Freaking out a little

[B0bb]

Hi there,

I’m new on mums net, and freaking out just a little. I’m currently 8 weeks pregnant with my second and I got swabbed last Friday due to bouts of thrush, which confirmed again I have (yay) . Anyway along with that I got told I have group b strep.. I never got tested in my first pregnancy because I never knew about it, at least I don’t remember anyway. She’s 4 now nearly 5 so she’s loving life and filling her boots. But I am totally freaked by this group strep b.. has anyone had it before? I’m seeing the midwife tomorrow for my flu jab and bloods, I have to tell her so she can put it on my notes but I am a little freaked. I’m trying to enjoy this pregnancy as I had a missed miscarriage last June, now I feel I will worry

Thanks

There's nothing to worry about, you will just need to have antibiotics when labour starts to protect baby from exposure - it's really much better to know you have it than not. Your midwife should hopefully explain all this too you. They may test you again nearer to your due date (the strep B can come and go so you may not still have it when baby is due to arrive).

Thank you for your reply. I have calmed a bit now I think it was more of a shock, and I reckon I had it with my daughter but I never got tested. She had quite red Rosie cheeks once born and at 4 days old I was told by the midwife to go straight to the doctors and the doctor did say something about strep and gave her penicillin so I thank my lucky stars for that.

You've just prompted me to order a home test for Strep B (I'm 37 weeks pregnant), so thank you!

Hope all goes well for you with the midwife.

No worries! Like you said it's better to know than not..

I had strep B in my first pregnancy. It just means you can't have a water birth as you have to be hooked up to 4 hours of antibiotics during your labour.
It's also important to remember that it's transient so while you might have it at 8 weeks you may not have it at 38 weeks.

Yeah I did read that online. I'm not fussed about a water birth really. I did think that as well what if I don't have it near the time when you should be tested? my doctor said today when you see the midwife just let her know so she can put it on your notes, but if it can come and go is there any need to do it yet? I think I'm just worried in case this one arrives quick. With my first I got to 9cm within 4 hours so if I'm quicker next time then you know

I think it's better to have it on your records now, as it isn't routinely tested for by the NHS, so you could have it later and it wouldn't necessarily be picked up by any testing IYSWIM? Unless you wanted to wait until nearer the time and have a private test done... but personally if it was me I'd discuss with the midwife now and see what she says - they may agree to test you nearer the time, as there is no point in giving antibiotics if you don't have it around the time of delivery.

My labour was super fast (2 hours) so I didn't get the full 4 hours of antibiotics. The delivery team made sure DS was given some antibiotics for 5 days after he was born as a precaution.

That's good to know. I suppose because I didn't know if I had it first time around the second time round just shocked me. Thank you both for your replies it makes me feel reassured

I also been told I have group b, when I had a smear, (before I was pregnant) however they didn't seem too worried and said they most likely won't re test me and unless I've had it in previous pregnancies which I haven't they're most Likely not to do anything in labour, but unless the baby show signs of illness when it's born then they will give antibiotics. To me, this sounds very bizarre and also why would the risk this, I might get a second opinion about this, surely they wouldn't chance it and just give the antibiotics while I'm in labour?? has anyone else been told this? I'm not sure this midwife was correct in what she was telling me or was she ...Xxx

I'd get a second opinion and also get a home test from 35-36 weeks so then you know yourself. I never got tested in my first pregnancy, because I didn't know anything about it for one. But it's only by chance because of my reoccurring thrush I had a swab and they picked it up.

Just to clarify, you CAN have a waterbirth if you want and have no other contraindications. You are hooked up to IV antibiotics every 4 hours but only for about 20 minutes. You just have to keep that hand out of the water. I've cared for many women doing this. If you have a quick Labour and they don't get the antibiotics in in time then they will just monitor the baby for signs of infection (the risk of which is very small) and give him/her antibiotics if showing signs of illness.

@confused8 thanks for that.. interesting but good to know. I will keep it in mind for when the time comes. I know every pregnancy is different and this one definitely has been so far.

Yes I have it too and the midwife told me I can have any kind of birth I like, including water birth or homebirth! Just have to keep the cannula dry between doses. I guess it’s pretty routine now.

@Melamine oh that's good. I have an appointment this afternoon with the midwife for bloods so I will drop it in conversation seen as I've got to tell her. Got my flu jab this morning... So going to be prodded today