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Original poster

Group B Strep

28 replies

bamboozleslover · 17/07/2006 20:04

i had PROM and was told to watch out for GBS symproms. i was just looking at the GBSS website and it has two sections early onset and late onset. does anyone know when these different "onsets" are?

OP posts:

Uwila · 17/07/2006 20:38

You need MrsRecycle.

DollyP · 18/07/2006 10:00

Not mRs Recycle but bump anyway

Rosieglow · 18/07/2006 10:29

Early onset is the first two days after birth and late onset is after the first two days.
It's in the gbss leaflet "GBS and Pregnancy" which it says you can download from their website.
Apparently infection is rare after one month.
Hope that helps!

franca70 · 18/07/2006 11:23

I think late onset is after a month.
Why don't they test for gbs in this country??????????

Uwila · 18/07/2006 12:27

Because it isn't a budget priority. The cost of it is rediculously low, like a few quid or something. The only reason I have ever heard of Group B Strep is because a friend has/had it (MrsRecycle). I think it is outrageous that we aren't routinely told about it even if they don't want to pay for the test. I mean it still be useful for the midwife to say oh you know Group B step is...... even if she then says, I'm afraid the NHS test is very inacurate. You might want to look into a private alternative, and here's a number you can call.

Do they do that? No. Why? Cause they don't give a toss.

franca70 · 18/07/2006 16:34

When I toldo my italian ob-gyn that we aren't tested here she was shocked. apparently testing is a disposition of the WHO...

franca70 · 18/07/2006 16:35

sorry about my english, I meant a regulation of the WHO

CarlyP · 18/07/2006 16:37

I had it from 30wks. Induced and 36 as my hind waters were leaking. had to have antibiotics all way through. baby went to scbu as was 'grunting' (sign of GBS), was tested and was/is fine!

Original poster

bamboozleslover · 18/07/2006 23:35

is it possible for a baby to have GBS for a few weeks and for it not to become very ill as i am concerned my baby has been showing symptoms for this. i hadn't thought it could be this at all until the other day as the doctor never mentioned it and thought it could be down to a different problem but i realised i had not told him that i had prolonged ruptured membranes, so he might not think of that.

OP posts:

CarlyP · 19/07/2006 07:42

i didnt think it was possible for it not to be noticed. there would have been earlier signs. go to dr to make sure, but maybe your baby has a virus. babies can die at birth from this, its not like a common cold...........

Original poster

bamboozleslover · 19/07/2006 11:12

well looking back he has had a lot of the symptoms for quite a while, but i was thinking if it was this he would have become very ill by now so i don't want to worry myself over nothing and look silly.

OP posts:

CarlyP · 19/07/2006 14:48

if he has symptoms, then get to to the dr asap. this thing can kill. how 'silly' would you feel if you left it and his stopped breathing.....more silly than 'wasting doctors time'.

Original poster

bamboozleslover · 19/07/2006 15:23

he does have symptoms but the doctors have put these symptoms down to reflux. it was only yesterday i realised i had not told them i had to have antibiotics in labour. he has had theses same symptoms pretty much since day 1 - if it was GBS he would have become very ill by now surely?

OP posts:

beckybrastraps · 19/07/2006 15:24

Can you ring your maternity unit or midwife and ask them what they think? Just to put your mind at rest?

CarlyP · 19/07/2006 15:28

if he is under 4wks, i think this can be pretty serious, as there is a chance it has gone un-noticed. please call someone NOW

Original poster

bamboozleslover · 19/07/2006 15:33

he will be 4 weeks on saturday

OP posts:

CarlyP · 19/07/2006 15:39

If your dr said it was nothing to worry about then it should be fine. but why not call the post-natal ward or midwfie jsut to be sure.........dont risk leaving this if he has lots of symptoms.....

Original poster

bamboozleslover · 19/07/2006 16:14

well he has hiccups, fast breathing, poor feeding, lethargy but he hasn't got any other symptoms.

OP posts:

franca70 · 19/07/2006 16:56

I'd take him to the doctor asap, just to be on the safe side, (I think gbs symptims don't drag on for a long time, I think it get v.serious quickly). Nevertheless, if you think he's not all right take him to the doctor (even if it's just a virus)

Original poster

bamboozleslover · 19/07/2006 17:50

going to ring the docs now .. just for peace of mind.

OP posts:

MrsRecycle · 19/07/2006 18:17

Oops sorry how did I miss this one? If you had iv antibiotics did baby have them as well? If not there is a chance it could be GBS and I would go straight down to A&E and mention GBS to them. However, I have never heard of mild GBS and/or early-onset turning into late onset (however, research/figures into late onset is very limited). But you really do need to get baby seen to ASAP.

Original poster

bamboozleslover · 19/07/2006 18:21

baby didn't have antibiotics. my usual GP wasn't there, it was a cover doctor. he wasn'tvery helpful - didn't know much about GBS and had to look in a book and ring me back! anyway he didn't think you would have symptoms for very long without it developing so probably not GBS. by his laid back attitude guessing theres not much to worry about.

OP posts:

MrsRecycle · 20/07/2006 12:17

Babmboozie - give the GBS Helpline a call on 01444 416176. They'll be able to advise. Unfortunately, the lack of knowledge from the GP is quite a common occurence and I personally would never put my trust in the medical profession (this comes from years of experience meeting representatives of the various bodies).

mixedemotions123 · 20/07/2006 19:32

Bamboozleslover, I completley agree with MrsRecycle.
I had never heard of Strep B during my first pregnancy and unfortunatley it wasn't until my baby boy contracted Strep B Meningitis when he was 3 weeks old, that it became known to me.
We were told that it was likely caused by contact with somebody with a cold. It wasn't until I read an article in a magazine written by GBS that i realised it can also be contracted in the birth canal. My labour was fairly normal, he had swallowed some muconium and delivered 8 hours later, but nothing else untoward.
What i am trying to say is that from my experience Strep B can cause various serious illnesses in the first 4 weeks of a baby's precious life, and if you have any worries at all PLEASE don't take any chances. If we had listened to the GP at the time, we would have lost our son. Thankfully we had a second opinion, but even then was told that she thought the problem was likely to be a kink in his bowel. His symptoms were
High Temperature 104
cold hands and feet
Constant screeming including during feeds
NO SIGN OF A RASH!!!!!
As I said earlier, i do not mean to scare you or anybody else, but with my baby it happened in a matter of hours, and could have so easily have been to late. Hope all is well for you and your little babyxxx

singersgirl · 20/07/2006 22:34

DS1 contracted a streptococcal infection which surfaced at 11 days, but not meningitis or pneumonia which are more usual; his was cellulitis (soft tissue infection). We are pretty sure he contracted it during labour as I was re-admitted with a strep G infection at 4 days post-partum. Even then, they didn't tell me to watch out as he might become ill!

It is worth getting your baby checked out if you are at all worried.

I had IV antibiotics and induction of labour 2nd time around, and DS2 was kept in for 48 hours for observation. (No one seemed to know that, though, and DH and I were the only ones doing the observing!)

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