Group strep b

[Mamtobee]

Hi I've just done one of those online kits for strep b and got a positive results what should I do? I'm worried how this has happened and what impact it will have on my baby I'm 37 weeks😭 has anyone else been through this can offer any advice

Call your gp midwife and anyone else you see for antenatal care. This is serious. You need antibiotics urgently prior to the birth. Don’t leave it! Call them now!!!! Good luck and keep us posted 🌷

Firstly don't panic. It's only a concern when you go into labour so apologies to the previous poster, it's not serious and something that has to be done in the next 5 minutes. The important point is that you know, and provided you tell the midwife / labour unit, they can give you antibiotics during labour.

There is only a "risk" that you'll pass it on - I had it in both pregnancies. Had antibiotics the first time but labour was so quick the second time I didn't get chance. It just meant I had to stay in an extra night for baby to be monitored.

However I have seen a baby on a SCBU who contracted it during labour and it can be serious so you do need to have the antibiotics if you can.

That's a relief...this is my first pregnancy I just keep thinking how I got it😢

Its not something youve done so dont feel guilty - the stats are something like 60% of women have it, they just carry it - but it comes and goes so you might have it at the start of your pregnancy but not at the end. The important thing as I said above is that you're aware of it and the healthcare professionals will be when you go into labour.

I had it with my last baby (probably had it undiagnosed with my other 3 too)

Just make sure in labour you ask for the iv antibiotics ASAP. That’s all I talked about when I went in to be induced

Now you are aware of it, they can now work on reducing the risks, so it’s a good thing

I have this too. Tell your midwife so that they can update your notes and make sure you get offered antibiotics in labour. Also, google Group B Strep support. I'd recommend phoning them - they were great and really reassuring

I had it with my second pregnancy (but not the first) and was given antibiotics during labour, but as labour was so quick they didn’t get much into me! Baby was still fine except for a little bit of a fluctuating temperature so she was kept in for observation for a few days, but nothing major at all. As far as I understand it they don’t give you antibiotics before labour.

Nothing to panic about, just make sure you tell your midwife so it can go in your notes.

It’s really not a big deal, as other posters have said. Extremely common (my midwives told me 10-20% of all births are to GBSpos mums), and as long as you receive IV antibiotics during labour then it’s very low risk. The midwives told me the antibiotics are most effective if you’ve had them for something like 4 hours before giving birth, so I agree with previous posters about just leaving yourself plenty of time to get to hospital - though as a first time mum you’re likely to anyway! :-) Don’t feel stressed about it. Congrats on your pregnancy and best of luck the next few weeks!

Don’t panic and stop worrying about “how you got it” it’s not dirty and it’s not your fault. 25% of us carry it in one time. 1 in 4. It’s only a risk in labour as a baby is vulnerable. If it’s in your urine then that presents as an infection and needs to be treated straight away(and then treated in labour for “just in case”). If it’s on a vaginal or rectal swab then they give antibiotics once your waters break “just in case” to stop the baby becoming infected with GBS. The likelihood of baby being infected even without antibiotics is small but now you know you’re a carrier of it it’s good they can give antibiotics as a precaution.
GBS is so transient too, you could be tested again next week and it won’t be there, and vice versa. Which is why testing is so unreliable. Good that it’s been picked up now so you can be treated just in case.

Apologies if I panicked you OP. It’s just that at 37 weeks the baby could present at any time so it’s important that your caregivers know in order to look after you correctly. If antibiotics are administered too late, you and your baby may be in for a while. But agreed with other posters: this is nothing to be concerned about as many, many women carry strep b. Sending my best. Btw it’s great you found out now! x

Lots of women have it and in the vast majority of births where Mum is positive, it doesn't have any effect. A lot of women don't get tested and a lot of them will be carrying it. Please don't worry. Make sure you tell your midwife, it may affect your birthing plan but most importantly, try not to worry. It's good you know to make sure you can minimise any risks.

This is from NHS:

Risks in pregnancy

If you have group B strep while you're pregnant:

your baby will usually be healthy

there's a small risk it could spread to your baby during labour and make them ill – this happens in about 1 in 1,750 pregnancies

there's an extremely small risk you could miscarry or lose your baby

What happens if you have group B strep

If tests find group B strep, or you've had a baby that's been affected by it before, you may need extra care and treatment.

You may be advised to:

speak to your midwife about your birth plan – they may recommend giving birth in hospital

contact your midwife as soon as you go into labour or your waters break

have antibiotics into a vein during labour – this can significantly reduce the risk of your baby getting ill

stay in hospital for at least 12 hours after giving birth so your baby can be monitored – this isn't always necessary