Anyone with GBS/ Strep B had or having a water birth?

[neshi]

Hi,

I was diagnosed GBS in early pregnancy and at the time took a cycle of antibiotics. The doctor told me at the time that it didn't mean I would carry the bacteria trough the whole pregnancy, meaning it could go away and never come back.

Now, I'm 34 weeks and really hoping for a water birth but the hospital doesn't seem happy about it, although never giving me a specific reason why I should not do it...it's getting really annoying because I always hear different things and never a clear answer of yes or no and why not!

Also, they say the NHS does not cover for a new test, to check if I have it still or not.

If I do the test privately, will my NHS hospital recognise it?

Please do let me know if you carry strep B and were able to have a water birth.

www.gbss.org.uk/

these are the people who know the most up to date information. give them a call.

Get a private test done. I was told that this would cover me for the birth in an NHS hospital (although not boithered about water birth, just want to be able to decline antibiotics). If your test came back negative, this negative result lasts a few weeks and should be ok. If positive, you can decide whether to push it or not. Your midwife can put you on to the people who do the testing. hth.

My friend had a home water birth after cesearean and was GBS +ve.
It was with independant midwives.
The local hospital had agreed to her coming in during labour and having IV antibiotics and then going back home, but there wasn't time.
All was fine for her and the baby though.
She and her husband work in Risk consultancy so had researched everything very carefully.
Some good info here-
www.homebirth.org.uk/gbs.htm
Selina

please take GBS seriously. if i had been lucky enough to have the knowledge you have now, i would have taken every precaution offered.
statistics can be misleading, somebody has to be one of the 700 babies born with life threatening infection every year.

you are lucky, you know you are a carrier of GBS.

But you could have IV antibiotics in labour and then use the pool.
The RCOG do not recommend IV antibiotics unless you have other risk factors like prolonged rupture of membranes or maternal fever.
It will probably just be protocol not to have anyone with any risk factor use the MLU or pool, but it can all be negotiated!
Ask to speak to a consultant midwife (if they have one) they tend to be your best bet to discuss options that are 'out of the ordinary'
More info here-
www.thegoodbirth.co.uk/obstacles_to_a_waterbirth#gbs

One useful abstract-

Water birth: is the water an additional reservoir for group B streptococcus?
Abstract Objective: Water birth became popular in the last years, despite the fact that many questions like the risk of infection for the newborn remain unanswered. Group B streptococcal (GBS) infections in the newborn remain a challenge in obstetrics and neonatology. Method: We conducted a prospective trial to study the impact of water birth on the colonization rate of the bath water and, more importantly, the GBS-colonization rate of the newborn. Result: After water birth the bath water was significantly more often colonized with GBS than after immersion followed by a delivery in bed. The newborns, however, showed no difference in GBS colonization and there was even a trend towards less GBS colonization of the newborn after a water delivery. Conclusion: Regarding GBS colonization of the newborn during water birth there might be a wash out effect, which protects the children during the delivery.

Selina

Thank you for all the answers.
I am taking the GBS seriously and don't consider the option of refusing antibiotics, I know that's the best way to protect the baby and realise how important that is.
What I don't understand is the staff resistance to do a water birth, because I can't seem to find any evidence that it would do any harm, since I will be having the antibiotics....
Guess I will have to really negotiate when I get to the hospital!

I think it's just difficult to have a cannula in your had attached to an antibiotic drip on a stand and be in the water. It's akward enough on dry land!

You can have the antibioics run in in about half an hour or so and then get unhooked from the drip. It is better to get it agreed before the birth and written on your notes. Find the most senipor midwife you can find, or a supervisor of midwives and ask to have a meeting with them (which hospital are you with?)
Selina

Selina, that's really interesting. I didn't know that. Last time I was hooked up but they took me for an emcs rather quickly (prem ds), so I had always assumed the cannula would have been in to stay.

Thanks

If you are being induced, you would keep the drip after the antibiotics, but if antibiotics is th only intervention you need then it can be done quite quickly and then be taken out.
Selina x

Antibiotics are given every 4 hours in labour so taking the canula out after every dose isn't really practical.