Strep B positive ... Advice lease

[zogar75]

there

I'm just over 38 weeks pregnant and paid privately to test for strep B as I have for previous pregnancies and today for the first time it's back as Positive.

According to the lab that gives the result and according to the leaflet I obtained from the strep B support website it says that a positive result will require anti bionics during labour.

I rang my midwife today and she was quite snappy about it , said lots of women carry the bacteria etc ( which I'm aware of ) and that the swabs I had aren't conclusive and she will need to do a urine test and only if it's colonised in my blood stream will I then need anti biotics !

I'm confused as everything I have read says a positive result will require antibiotics and nothing anywhere states a positive result will need to be followed up by a urine test .

I have had super quick labours in the past and I'm worried I won't get to hospital in time to get intravenous antibiotics but also worried about my midwifes blasé attitude !

Sorry long winded post !!

Just wondered what others experience was of it!

Thanks

Zoe

Yes please do update us as I'm really interested to know the outcome. It still sounds like they are confused ..... If they are saying wait for the results of the urine sample, they must think you want treatment now instead of a clear understanding of how and when the antibiotics will be administered in time when you go into labour. FFS it's not complicated - anyone would think this is the first time they had to deal with a positive GBS test. How frustrating for you, you don't need this at 38 weeks pregnant! Wishing you all the best.

Sorry, just to add, why don't you print off the NICE guidelines and highlight the section that states that women who have a positive vaginal swab or urine sample with GBS in the current pregnancy should be offered intravenous antibiotics in labour. It couldn't be much clearer!

Hi again !

I couldn't find that part in the Nice guidelines !!!

I just had a voicemail left on my phone telling me my
Notes are updated and that if I really want IV antibiotics I can but she wants me to call her back so she can give me stats !!! More bloody stats .... No doubt to scare me about how dangerous antibiotics are !!!! She's in a meeting now so will update you on what she says .

I was very clear about wanting antibiotics during labour ( not that I want to be hooked up to a machine but obviously I feel I need to be )
She definitely knew what I meant and what I was asking for either didn't care or feels I'm flapping over nothing !
Her knowledge was very basic ( for someone with a degrees !!!) since she was telling me I could have oral antibiotics either off my own back from the doctors or when I rush in during labour ! She even denied antibiotic taken orally taking a few days to work .... Said ' oh I think they work quite quickly ' hmmm but not quickly enough to have any effect during a quick labour !!!
The while conversation was geared towards her blinding me with her made up science and trying to get one over me !!! Scary and frustrating really !

I know they have policies in place but surely they can bend a little in cases where mums are worried and ask for something as basic as life saving antibiotics !

I wouldn't have been any the wiser had I no t read up on GBS on many sights including a midwifery one .

It was her total dismissal of how potentially dangerous GBS can be that gets me !

She kept saying it's not important if GBS found in the vagina and only considered if found in urine . I understand that GBS is more risky if found in tribe but there's still that risk with a vaginal positive but she seemed to expect me to just take that risk !!!

So now I'm expecting a call where she can get the last word in and scare me regarding the antibiotics !

Watch this space !!!

If your notes are updated, that's good. Make sure EVERYONE knows before when you present at hospital and keep everything crossed that the MW is nowhere near you at that time. Can't you request someone else anyway? It's been 12 years since my last delivery (and 18 since my strep experience) but surely things haven't changed that much?!

Well having listened to the voicemail again she says she's updated by notes to then be added to my notes ???? So it won't be on the system and who's going to link it all up when I get there ??? Chances are ( and hopefully ) she won't need to see me again. Never yet had any if my midwives actually there during birth as never on shift !
Really hoping she's not there ... AWKWARD !!!

Awaiting the call .. Still ... so expecting a large amount of negativity especially now she had relented to my awful demands !!!!!

She also said I would need IV antibiotics at least 2 hours into labour and the cynic in me wonders whether they have relented because she us well aware last 3 labours all under 2 hours so again that's another concern for me !

Zogar, normally you need two doses of IV abx 4 hours apart. Where I work if labour is less than 4 hours so a woman hasn't had her two doses the baby has to be cannulated and stay in hospital for 5 days for IV abx.

If you have fast labours you need to go in at the first sign and make sure you tell the midwives at the hospital when you ring up.

The risk to the baby is much lower with fast labour. The risk is once the waters have gone. If you have fast labour, then the time the baby is exposed to the strep B is less, and the risk less.

I found the GBSS website very helpful looking at the risks. I had a positive test with my last baby, and had the whole yellow sticker on notes thing. My baby decided to come so fast that it was a homebirth, when the hospital were contacted regarding coming to see if the baby needed observation or treatment, we were told that the risk of a hospital born infection was higher than the risk of the baby having contracted group B strep during a fast labour!!! So we were told to stay home, and closely watch the baby for 48 hours for any signs of infection.

Strep B is dangerous, but when you look at the stats that 30% of women giving birth have the infection present, but only 1 in 1000, babies of this 30% contract the infection, and most of these are following risk factors of prolonged labour, or maternal temperature during labour, or prem labour etc. If you have a fast, term labour, where you have no signs of infection during labour, then the risk is much lower.

As others have said you need two doses of antibiotics, 4 hours apart, so if your labour is going to be less than 4 hours, then you will not get the necessary effect. Being given un-necessary antibiotics, does not come without its downside, so do keep this in mind too considering your history of fast labours.

oh god ive just sent off my swabs... hope i dont test positive i cn do without arsey unprofessional midwives. aplenty in my town x

I had undiagnosed gbs with ds1, he spent 9 weeks in intensive care, then 3 in high dependency and another 3 on a ward.
My waters had broken 3 days before he was born, midwife had put me in baths, done how ever many internal exams etc.

With my ds2 i had big red alert stickers over all my notes.
I was very worried about the IV anti biotics not being given in time, i was reassured they would be.
They weren't! Ds2 was born very quickly (11mins) My midwife at hospital told me they won't give the antibiotics more than 4 hours before they think you will give birth.

I would say take someone with you who can keep reminding midwives that you need them.

They know you are gps+ so will be ready.

Just read the bit about the MW telling you they will know baby is ill as they will be yellow... What utter BS. Why let a baby go through all that when it is so easily preventable.

They dont routinely test as like you said, it comes and goes, an also it costs too much. It cost the NHS£105,000 to keep my ds in an incubator ( going on the average £1000 per day on the heart foundation website ) thats without all the meds, scans, staff etc.

Sorry, this subject makes me ??

Don't let anyone scare you off the antibiotics, i found MW an DRs a bit intimidating.

the startling bit is that a midwife in such a position of trust would be so negligent. a jaundiced baby would indicate something wrong with the liver would it not? why would she leave an infection to affect a babys liver before they treat a potentially deadly illness shocking x

Thanks vivalethrustbadger.... That's sounds advise and good to know if I don't get to hospital in time for all the IV antibiotics .

Sinderella you experience sounds so frightening and awful .... Poor you having to go through that with your first child ( scary with any child but you know what I mean )
Wow that really is unbelievable .

Midwife rang back last night ,she wanted to sort now she's going on holiday for 2 weeks ( thank God !!! ) .
She spoke up consultant midwife and they say they have to give me the antibiotics if I have requested them despite still trying to say there was no risk or very little !!!
She pointed out that the consultant told her oral antibiotics wouldn't work !!! I think I told her that !!! God you would think she would know that !!!

Her scary stats story was that if everyone had antibioticss at birth they would eventually be less effective !!! Um yes but even if it was routinely tested not all women would have it and want the antibiotics and if they did then it would potentially prevent lots of heartache .
So she said she's updated my ' green ' notes ???
And had asked me to chase up my uribe sample to see if it's present there but she says she thinks it so t be as it would have been picked up during my book in ? She really didn't have much knowledge on GBS atall which is scary for a midwife who says she is also a manager !!! Hmmm

It's quite scary that she tried to intimidate me and outwit me and for what reason ? To win a battle that wasn't hers to win ?
I agree these docs and midwives are intimidating but you have to stick to your guns and stand firm because it will be us picking up the pieces if anything goes wrong .

Isn't it scary that they don't even educate women on GBS ???
Even if they don't routinely test they should at least tell women the risks so they can make a choice or be aware if it .
Will let you all know results of urine sample and hopefully baby will stay put for a while longer .

Today I am covered in prickly red small spots on the stomach ..... Stress?!!!!!

Thanks for all your input .... Lovely to know we can support each other where the midwives can't be arsed !!!

Xx

Sooo... she wanted you to be an involuntary martyr for the long term efficacy of anti-biotics? Sheesh.

Wow,your midwife sounds awful!

I tested positive at 20 weeks in a swab done to check for other things.

my midwife said I could have a home birth as planned if I wanted but there would be no anti-B's.
I could go into hospital,not have anti-B's but just be monitored and stay in a bit longer.
I could go into hospital,have anti-b's and leave as normal.
or I could go into hospital,have anti-B's and stay in longer for monitoring.

Because it is my baby,and my choice.

I'm 31 weeks now,and I still haven't decided what I'm going to do,she's told me not to worry,I can decide on the night if I like.

I'd be reporting your midwife,you can choose to do whatever YOU feel is best. They cannot force you either way.

My GBS was in 1st birth and undiagnosed. Waters broke at home, went to hospital. Nothing happened for a few hours so sent home to await DHs return from Hong Kong and advised to have a nice relaxing bath. Returned next morning and eventually delivered PFB the following evening. 37 hours after waters breaking. Diagnosed two days later when the lab had finally managed to culture a swab from DD. My swabs taken on the first evening (fri) were no good cos the lab was shut over the weekend

One week in SCBU and an "irritable baby". Their words not mine! No lasting ill effect though