IV antibiotics in labour

[DoraNora]

Found out today I'm group B strep positive and will therefore have IV antibiotics in labour (am 36+3).

Has anyone else had antibiotics in labour, and how did it effect it? I'm worried about being able to be active, having the option of a water birth etc. According to the internet I still can have a water birth, but have to keep the hand with the IV in it dry. Surely that's incredibly annoying and distracting?

I'd love to hear anyone's experiences!

Thanks

I had antibiotics in labour and the hormone drip. The antibiotics only run for 20 minutes every 4 hours so your only hooked up to those for that long and can move the drip stand. I was constantly on the other drip and had continuous monitoring and even then my midwife encouraged me to stay active so it’s not that restrictive to be honest. I was told I could still have a water birth at the midwife led unit so it’s worth asking your midwife what the guidelines are where you are

I think your hospital will have the answer to that one, I don't think every hospital has the same policy.

I was high risk, had antibiotics IV because I developed a very high temperature during labour and the hospital thought it was an infection, but because I was high risk anyway I knew that I wouldn't have access to a water birth. Speak to the hospital about it, or your MW. They should know the standard procedures for the hospital of your choice.

I had them for the same reason. It was only attached to me for about 10-15 minutes. They are meant to be done every 4 hours. It may get in the way a tad but you can definitely still have a water birth, you just won't be able to put the hand with the cannula in the water.

Thank you for sharing your experiences, they are reassuring! Will speak to midwife at next appointment, but it sounds like moving around won't be an issue 

@50ShadesOfWTF did GBS affect your labour in any other way? Or was all straightforward?

I had GBS (forgot to add that earlier) and because my waters went and I didn’t get contractions I was induced as soon as they could do it whereas I think otherwise I would have left to see if I’d gone naturally for a bit. We also had to stay in for 36 hours for my little boy to have antibiotics as a precaution but I think that was because of the time between my waters and being induced. He was absolutely fine though and is now a healthy 6 week old

@Ewanismydreamsheep congratulations on your baby boy! I'm glad everything went well.

How was being induced? Did it change your idea/plans for labour?

Thanks for answering all all my questions . Because we aren't routinely screened for GBS on the NHS none of my friends who have had babies have had any experience of it.

Thank you . I didn’t find it too bad. I was already 3cm by the time I was put on the drip at 8pm on the Friday and I had him at 2:51am on Saturday. I had about 4 hours between being told I’d need to be induced to it actually happening which helped me calm down I think. I did end up with a vontouse delivery because of his heart rate but it all felt quite calm.

It did change my plans for labour because I had to be on the consultant unit and I would’ve have been midwife led. I wanted a water birth and obviously didn’t want to have to have an intervention but I had tried to see my birth plan as a preference so I think that helped. I was still able to be on the ball for most of my early labour and could’ve stayed on it longer but the heart monitors wouldn’t stay on my bump properly. To be honest even with the intervention and the worry of his heart rate I still had a really positive birth

That's really encouraging, thank you! I did want a water birth (I'm lucky enough to be private so consultant-led anyway) but I can't imagine being relaxed having to keep a hand out of the water all the time ... And as the whole point is to be relaxed I'm coming to terms with the one thing that was on my 'birth preferences' (be in water for a bit) not necessarily being the right thing ...

It sounds like you went into it with exactly the right mindset and therefore had a positive experience even if it wasn't what you expected. Which is exactly what I'm trying to get to!

Have a lovely evening with your little one xxx

It definitely did help. It’s easier said than done but try to stay in that mindset as I think if your too focused on how you planned it it’s harder.

I agree that probably would be stressful maybe ask if they can find a way to cover your cannula so you can put your hand down.

During my pregnancy I had in my head that he had to come out somehow and worrying about it wasn’t going to change that. That said I did start to freak out a bit as my due date approached so had to work on calming down.

Thank you. Enjoy your evening

@DoraNora. Nope GBS didn't affect anything. I laboured normally and had a wonderful birth.

They can be more flexible than you might think. I had a home birth - I went into the hospital for the IV antibiotics and came home again to give birth.

I'd also discussed a plan for giving birth in hospital. Im ok having a cannula sited, but find having a cannula in incredibly painful as it restricts hand movement so much. I was told to make sure they went for the smallest size needle. They also agreed they would take it out completely after I'd have the first lot of antibiotics. That obviously would have meant they'd need to resite it if I hadn't given birth by the time the 2nd dose was due but as it was DC2 and expected to be faster they were OK with this. Once the needle is out, you can do whatever you like with your hand. If it's your DC1 it's likely to be slower so you might be a bit more cautious as you're likely to need a few top ups - but you could ask about having it out once you get close to full dilation, which is probably the most annoying time to have to watch what you do with your hand anyway?

@MrsPandaBear great thoughts, thank you! I wouldn't have thought to ask to have it out again - this is DC1 so your suggestion of at least having it out for full dilation is great. And asking for the thinnest needle ... Amazing you were still able to give birth at home! Along with @50ShadesOfWTF that is all reassuring that things shouldn't be too different.

Thank you so much for your comments. I had been relaxed (or as relaxed as you can be) up to now about labour and this just threw me. Probably because I hate needles ... Although since pregnancy makes you a bit of a pincushion I have been much better!

Just a thought - I know asking for it to be removed at 10cm would be more comfortable, but on the off-chance something happened and you needed to go to theatre or had a big bleed after delivery, they'd want to cannulate you anyway. So you may have it removed only to need it reinserted a few minutes later, which may actually be more uncomfortable than just leaving it. Chances are that won't happen but always worth thinking about.

I had mine just above my hand so it was in my arm which meant I could put my hand down without it pulling so that’s an option too

Thought I'd update you all on how this went, as you were so lovely and made me feel so much better.

I basically had your labour, @Ewanismydreamsheep! Waters went, no contractions so was induced about 3 hours later with drip. So epidural and no water birth! Then vontouse and episiomety to get DD out as she was in a funny position (almost back to back but not quite).

Thank you for sharing your experiences and reassuring me about the IV - by the time I went into labour it was not worrying me at all anymore

Aw congratulations. Hope your all doing well! Glad we helped put your mind at rest!

@doeanora just been reading about your experiences. I’ve been researching Strep B as I have been diagnosed and don’t know anyone else who has had a test. My baby is also almost back-to-back at the moment. Thank you for sharing your experience x

@Kidneybean2016 I actually enjoyed my labour (other than the hour before the epidural kicked in and the contractions in my back were like nothing I'd ever felt) even though it featured lots of intervention and I had dreams of a water birth. Staff were great at communication and I felt cared for, looked after and like the best decisions were being made.

I hope everything goes well for you, and if I had one piece of advice it is to get an epidural if you are back to back! Contractions ramping up in my back and feeling like someone was trying to snap my hips in two then finding out I was only 4cm ... Epidural was the best decision I made!

Good luck! I hope you have a good labour. When are you due? X

@Ewanismydreamsheep thank you! We are doing really well, DD is three weeks now. Sleep deprivation is an issue, but I believe that is a feature of newborns ... I hope you are doing well too

I’m due in a week but no signs yet of impending labour. Just taking things day by day. I was induced for my first labour so this is all new to me. Can’t wait til little one is safely here x