STREP B

[moregranny]

Please read this page www.gbss.org.uk thank you.

ive just had my results back and i have got strep B, im 37 weeks and paid for the test myself, the midwifes seem to know v little about it and were not willing to test me for it even though i said that there was something not quite right down there and that i was worried about it and i keep getting white blood cells in my urine. more research need to be done and also the midwifes need to be educated more on what happens if you do have it.

Some GPs know what they're takign about..I'm 16wks and thanks to what I'd call 'persistent thrush' like symptoms [MW thought it was probably thrush too] I've been tested and am getting my results today (I've been called in, trying to persuade myself it's just an "it's fine, thrush, here's what to do", but I've already been doing all that, bar the pessery and GP is reluctent to give me that). Doc didn't specifically mention StrepB to begin with, but when I said I was already aware of if, and was OK (well, you have to be) if that's the result, he said that's basically what we were going to swab for...
...useful site though. Thank you for the link OP.

my symptoms are slight thrush on and off and despite me discussing with with the midwife and asking about strep b they still would not test, i am a little angry and this, and there have been pointers there which they have ignored in my opinion.

Yup, like persistent mild thrush that just gets worse some days. Some days discharge is yellowey and slightly thicker (but no cottage cheese). Thrush creams soothe but do nothing else much. I also feel very sore to wipe/prod etc (making sex out of the question) and am silghtly swollen (but that's probably not a the 'whatever it is' just pg, and slightly pinker, but again, probably just pg).
I'd suggest anyone with these symptoms that aren't getting better with thrush treatments fairly quickly, go to their GP and ask for a swab...
...sounds odd, but I've always kinda thought "if it's MY health, ask my GP, if it's baby ask MW if not sure who, or what one says doesn't make sense, ask the other (check with both)"...having asked my MW she did say "probably thrush, but if it gets worse go to GP...so that's what I did".
GL with your birth never. From what I've managed to look at so far (trying not to get too "it's StepB") antibiotics during labour and post-birth for baby is the treatment. Not sure about treatment options at my stage.

yes sex hurts too so its off the cards for now! i know im trying not to worry myself too much, found some good info here www.homebirth.org.uk/gbs.htm

If you are tested for Strep B and it comes back as positive at 35 to 37 weeks of pregnancy the treatment during labour should be a dose of antibiotics at least 4 hours before baby is born and subsequent doses as labour progresses, if it all goes tits up,as it did for my daughter who had an emergenct c section, they will give the baby intravenous antibiotics for 3 days afterbirth. My daughter and baby Millie, now 6 weeks,are both fine now thank goodness, hope it all goes well for you, x

I tested positive for GBS during my 2nd pregnancy.
I had a UTI that was not shifting despite being on AB's through pregnancy from about 16 weeks!
Because I have no idea at all as to when my waters broke with ds1, I spoke to a consultant about my concerns who agreed to induce me at 39 weeks.
We (me and dp) arrived at the hospital at about 10am, they put the IV straight in and put me on a dose of AB's before they even tried to start things off.
After a n umber of attempts at ARM and a few gel inserts, things started moving.
I had AB's every 4 hours until delivery.
Me and ds2 stayed in hospital for 48+hours after he was born and he was on 4 hourly observations.
he was absolutely fine and is now 2.6yrs.

Well, apparently I just have stubborn thrush...but I am at least now educated in GBS!

The first I ever heard of group B strep was from the paediatricians looking after my baby in intensive care. He had group B strep pneumonia and was very poorly indeed and we were prepared to expect the worse on his 2nd night.
How I, as a HCP, and the sort of 1st time mum to read all the pregnancy books, hadn't heard of it i don't know.

The GBSS website is great btw.

Thanks to intensive care and their tube feeding, glucose drips and hefty doses of antibiotics, he made a full recovery and is now 6.

It's not something to be ignored and there are others on mumsnet who've experienced the worst case scenario. Take it seriously, but remember once you know you are a carrier you can get treatment and there needn't be problems.

I had no symptoms at all but got tested as a friend's niece died of strep B after birth. I tested positive so had IV antibiotics during normal labour then stayed in for DS to be observed after birth for 24 hrs

Over here in France every pregnant woman is tested systematically at 35 weeks. Can't believe they don't in the UK!