Diagnosed with Type B Strep and need advice ...

[thetwocultures]

Sorry this is a ramble as I'm sat here in tears.

Just got a call from my midwife who said my urine sample came back with another UTI (2nd one this pregnancy) and also that I have/am a carrier of Type B Strep (which is most likely causing the UTI).

She said I will have antibiotics when I go into labour to reduce the chance of infection in baby.

I have never heard of it before and started researching it and now I'm sat here crying.

I don't understand how/why I've got it? Some pages say it's something that can be passed on during intercourse??? But it's also saying that it is not an STD.

I am terrified my baby will be infected and I'm sending myself into a meltdown, I have read that babies can die from the various infections it causes and also that the ones that do get infected and survive can have lifelong health issues.

Is this really as severe as it reads? My midwife didn't really offer much information. Am I overreacting or am I in the right to feel like this? I feel like a bad mum.

Has anyone got any experience of this?

I was infected with Strep B. The most important thing is that you make sure you get the iv antibiotics during labour and that your baby is monitored properly afterwards.
All will be fine.

Don't beat yourself up about being infected or how you got it. Stop googling.

Hey OP honestly do not panic! I have not had it but from what I understand Group B Strep is also an infection which comes and goes meaning you may not even have it when you are giving birth!

The problems associated with Group B Strep are caused when you do not have the anti-biotics in labour (becuase NHS do not routinely check for it). Meaning you do not need to panic if you have them.

The fact that they do not check should be re-assuring to you. However I am sure you will get people come soon with more reassuring experiences to post

Try not to worry.

I had to stay in hospital for 4 days after giving birth to DD as they found I had Strep B during the labour. She is now 21 and has just graduated from uni, so no ill effects. I am sure the treatment and care is now even better than it was 21 years ago.

My sister had this so couldn't have the home birth she wanted - she went into hospital for the labour. It all progressed as normal, just with the addition of antibiotics. I think it's just one of those things that some people have and some don't.

It's a naturally occurring bacteria which I think a quarter of women carry? You haven't been 'infected with it'.

I had it, they didn't tell me tile after DS was born. You're meant to get antibiotics in labour but my labour was 40 mins long, so maybe they would have got round to it if it hadn't been so quick. DS had to stay in 24 hours for observations. That's it! He's rarely ill etc.

Better to know you have it than not know, as it can be very dangerous if the baby gets it!

First of all, please dont worry. Now that you have it in your notes, you'll get antibiotics in labour (usually) and your baby will be fine.

As I understand it, a large percentage of women have it (perfectly natural and not STD related) but it comes and goes. Just because you have it at the start of your pregnancy doesn't mean you'll have it at the end (that's the reason I understand that it's not routinely tested for in the uk).

It can, rarely, lead to nasty complications if your baby picks it up going through the birthing canal which is why you'll have antibiotics. I had the antibiotics during my first labour but my second labour was too quick. It may differ by area but that meant that I had to stay in for 48 hours (rather than 24) so they could monitor my baby - I still had her with me but they took temps regularly etc.

Please be assured that now it's in your records the staff will be aware and keep a close eye on you both.

I know I'm a carrier of strep B due to a previous test where it was detected. I'm also TTC at the moment but it's really not something I will worry about. They will just give you antibiotics. It will be fine.

Also how many weeks pregnant are you? It can come and go so it's only really relevant if you have it in the run up to labour. If I wasn't having a c section this time, I'd probably ask for a swab around 36 weeks if no-one had mentioned it by then.

I've got group b strep diagnosed through a swab taken for suspected thrush.
It's nothing to worry about during pregnancy and nothing that has been caught, it's a naturally occurring bacteria.
They'll give you antibiotics during labour and monitor your baby closely after delivery.
I've carried it in each of my pregnancies. It's called colonisation or something when you're a carrier. Lots of women carry it and don't know as it causes no symptoms or ill affects.

They don't have to give antibiotics it's NOT NHS policy!

You have to insist on them

Just been through this situation with a friend. And without wanting to frighten etc I won't go into details too sad

But please pester doctors to administer antibiotics !

Posters look it up, it is to the discretion of doctor and midwife. Again I state NOT NHS POLICY to give automatically

Insist and kick up stink when waters break get the antibiotics and everything will be fine

Off the NHS WEBSITE

If you have had a group B streptococcal urinary tract infection during the pregnancy, you should also be offered antibiotics in labour.
GBS infection of the baby is more likely to occur if:
• you go into premature labour (before 37 weeks of pregnancy)
• your waters break early
• you have a fever during labour
• you currently carry GBS
Your midwife or doctor will assess whether you need antibiotics during labour to protect your baby from being infected.

Please note the SHOULD BE OFFERED

It does not say WILL BE

I'm sorry but I know too much about this and I wish I didn't

I had strep b diagnosis and had IV antibiotics, you may need more than one set of antibiotics, so ask about that so you can remind them if your birth is long. I was also seen by a doctor who was teaching and they hung around to check my child. I think it's a good thing it is identified as they can put measures in place as some women won't know they've got it and their child won't get the extra monitoring. We had to stay on a ward where there was more monitoring but if was all to check evywas ok.

Thank you for all the replies.

I didn't have a swab it came back from a urine sample. So by the sounds of things I think that's what's causing my UTIs .

I didn't have anything diagnosed with my 1st DC (I did have a swab) so I don't understand why I have it now?

I'm petrified of antibiotics and I'm also scared as my 1st labour was very quick and I've heard second can be quicker and I'm worried I won't get all the antibiotics/courses I need

I just know so little about it and my midwife didn't really tell me much.

I'm 26 weeks. It wasn't diagnosed with my first urine sample which showed the UTI???

Does that mean I didn't have it then or they didn't test for it? But then why would they test for it this time?

I've had no symptoms of UTI either which is why I didn't go back to GP after the first course of antibiotics (first UTI also was without symptoms).

I had this with my daughter and all we had was antibiotics from the moment my waters broke. It made no difference to my delivery and my baby was fine.

Please don't worry, it's great you've found out you have it as now your baby will get the treatment he/she needs. They don't test for it in the UK.

Also worth knowing, just because you have strep B now, doesnt mean youll always have it, so you might not have it for any pregnancies in the future.

STOP GOOGLING!!!!

they are aware of it and that's the most important thing as soon as your waters break get to hospital and get the antibiotics started all will be fine

i had it and was the same as you i made sure they put stickers on my notes to inform the hospital

my baby had antibiotics for 36hours after delivery but everything was fine

@MrsHewett is it from when the waters break?

My waters broke 7 mins before DS1 arrived that's definitely not enough time for antibiotics is it? I've read they take 15-25 mins?

And my other nightmare is coming true which is almost definitely having to stay in the hospital overnight for monitoring isn't it? After my 2 nights on the ward with DS I've vowed to never do that again unless I absolutely HAD to...well here we are.

Mine broke at home (more of a trickle) I went in a few hours later and they went completely. It was then that they took bloods because my waters were broken for longer than liked. Then they gave me the antibiotics.
We stayed in but only because baby had jaundice. Otherwise we would have been free to go. We didn't stay in because of the strep. I'm not sure if you'll need to stay in, but if they recommend you do, it's only for the best and you will have the peace of mind everything is being looked after.

Try not to worry.

I promised myself I would never stay overnight as they were the worst 2 nights of my life. I got no rest, no support or help, I felt lost, alone and incredibly upset. At least at home I would've had DP to help out and some peace and quiet... but it was just awful.

But if I was to go home I'd be even more terrified of not recognising symptoms of infection if my new baby was showing any...

This has just really got me down.
We're in the middle of renovating as well and just had the delivery men turn up with a new wardrobe for DCs room only for there to be no chance of getting it upstairs so they took it back (v small house).
It's all a mess.

Honestly there is no need to panic or even worry.
Many many women carry GBS and never know. The vast vast majority have healthy babies even without antobiotic treatment!
I found out i was GBS +ve whikst in my second pregnancy, i paid to have a private swab test (. You swab yourself and send it away).
Due to this i had two lots of IV antibiotics in labour. I belive they have to be given a few hours apart which just means its worth going to the labour unit earlyish rather than waiting til you are well into established labour. If for any reason they cannot hive you the two doses as pp have said baby will just have a period of closer monitoring after birth.

It wasn't diagnosed with my first urine sample which showed the UTI

As mentioned, it comes and goes, so that's probably why i didn't show up with your first urine sample. As I mentioned, it's best to get re-tested nearer labour.

Also as I mentioned, I didn't get antibiotics during labour and all was fine!

Stop panicking! Stop googling!! It will be fine!! At least you're now aware you may potentially have to stay in hospital after birth.

I had penicillin every 4-6 hours in labour. They wanted to leave in a cannula but I chose not to and had a fresh injection for each dose.

Left hospital 7 hours after birth. No problems and DC age 6 is awesome.

Don't worry, no big deal now it has been picked up.

I had strep b. A third of women carry it. The antibiotics work and there's nothing you could have done to prevent it - it's a good thing you know about it! Stop getting yourself worked up it will not help the baby in any way. Just take the antibiotics during birth and baby will be fine - my baby was 5 weeks early and still fine from it xxx

I think you are panicking too much if I'm honest. I've had group B strep in all my pregnancies, had antibiotics in labour with two of them and the labour was too quick for antibiotics with the other one. But all the babies were very closely monitored after birth.
See this as a GOOD thing to know - all the midwives and nurses will be vigilant. And yes you'll probably stay overnight but it's worth it to check on the health of the baby right? You can see that as a good thing too if you set your mind to it.
GBS comes and goes throughout pregnancy and is fairly common. So wondering what you've got it is pointless really. The good news is that something can be done about it

Hi. There is an organisation that offers support, information etc, it might be helpful to contact them rather than random googling. Their website is: gbss.org.uk/

They are based locally to me, and i know them because I'm on our maternity services liaison committee, and as they are based in our town they are also part of that group, but they work nationally.

P.S I had the same as you - waters broke at some point during a very very fast labour - I didn't notice it happening . That's a good thing because the time the baby is out of the waters but still not born is very very short. If your waters broke hours before the baby was born, there would be more risk.