, no no no no no!

SOLO thank you for sharing that, very interesting about the mints I shall make sure I have some. When I had my DS is Scotland I was convinced I wanted a water birth but on the day, I just didn't like water which was just as well as all 3 birthing pools were in use at the hospital. This time, I have ruled out water as they only have one pool and it is strictly for pain relief and not for birthing so I really don't see the point in going in and having to get out. That said, I am loving baths this pregnancy

Sorry to hear about the thrush did you have penicillin? it would be interesting to know if it's more common with one type of AB than another. I shall keep a close eye out for it anyway

I believe it was penicillin, but I'm not sure tbh. As far as the thrush is concerned though, I've used another method as given to me by Le Leche League.

The water pools do help with pain, but giving birth in the water was a fab experience

pmsl at muslin/muslim

Still giggling at this! muslin thing!

Sorry to barge in, I'm relatively new on mumsnet (well, have been reading posts only) and this week I have been found out to be a strep b carrier. The news is absolutely devasting for me. Because my first birth, in hospital, was a lovely calm quick water birth, I was hoping for a homebirth this time round. My midwife says resolutely no, in my area they would not support me with this choice.
I have an appointment with the hospital consultant next week to discuss 'my options', well, very well know what these will be.
My issues are twofold: I have a panic attack everytime I get blood drawn out of me or an injection, I am absolutely terrified of needles. The prospect of having abs fills me with toatl dread.
Also, my first birth was very quick (5 and 1/2hrs from start to delivery), so there is a possibility I might not have enough time for two doses as they recommend. In this case, in hospital in my area, they give a prophylactic dose to a newborn. I am ever so unhappy about this.
After having read up on strep b, I am wondering what my chances are of declining the 'offer' of prophylactic treatment with antibiotics. I feel completely out of control and are scared that I will be cornered in the hospital into something what I really really do not want.
I am prepared to privately retest at 36 weeks, however the midwife said, I would still be treated as a higher risk due to strep b once detected, which I think is nonsense.
Sorry for a long moan but still very stressed and unhappy about the whole situation.