Group B Strep

[nass17]

Hi is there any GBS support group In here

I've not come across one, but have come across the odd thread about it. I am pregnant and have it...

I had it with my last pregnancy and my son had it as well we were at hospital for two weeks but I'm not sure if I have at this pregnancy

Your risk of this baby getting it is increased (though still rare) so it’s advisable to have antibiotics during labour - no need to test for it this time either, it’s just assumed that you’re GBS positive. There’s a Group B Strep support group on Facebook that’s probably worth looking at.

m.facebook.com/groups/26016844399?tsid=0.5084385577501925&source=result

I have GBS too and found the support group really helpful. I rang their helpline and they were great: gbss.org.uk

And this one www.facebook.com/GroupBStrepSupport/ too :)

My DS has it in my first pregnancy, he was an EMCS. For the second I went for an ELCS, but they still plastered awareness stickers all over my maternity notes to give antibiotics if I went into labour.

I know and that's why I'm scared but my midwife kept saying to me if you don't have it you won't need antibiotics and she won't test me but thanks you

Ask to speak to the head of your community midwife team as they does not sound at all right. Are you consultant led this time?

No I'm not consulting led but I will definitely ask to speak to the head of the community midwife I just hope they will give me the antibiotics

I had it with my first too and wondering if I'll have to have the antibiotics again? Surely if your positive once n any pregnancy you'll always have it ?

I took a private test (cost £35) this week and it was positive. I'm almost 36 weeks pregnant. Meeting with my consultant this Thursday so will raise it and see what they say. I'm terrified to be honest as my last baby was stillborn and I just wanted this to be simple and straightforward 😓

@nass17 I'd bring it up with whoever you speak to once you're in labour. Regardless of what your main midwife says or what is on your notes it is always worth bringing it up to ensure that the delivery team know.

I'm having anxiety because of last pregnancy my son still struggling to speak I just don't want them to ignore me and something happens to the baby but I will definitely bring up it to them thank you @HidCat

Once you've had a baby with GBS you should be given antibiotics for all future births. No need to be tested. It's in the NICE guidelines. Speak to your midwife about it :)

But as a heads up, In my experience the delivery suite midwives needed to be reminded even though it was in my notes...

@nass17
Sorry I only just read back through the whole thread to see that your midwife is being totally unhelpful. Insist that she prints off and reads the NICE guidelines on GBS. It's really important that you get the antibiotics. Having a previous baby with GBS means you should definitely be given them, with no argument from any medical professional!
Sorry you are going through this. Most midwives are great - but sadly, not all.
Kxxx

You can order a test for free online (www.groupbstreptest.co.uk/order-form/) costs £35 to be processed at lab, but your supplied with everything you need and just send a cheque with the sample. Hospitals/midwifes all seem to have different approaches to it. I tested positive at 36 weeks, and told everyone (I was booked for an elective c-section) but no one batted an eye lid or made any note of it. However my waters broke 2 days before my c-section date. When I arrived at hospital I told them about it, at first they seemed to disbelieve me, but eventually accepted my notification text confirming positive result. They did put me on antibiotics 4 or so hours before my surgery. Luckily everything was ok. Keep kicking up a fuss. Hope things go smoothly for you this time 🤞

Having a previous baby affected by GBS puts you at higher risk of having another affected baby and you should have the antibiotics whether or not you test positive in this pregnancy. There is no need for you to have the test to be entitled to have antibiotics this time. In fact doing the test and getting a negative result may just confuse the issue . Kx

Hi @kitty1013
That's what the doctors told me when I was at the hospital with my son they said future pregnancy I should be taking the antibiotics and I don't need to test but my midwife is confusing me she even said we would pick it at your urine simple and I'm sure sometimes you don't pick up GBS in urine but I'm going to fight for it I just don't want my baby to go throu what my other son went throu and still going on he's 2 and held he doesn't speak and having other issues I love him to death

Your midwife is wrong on both counts. I’m pretty sure with my second birth they did the antibiotics just on my say so anyway - I rang the labour ward when I was in the early stages, told them I needed the antibiotics and asked when they wanted me to show up. But please ask for a different midwife, this one sounds like she’s going to cause unnecessary stress for you.

Oh with my first son he went to see the paediatrician a couple of times for developmental checks - are you getting support with the issues you’re having with your son?

I had a pre labour rupture of membranes, and they took a swap then and I found out when DD was about a week old that I had tested positive for group b strep. Due to the PROM I wasn't allowed in the birthing pool and was recommended to have a continuous monitoring during labour (which I had), as well as DD and I being kept in for 24 hours after the birth for DD to have ongoing observations, none of which was distressing, not did it ruin my "birth experience". Baby was fine and I had a chilled out time bonding with her before going home.

@AmberLangslow thanks for asking about my son yeah we went to paediatrician couple of times they think he's just delayed he's been offered speech therapy when he's 3 and he wears glasses other than that he's doing well and yeah I'm really stressed about the GBS again but I will definitely do anything I can to get the antibiotics

@Cyw2018 I'm glad everything went good for you but it's just my midwife that's causing me stress