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Original poster

Group B Strep

16 replies

wimbledon · 31/01/2006 20:59

I am currently 25 weeks pregnant with my second child and have been told I have Group B strep. I have been on anti biotics but will not be tested again until 34 weeks when swabs will be taken.
Worried about the birth and what can happen to the baby.
Any words of encouragement of people who have been through it.

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Simplyred · 31/01/2006 21:02

Yes - I had the antibiotics and baby and I were and are both fine - no problems at all - I understand the % chances of a problem are very small - but better safe than sorry - and as you know and are being treated all will be well

pacinofan · 31/01/2006 21:09

Hi wimbledon, unknowingly I had strep B at the delivery of my first baby. She was tested post delivery, and thankfully was fine.

I am now 28 weeks pregnant and have Strep B alert stickers all over my notes, which is reassuring as everyone who cares for me can't fail to miss it! My midwife doesn't think it will pose any problems, provided that as soon as my labour starts I am admitted to hospital and given intravenous antibiotics. Obviously this will mean I cannot do my labour at home, which is a shame, but frankly as long as baby is fine I don't care. It is a potentially serious condition, but if I hope I am right in my thinking that possible problems can largely be prevented.

Hope you are feeling fine in your pregnancy xx

Pagan · 31/01/2006 21:11

Had it after first and was fine with second

Original poster
wimbledon · 31/01/2006 21:22

Does anyone know how long I will have to stay in hospital. Can't stand them but don't know whether the baby will have to be monitored and how long for?

OP posts:
CarlyP · 02/02/2006 15:36

I HAD IT WITH MY FIRST. HE WAS IN SCBU FOR 5 DAYS BUT WE ARE BOTH FINE.

CX

CaptainDippy · 02/02/2006 16:01

I had Group B strep with my second - I had IV anti-biotics throughout the labour and DD2 was tested at birth for infection - she was absolutely fine (had to go to SCBU, but for different reasons)!! It'll be fine, loads and loads of women carry Group B Strep and there is some sort of National support group you can look into (just Google it!!) All the very best - hope you 34 week tests are clear!!

TuttiFrutti · 02/02/2006 20:59

I had Group B Strep and although I was very worried about it at the time, it honestly didn't make any difference to my labour. I had an IV drip during labour (so couldn't have had a home birth, not that I wanted one anyway). Not sure if they tested ds for it or not, but because I'd had the drip, they didn't need to administer any antibiotics directly to him. If I had refused the drip, they would have given ds an injection immediately after the birth.

Group B Strep is very common. I think about 1 in 4 adults have it. So don't worry - unlike the US, we don't routinely test pregnant women for it here, so thousands of British women probably give birth every year without realising that they are Group B Strep positive. You should congratulate yourself that you are in the minority who know you have it, and you can take precautions.

bobblehead · 03/02/2006 03:47

I had it with dd and was given antibiotics on a drip during labour. Dd came before I'd had enough apparently so they gave some to her directly and she was fine.

julen · 03/02/2006 08:20

I think it might depend on the hospital, wimbledon, but mine has the policy of keeping the baby in for under observation for 48 hours if you didn't have any intravanous antibiotics for 4 hours during labour. Even if you did have them but delivered before the 4 hours were up, they'll keep you in. Just to be on the safe side really.
My second had antibiotics for his first 48 hours himself (unlike my first - change of policy I think); they put it in his hand, at the neonatal ward (dh went along to that; he insisted, although was discouraged by staff - don't have a clue why on earth they would do that, but there you go). It looked impressive, but it didn't bother him (ds, that is) at all...

FYI, this is the group B strep support group - they have lots of info on their site.

jessicaandrebeccasmummy · 03/02/2006 08:27

hi there, I had group b strep with Rebecca (she is now 14 weeks) all it meant was IV antibiotics during labour, and a 24 hr observation stay in hospital afterwards (unless your like me and cant stand the places so discharge yourself)

Obviously you can tell by looking at your baby if they are poorly or not, so as i was happy that baby was ok, i went home 14 hours after birth.

baby is just monitored closely and swabs taken from baby.... my swabs came back that Rebecca was positive for group b strep, but she didnt show any signs of illness so docs not worried

hth

CaptainDippy · 03/02/2006 23:15

More stuff in common JARM - we're starting a make a habit of this!!

MarsOnLife · 03/02/2006 23:15

captaindippy................ have you booked your SMEAR TEST yet?

CaptainDippy · 03/02/2006 23:29

Oi - leave me alone - See chat thread you set up!!

MarsOnLife · 03/02/2006 23:31

can't! See the thread! lol

butterflymum · 14/02/2006 23:57

Wimbledon, I have only just noticed your post. There are numerous threads in archives on the subject, here are a few of them:

here
and
here
and
here

harrisey · 15/02/2006 00:06

I had it with ds and dd2, IV antibiotics in labour and a 24 hour observation period for it (not that I could walk at 24 hours after giant ds!!!) and both of them are totally fine. Might have had it with dd1 but wasn't tested, but it was picked up with ds as I had a GBS kidney infection in the pregnancy and so they knew I had it.
You will need to be on a drip in labour but that didnt stop me moving about and having 2 good labours.
All the best for the rest of your pregnancy.

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