Group B strep

[thingymaboob]

I did a home test at a few days ago (38 weeks) and have just had the results that I'm positive and should be offered antibiotics during labour. What are peoples experiences with this, please?

Anti-biotics in labour by drip are a pain but you are doing the right thing to research now. It could make all the difference to your experience.

You need a midwife who knows how to support active labour and anti-bs.

You will likely be augmented (induced once labour starts). I had strep B and you have to go in to be induced as soon as your waters go.

This means an epidural (induction hurts like buggery without) and things like water birth are out.

I'm not trying to scare you! I'm trying to give you the info you need so you can prepare.

I wasted loads of time at ante natal learning about managing without drugs through water birth - I wish someone had said - look, induction can really hurt, you will almost certainly need an epidural, water birth / midwife led unit is no longer an option.

I also wish I'd known what questions to ask about continuous monitoring.

My antenatal classes were all about how active labour is better / less painful and being on your back was bad.

Then I found myself in labour having continuous monitoring with a MW who wanted me on my back so it was easier for her to monitor me. I didn't want to be on my back and felt totally unsupported.

I wish I'd understood this. I would have read up on continuous monitoring, asked the MW at the start if she preferred me on my back for monitoring and if she said yes asked for a different MW while I still had the strength to put my foot down.

I shpuld mention this was nearly 10 years ago - possible things have changed since then. Maybe you can have anti-bs / induction not on a drip now? That would be an improvement.

I had group b strep and I wasn’t induced . My labour started normally (although 1 week early ) as soon as my waters broke I rang the labour ward and was told I had to go up ASAP -I was only 1cm dialated but they wanted me to start the antibiotics straight away.
Having th IV antibiotics are a bit of a pain whilst in labour because it does restrict you some what but I spent some time in the bath whilst in labour.
The best think to do as soon as you know you’re in labour call your hospital as they will probably want you to go in straight away.

You won’t definitely be induced with GBS, depends on how quickly you go into labour and when your waters break.

We lost our nephew to GBS because we didn’t know, knowledge is key and making sure everyone else does. Tell EVERYONE and repeat repeat repeat, st sticker for your notes.

I also had GBS with DD3 and because I knew I got ABs by drop in labour but was so fast (and she got stuck) the canular pulled out. We were kept in, she contracted the infection and were in for a week with her being given IV ABs. She was absolutely fine.

It’s a manageable infection as long as you know.

I had a super quick labor and Strep B, and so they didn't actually have time to hook me up to antibiotics before baby was born. Instead, they just kept him in for 48 hours as opposed to the usual 24 for observation (I don't think he had any additional treatment or anything) to make sure he didn't have it and we were good to go.

Ideally, though, I would have had I think it was eight hours of antibiotics before he was born by IV, once my waters had gone. That being said (and I'm in the US so it might be handled differently here than where the other poster was), no-one said anything about inducing me once my waters broke because of Strep B. I don't see why that would need to happen if your labor was progressing well, although I was told that I needed to come in as soon as my waters broke, if that makes sense. Either way, good luck! You'll be fine

Your questions for your MW team:

• how will anti-biotics be administered?
• is it likely is it I will be induced / augmented?
• what options for induction / augmentation are available?
• how likely is it continuous monitoring will be used?
• do MWs in this unit know how to support active labour with mothers who have been induced? Will they try to encourage me on to my back?
• how can I change my MW if I want to?
• what pain relief is available to me?
• please describe a typical strep B labour to me
• what else do you think I need to know?

Good to hear not everyone was induced. I guess it must depend on she your waters go and how much progress you're making.

OP in that case let me edit this question:

• do MWs in this unit know how to support active labour with mothers who are on a drip for ante-biotics and/or who have been induced? Will they try to encourage me on to my back?

Were people who had anti-bs by drip but no induction given continuous monitoring?
Did the MW want you on your back?

I was positive with group b step with dc2 but they didn’t get the results back until after the birth so was just kept in for 36 hrs.
I was tested at 38 weeks for dc3 and was also positive so when my waters went with no contractions yet I was kept in and on iv antibiotics straight away. After 24 hrs I was induced a drip.

Just to add a positive labour story you absolutely do not HAVE to have an epidural at all. I was upright and mobile the whole time, wheeling my little iv trolley about and only moved onto gas and air for the final 30 mins with 7 mins of pushing (it was no 3!!)

I’ve had an epidural before so obviously no medals for doing it without one but just in case, like me, you were worried it would affect a mobile and epidural free birth, it won’t!

As it happens baby had to go into neonatal ward for something unrelated so it doesn’t really matter how they come out just do everything you can to go home with a healthy baby at the end! Good luck!

I have group b strep and am having a home water birth.
A few weeks before I’m due to give birth, I’ll be given antibiotics which I need to take every day.
My mw said vaginal douches are more effective than antibiotics when it comes to strep b but I haven’t tried that. It’s worth looking into xx

I had it, no to internal monitoring. No to having to stay on my back, I was on all 4s and eventually gave birth on my side as it worked best for me. Drip was faffy to move but it worked.

Are you insane Mrs? ABS pre-labour do jack as the infection comes and goes. And douches??!! The homebirth with GBS I read had been given vaginal garlic douches and they lost the baby.

We lost a family baby to this infection that was totally avoidable if his mum/him had been given ABs. Your baby needs monitoring after birth and their infection markers taking, it comes on fast and is devastating.

Seriously don't risk it for the sake of a "nice" birth.

I will not risk anything! I'm a paramedic and happy to have a highly monitored and medical birth. Luckily the hospital I am going to is a world class obstetric unit so I know I'll be in good hands.

@Silverdale I’ve been following the advice of my GP and midwife. I’d never ever do anything to put my child’s life at risk.
There is a 5% chance of babies contracting the infection if the mother has it. A small percentage of that end up being fatal but the majority are fine.
There are so many women who have it without even knowing and go on to have healthy babies. If it was that serious all the time, it’d be tested for routinely.
My GP has advised that I take antibiotics for a the weeks before and during birth and has assured me that that is as effective as a drip in labour.

thingymaboob the thing about continuous monitoring is that it can affect your labour.

Some MWs want you on your back for continuous monitoring. Being on your back can mean more pain for you, a more difficult, longer labour and potentially more interventions.

Refusing continuous monitoring isn't anti-science, it can be a valid and informed choice.

My personal choice would be to work with what the MWs recommend but to draw the line at being on my back. I know that you can labour on a drip without being on your back and if a MW didn't support active labour I would (given my past experience) exercise my right to change my MW.

The hospital I was in had a really good reputation and I still suffered much more than necessary IMO.

Medicalised doesn't always = good. It can mean making the MW's job easier but you suffer for it.

I'd suggest reading up on continuous monitoring so you can make an informed choice.