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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Strep B

17 replies

Babycakes1989 · 03/05/2019 21:11

Please can I have your ladies experiences or advice with what to expect after just being diagnosed with strep b please? I’m too afraid to google it as sometimes that’s not a good idea! Would rather hear mummy's past/current real honest opinions. My doctor has informed my midwife apprentice who will be in contact & she has reassured me it’s not too much to worry about . Thank you x

OP posts:

TequilaMockingburd · 03/05/2019 21:36

I tested positive for this too. At 16 weeks and again at 32. I’ve been told I’ll have to skip the midwife Les birth centre and be in hospital as a n antibiotic drip needs to be administered from the point of active labour, or when my waters break. Think a fuse is administered every 4 hours. It’s worth it to avoid oassingvti baby as far as I have googled.....

TequilaMockingburd · 03/05/2019 21:38

Oh my word.... the typos!

Midwife led centre
Fuse = dose
Avoid passing to baby .....

Rors · 03/05/2019 22:23

I have this also, it's good that they have found it as they are able to act on it, not all NHS trusts test for it and it can be harmful to the baby if not treated during labour.

As far as I can gather it shouldn't affect the birth you want at all, you will just need to have antibiotics during labour every few hours and your baby will be fine.

I did get told I wouldn't be able to have a water birth or go to the midwife led unit but since then I have found out both of things are not true so just remember to push for what you want!

Good luck and congratulations on your pregnancy x

PowerslidePanda · 03/05/2019 22:24

I had this. From memory, the statistics are something like...

1 in 4 women carry Group B Strep
Of those, 1 in 200 will pass it on to their baby

And not all babies who contract it will be negatively affected. So even testing positive, the chances of it having any implications are pretty low.

The reason it's taken seriously is that for the unlucky few, the implications can be severe. But by receiving antibiotics during labour, you significantly reduce the risks further still (something like a factor of 10). Generally, the cases with bad outcomes are those where Group B Strep hadn't been detected until it had already taken effect. The fact that you're aware of it puts you in a very good position.

My own experience was simply antibiotics during labour and extra checks for baby when she was born, and she was absolutely fine.

yoshismother · 03/05/2019 22:26

I tested for strep b. I had an unplanned home birth, so no antibiotics. Instead I insisted on staying in hospital for 48 hours to check DC hadn't been affected. It was nice bonding time to be honest.

Frightenedbunny · 03/05/2019 22:53

I tested positive for strep b with my first birth. It wasn’t picked up until I was in labour. My temperature spiked and baby went into distress. I had to have an emergency c-section. Both me and Dc were given IV antibiotics for 72 hours as soon as baby was born. He tested positive for it but he was fine. He’s now a strapping 14 year old! If they pick it up early there’s no risk. It’s only when it’s unidentified it can cause harm to baby x

Mrsmummy90 · 03/05/2019 22:58

I had strep b with dd.
It didn't effect the pregnancy and I was given antibiotics during labour. Dd was born completely healthily but they made us stay in over night just to make sure that she was ok. We were home the next day :)

Try not to worry. You'll be given the antibiotics and that should keep the infection away from the baby. Xx

FrancesV83 · 04/05/2019 09:06

Hi OP, I was diagnosed with group b strep a couple of weeks ago (2nd pregnancy- 21 weeks). As far as I’m aware it just means a 30 minute antibiotic drip when you go into labour and then regular top ups throughout the labour/birth. I have been told by my midwife that I can still go to the midwife led unit and have a water birth, I’ll just have to wear a special glove over the cannula.
From what I’ve read it’s much better to find out you have it before going into labour, so I’m seeing it as a blessing in disguise.

NotSoThinLizzy · 04/05/2019 09:10

Definitely better to find out you have it before labour. Me and wee guy and to stay in for 48 hours for antibiotics as a precaution

MustardScreams · 04/05/2019 09:11

I had GBS with dd. They gave me an antibiotic drip whilst in labour and dd was monitored on the ward for 24 hours after birth. All absolutely fine.

why1stheRumgon3 · 04/05/2019 10:03

My beautiful baby girl died because of group b strep. At the time I had never heard of it. I have two other children now and both times I was induced at 38weeks and given antibiotics in labour. Then me and babies stayed in hospital for 7 days and babies were given antibiotics every 12 hours.

Longislandicedme · 04/05/2019 11:05

I had strep B in my last pregnancy (yet to be tested this time but I’m only 14 weeks). My waters went so they kept me in due to having the strep B and put me on an antibiotic drip during labour. When my son was born they put him on an antibiotic drip too but I think that’s because my waters went before receiving the antibiotics. They gave him blood tests for two days after he was born and then said he didn’t have any sort of infection as a result so I was able to be discharged (although I was kept in another week due to jaundice that was unrelated).

DoraNora · 04/05/2019 11:08

I had strep B diagnosed at 36 weeks and as pp have said, if caught at that point it just means antibiotics through an IV in labour. I was worried about having a IV (didn't know if it meant I could still have a water birth) and started this thread, which was incredibly useful:

IV antibiotics in labour www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/3451317-iv-antibiotics-in-labour

Good luck! I hope you have a lovely birth. Mine was great, and as I had to be induced I had to have an IV anyway.

DoraNora · 04/05/2019 11:10

@Longislandicedme that's interesting! My waters went before receiving antibiotics too, but DD didn't have to have any. She was just monitored hourly for 24 hours post-birth. I'm glad all was Ok for you (on that front, anyway)

bumblingbovine49 · 04/05/2019 11:28

I had this. As others have said, I had antibiotics on a drip during labour and birth. Also for me, DS had a low apgar when born and was grunting so they wanted to test him for infection.

The results took 5 days to come back so in that time he had intravenous antibiotics every 6 hours as a precaution . I stayed in with him though and after a couple of hours in the baby intensive care unit he was with me as he was breathing fine by then. I just brought him to the unit to have the antibiotics given..

In the end he didn't have an infection but they had given them just to be safe. We are given a side room so a bit more private and we came home after 5 days.

bumblingbovine49 · 04/05/2019 11:29

Oh and my waters broke early as well

babbit87 · 04/05/2019 20:35

Hi OP,

I had this with my first pregnancy (phone call at 37 wk broke down in tears in mothercare!) and again now with my second.

I was really scared and upset first time as you can read all sorts of not nice things on the web and was devastated I couldn’t go in the midwife centre also have a HUGE needle phobia so the idea of a drip was horrendous to me!

In hindsight it was actually nothing too big to worry about. Had drip throughout labour and monitoring to check baby’s heart rate - had a lovely midwife who fought for me to be able to have the birthing pool I wanted (monitoring was consistently fine so could go off them eventually) and actually, it was quite reassuring to have all the doctors around checking in.

Beautiful baby girl born within 13 hours of first contraction at 39 weeks, normal vaginal delivery, only needed gas and air once in pool (actually had her out of pool as got out for next round of antibiotics when baby decided to arrive). They kept us in for the whole of next day for obs to be sure but all ok. She’s now 21 months and a bouncy toddler no issues!!

Have this again with my second due in 7 days - only things to really look out for are they want me to call in when contractions are regular at 10 mins apart (allow enough time to get antibiotics in) and also go in immediately if waters break due to risk of infection. I’m hoping baby will arrive soon as they won’t let me go over due date and I’m nervous of induction!!

Good luck, hope it all goes well and try not to worry too much (easier said than done I know!) xx

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