Tell me about your healthy child who had antibiotics at birth

[FourPlasticRings]

I'm really upset because my poor baby boy has been given antibiotics after birth by IV for 48 hours as a precaution because I have group b strep. I didn't think that would happen and was not told about it in pregnancy- they gave me a fact sheet that said I'd need antibiotics in labour and that was it. Now I'm sitting here stressing that he's been given antibiotics unnecessarily and he's going to have eczema or asthma or allergies because all his natural bacteria from birth have been wiped out by the antibiotics totally unnecessarily. I'm literally crying my eyes out on this hospital bed and feel I've failed him by not questioning more say the time but it was immediately after birth and I was so out of it that I let them take him away. Now we've been stuck here for two days and I've been told we need to wait for blood culture results to come back (that I didn't even know they were doing!) and that they'll continue the IV in the meantime. Someone please talk to me because I'm really struggling right now. Is what they're doing normal practice? Why was I not told about it? Will it have long term detrimental implications for his health?

@NemoRocksMyWorld Thank you, this explanation has helped massively. So, if the bloods were taken at 4 p.m. and they'll be allowed to grow for 72 hours, so until 4 p.m. tomorrow, I might end up having to stay in until Sunday, even, if the admin side of things is slow?

I am breastfeeding- thanks for the info on the recovery with that @FolkSongSweet and @NemoRocksMyWorld.

My 4 year old had 5 days of antibiotics as a newborn as I had tested positive for strep b and they were worried he had swallowed meconium on his way out. Horrible at the time but grateful that it could help if there were any problems. He is completely healthy now, no asthma, eczema or allergies. Understandable that you're worried if you weren't expecting it.

Another one here whose baby had antibiotics at birth. He was premature and it's a decade ago so it's all a bit of a blur as to what he had and why, but he's fit and well. Your emotions will be all over the place with all the hormones right now so it it wasn't this it would be something else.

Dc1 had loads of antibiotics at birth because they refused to intervene until 81 hours after my waters had broken and I was running a fever. He was born by section too, once they'd eliminated every other method of separating us.

He's 5 and a half. Apart from the general hv appointments everyone gets, he's never needed a doctors appointment. He's had 1 illness (hand, foot and mouth) in that time and had it so mildly if he hadn't given it to dh...not sure we would have noticed. Since he started school there have been various bugs flying around, he hasn't caught any of them.

One of my friend's daughter almost died of strep b. She seemed fine for so many hours after birth and then suddenly she didn't. She's now a happy healthy little 7 year old without asthma or exzema.

By the sound of it your birth wasn't great? With my dc, it was his low temperature after birth that had them concerned that he was harbouring an infection. Could that have happened with your little one? Is he in Nicu?

Thank you again, everyone. This is Mumsnet at its best- you've made me feel hundreds of times better and all been so supportive and kind. I think hormones and lack of sleep are probably to blame, but you've all calmed me down so much. x

I always day 48-72 hours just purely because it's 48 hours from being plated not from being taken and it avoids disappointment. If they were taken at 4 pm, probably not plated until the next morning. Therefore 48 hours from then.

So, if taken 4pm Thursday plated 9am Friday. Probably results will be on system between 10 and 11 Sunday. They should get you out Sunday.

@NemoRocksMyWorld that’s a lovely full, clear and kind explanation. I can tell you’re a brilliant doctor in real life.

Honestly children and even babies are a lot more resilient than adults think. My son had a chest infection when he was born and had to stay in hospital on antibiotics for 12 days. The first few days in an incubator, then a cot. He was fine after.
And he was born with 12 toes and a skin tag on each little finger. So shortly after he turned 1 he had to have an operation to have the 2 toes removed and the 2 skin tags cut off (the paediatric plastic surgeon suggested leaving the skin tags and simply cutting them off during the op instead of tying them at birth. He said tying them would meant there would more than likely always be a small bump left on his fingers after. Whereas that wouldn't happen after cutting them because it would be a clean cut along the skin). He had a general anaesthetic. Even after that he was fine. He came back smiling and happy not all groggy. Within an hour he was trying to stand up on his bandaged feet and pull the little plasters off his fingers. We don't think any of it will have any lasting impact on him as he will never remember any of it.
I know it's hard but try to remember it is for the best.

I have twins that were born by c-section (also meant to affect microbial communities) at 34 weeks and the boy had antibiotics in scbu. All risk factors for impacted microbial communities and health problems. I did manage to breastfeed which is meant to help. Both healthy 7 year olds now with no asthma or allergies. But my husband and I don't have asthma or allergies either so could be genetics. Try not to beat yourself up about it. I know it's hard though. Antibiotics are necessary sometimes and it's great we have them available. I had to have a C-section or we would have all died.

Ds was a bit Premature and needed some oxygen at birth so was given antibiotics as a precaution. He was a heathy prem who did well from start to finish and is now a bright, healthy 8 year old. I know it feels momentous just now but try not to worry, the doctors know what they're doing.

Thanks @PleaseGodLetItEnd..... I've done the explanation lots of times... Can you tell?

@NemoRocksMyWorld sorry to ask (I’m sure you get tortured with questions), but if the mother is GBS strep positive with no other risk factors, received antibiotics in labour and the baby has no symptoms, would they give antibiotics to the baby then? They’ve told me they won’t but I don’t want to be surprised if they do as OP seems to have been.

@folksongsweet so technically if you are going by nice guidance, gbs alone with no antibiotic cover would earn you observations (usually for 24 hours) rather than antibiotics. But different hospitals will have slightly different guidelines and some may deviate from nice. However, if you then get any of the other risk factors (eg birth less than 37 weeks, waters breaking for more than 24 hours before birth, maternal temp in labour, and a few others), that brings you to two risk factors and earns you antibiotics.

Also if the baby does anything strange at all (because new borns have very non specific signs of infection) they get antibiotics for that alone. Also if the mum gets iv antibiotics, or another baby from the same pregnancy (I. E if twins or triplets) gets antibiotics you get antibiotics for that alone.

But some places will have different local protocols. I did work on a hospital once where they did it for maternal gbs alone, I think because of a historical case with poor outcomes.

I suspect in the Ops case (although I don't know) that she managed to tick another of the risk factors and get to two. If you've had a traumatic labour, it can easily go over 24 hours or the mum can get a bit warm etc.

Oh misread it, you said mum recieved antibiotics.... No you definitely wouldn't put baby on antibiotics in that case

Thanks so much @NemoRocksMyWorld that’s really helpful to know!

My sister's child had group B strep and therefore antibiotics at birth, and she is the only child of my sister's who doesn't have eczema or asthma. Try not to worry or analyse too much. Congratulations!

Oh bless, I was in a similar situation as I had PROM. He had 48 hrs ABs and I was so worried, especially as his dad has asthma and I couldn’t BF.

He is now 14, built like a brick shithouse, super smart and as strong as an ox. No eczema, asthma and barely even gets a cold. :)

I had some ABs in labour but the labour wasn’t long enough for me to get the amount required or something so the baby needed them too.

My two both had 5 days of AB immediately after birth due to jaundice and fear of infection as my waters broke early both times. They also both had to go on formula for 48 hours too, to hydrate. Imagine my first time mum guilt!

My son is now 2.5 and has had exactly 2 cold in his life and has the stomach of an ox (never vomited) my daughter is 9months and the same so far. Had a snotty nose this last week for the first time. I suspect genetics plays more of a part as I'm bulletproof so hope they got that from me!

My son is 2.5 and ha

Had this too my ds is now 17 taller than me and never ill. If strep b isn't treated it can be fatal so better to be cautious and have the antibiotics. DC will not remember a thing and will ve fine.

My DS had antibiotics 24 hrs after birth due to suspected sepsis. He is allergic to amoxicillin but he has inherited that from me and DH! No other issues :)

Thanks again everyone and especially @NemoRocksMyWorld. Another question: during labour, I was strapped to a monitor and they said that baby's heart rate was dipping slightly after the contractions (though stopped doing this after artificial rupture of membranes). Would that have triggered the antibiotics?

@FourPlasticRings no that's really really normal! Called decelerations and is just the baby getting a bit squished during contractions!

Happened to my DD, now 13. She has had really good health, no allergies, eczema, and is completely fine. Just breast feed to get gut bacteria going and you'll be fine.
Congratulations on your beautiful bubba!

Hi OP!

My gorgeous 3 year old started life on antibiotics!

I was group b positive and when he was born he was grunting. He was also C section birth so grunting is apparently common but still they erred on side of caution and he had gentromycin for 48 hrs.

He was and still is absolutely fine!