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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Strep B

13 replies

persephone77 · 21/08/2013 21:34

Hi everyone! Hope you're all well. My name's Rosie, I'm 36. I have a wee boy who's 5 and I'm 12 weeks with number 2.

My midwife called me today and told me I have group strep B. has anyone here had any experience of it? I have to have antibiotics now and again during labour. I am a bit upset as I had a home birth with my first but won't be able to do that second time and I'm really disappointed. Just wondered if anyone had any experience about what to expect?!

OP posts:

MikeLitoris · 21/08/2013 21:43

I had the antib's during labour and after with dd1.

Bit annoying being hooked up to the drip but not the end of the world. I tend to be pretty still during labour so not to much of an interference.

With dd2 I was told the policy had changed and as long as I stayin hospital for at 24hours I could skip the anti b's all together. I had a lovely water birth with her.

Original poster

persephone77 · 21/08/2013 21:48

Thanks so much for your reply :) I had been reading all sorts on the Internet and feeling quite down about it all. It seems like the chance of the baby getting ill is pretty low, but it's worrying reading that they might be a possibility. Glad to hear that you had such a good experience though, it's helped put my mind at ease xx

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Truffkin · 21/08/2013 21:53

I had the same diagnosis when pregnant but didn't get the AV antibiotics due to quick labour and my DS had to have them instead :-( We were in hospital for 3 days all in and although I hated that he needed the drugs (blamed myself, you know how it goes!) it didn't bother him and after 48 hours of clear bloods we were free :-)

I was massively disappointed about not getting a homebirth and focussed on using the birth centre, pool etc. in the end I was on the labour ward in a hospital gown but it was fine. Genuinely a good experience.

Sorry for waffling, I'm trying to be reassuring

Rhubarb78 · 21/08/2013 21:55

Hi, i have tested positive for this too. With ds i had 2 lots of antibiotics in labour it was an induced labour anyway so had a drip in for that. With dd there was no time for the antibiotics so she was monitored for 24 hours in hospital and we went home pretty much on the dot of 24 hours. Both babies fine.

Original poster

persephone77 · 21/08/2013 22:00

Thanks rhubarb and trufkin! It is really reassuring to hear real people's experiences rather than statistics on a website. Thanks for sharing you stories :) xx

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LauraChant · 21/08/2013 22:05

Hi Rosie, I felt the same as you when I found out I had Strep B as I was worried I wouldn't be able to have an active labour. But it was fine, better than my first birth experience actually.

I went straight to hospital as soon as contractions started - well, after I had had a bath! - and it was quite good to be able to feel justified doing that and not worry whether they were bad enough yet to go. I went on the drip but after that was able to move about and gave birth in the nice midwife led birthing centre attached to the hospital, standing up as I had wanted.

My first time when I didnt have strep B I actually ended up on a bed attached to a monitor, so the second time was better despite the drip. And had to stay two nights with DS1 - meconium swallowed and jaundice - and only one with DS1.

Original poster

persephone77 · 21/08/2013 22:11

Thanks Laura, that's also really reassuring. I'd been led to believe (by a friend, not a medical professional!) that I wouldn't be able to use the midwife led unit, so it's nice to hear that might not be the case! I'm not against hospitals, I just don't really like them very much!!

Thanks again everyone :) I will sleep a bit better tonight (apart from having to get up for a wee all the time!!!)

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Quodlibet · 21/08/2013 22:37

Hi OP, I have also just had a Strep B diagnosis and like you felt really down and worried about it, it's nice to read such a reassuring thread. It's my first but I was also hoping for a home birth.

I checked with my midwife and at my hospital, although a home birth is out, I can still use the midwife-led unit and birth pool. She said that the ABs are given intravenously but that they only take 15 mins to go in every 4 hrs and that you aren't hooked up to a drip the whole time, I think they leave a cannula in.

LauraChant · 21/08/2013 22:40

That's right Quodlibet, I was only on the drip 15 minutes and then DS2 arrived about 3 hours later so I didn't need any more!

sarahleanne · 21/08/2013 22:47

i have group b strep and unfortunately a water birth is out for me which I really wanted to try 3rd time round.With my first they didn't get the drip in on time so gave antibiotics to my son after he was born.
With my daughter I had a canula in and to be honest I didn't notice being wired up to the antibiotics as I was on a sytoncin drip for induction. I laboured on the bed both times but I don't think it would of been a huge problem if I wanted to move around a little bit.
And as someone mentioned, it is handy knowing that you don't have to wait for ages to go into the hospital and you probably wont get sent home either.

rockybalboa · 21/08/2013 22:59

I tested positive for it with DS2 during a vaginal swab as I thought I had an infection. He arrived 10 mins after walking into delivery so no time for anti b's. He had to be monitored for 12 hrs post birth so it meant an overnight stay. Weirdly here they don't routinely test for GBS in subsequent pregnancies if you've had it before. It didn't show up in my booking urine sample and I had DS3 at home. GBS was a HUGE cause of unnecessary areas during the last few weeks of my second pregnancy and I didn't mention it to anyone third time round. If you google GBS and home birth there is useful info. You might feel as if you can fight for a home birth esp based on your circs and the info on there. Good luck!

rockybalboa · 21/08/2013 23:01

Ps they did tell me I could still go to the MLBU and have a water birth but no time for either in the end!!

Original poster

persephone77 · 22/08/2013 09:11

Thanks everyone, this is all REALLY reassuring :) I also didn't realise that it would mean you wouldn't get sent home
once contractions had started? That was one of the main reasons I really wanted a home birth first time as I didn't want to be driving backwards and forwards and getting sent home again!! I haven't seen my midwife yet as she left the message on my answer phone so I will make sure I ask about the midwife led unit then. Thanks again for all your stories :) xx

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