Strep B. BV. Anxiety. Struggling to cope :(

[Lou0808]

Does anyone just feel so alone with their feelings in pregnancy?
My husband and I have been together 11 years, he’s such a supportive loving husband, but during pregnancy I just don’t feel as if he understands my feelings and I’m really starting to feel alone in this.
I’ve worried from day one about my pregnancy.
Mainly because of having psoriatic arthritis, asthma and a BMI of 30, I’ve just panicked that having all of these would affect pregnancy and the health of my baby.
Ive found it so hard to just relax and believe that everything will be ok.
At my 28 week check last week I mentioned excessive discharge to my midwife. A swab confirmed BV and also showed Strep B.
I’ve got an antibiotic cream for the BV, I feel so frightened to use it.
The dr told me it’s fine to use and the midwife told me that Step B means I will have to have IV antibiotics in labour but it shouldn’t affect baby whilst I’m pregnant.
However since finding these things out yesterday I’ve felt so ill with worry, it’s just awful.
I’ve read all sorts of scary stories about complications of Strep B including still births and meningitis.
I’ve read BV can cause preterm labour.
I’ve barely slept and I just feel so down and emotional.
My husband is the total opposite. He doesn’t think we need to worry and he’s really frustrated with me and thinks I’m over reacting.
I physically can’t help how I feel. I just feel so alone and absolutely terrified of something awful happening to our baby girl.
I’m seeing a talking therapist at the weekend and I really hope this helps my anxiety.
11 weeks to go and I rally don’t want to feel like this for the rest of my pregnancy. 😔😔

Ok your main problem here is anxiety. You must make an appointment with either your GP or midwife and discuss this as it’s effecting your day to day life and enjoyment of pregnancy.
BV May (rarely) cause prem labour. This is why you have been given treatment. It’s easily treated and once treated you are no longer at risk of premature labour.
Same with group B strep. The awful things you read are to women who didn’t know it was there. They know you have had it in pregnancy so will treat you in labour, therefore there is no risk to baby once born.

Hi. I have had strep B and Bv in 4 pregnancies. I have had super fast (under 40min) labours and so not had antibiotics in time. All my babies have been finee x

Jellybean100 I am seeing a counsellor on Saturday morning to start some CBT. My anxiety is really getting the better of me. :(

Sorry I did read afterwards that you were seeing someone. This is really good news, does your midwife know? There may be a specific team she can refer you to. There are also safe medications you can go on in pregnancy to help with your anxiety.
As above, if you have a quick labour and don’t get the required antibiotics they may treat baby once born or just perform observations for 24-48 hours after baby is born to check he/she is showing no signs of infection

She originally referred me for some pregnancy mindfulness.
I found it useful but it was mainly catered towards ladies who are struggling with the idea of becoming mums and looking after their new born babies.

I haven’t had any anxiety over that.
My anxiety is purely focused around my pregnancy and is focused on the mine and the babies health.
At the mindfulness session the course leader said they do one to one sessions of CBT to cover other anxieties so I have booked myself in.

It’s gotten to the point where I haven’t even bought a single thing! I haven’t announced my pregnancy to a lot of family (people I don’t see often, otherwise they would guess)
I haven’t even announced on social media, hubby really wants to. But I’m just so convinced something bad is going to happen.
It’s such an awful, awful feeling :(
I’m also really worried that the midwife will think I’m going to be some sort of unfit mum for feeling like this.
Which is why I’ve waited so long to actually get some help(I’m 29+4 weeks)
I want to enjoy this time and be positive. I don’t want our baby girl to ever pick up on my anxiety.

I have had bv and I think I still do tbh. I’ve had the cream it it seemed to work until having sex again with my hubby and it’s started up all over again.

It’s common for BV to reoccur Halloween so you may well need more treatment.

Lou have you started using the cream? The medics really wouldn’t prescribe it for you if they thought the risk of treatment outweighed the benefits. Please try to feel reassured that they’re on the case with the Strep B too

Op you are so lucky to have found out about the GBS during pregnancy.
My DS1 was born with this and developed viral meningitis, a cyst on the brain , sepsis and now has left sided hemiplegia cerebral palsy.
He does have a good quality of life now but is in pain every day.
He goes to a great special school and has lots of friends but he would have none of these problems if I'd been given an ante natal diagnosis.
He was in hospital for 7 months after birth.
Such an awful experience.
When I was pregnant with DS2 they gave me antibiotics when I went into labour ( I had an emergency c section as he was prem and in distress) and then he was given IV antibiotics and had zero signs of sepsis or meningitis etc
Although he is disabled because of unrelated genetic issues, he was so , tiny he would never have survived having GBS.
Use the cream and know that your baby will be protected by the antibiotics, so you won't have any trauma of seeing them sick.
Try and think of it as a lucky thing you know about the GBS and try and relax .
I know it's easier said than done but that's exactly what you need to do.
For you and the baby .
It must have been a horrible shock for you, so don't be ashamed to ask your midwife or dr for more help and support if you need it.

@ItsNearlyMorning I'm really sorry about your experience with your ds1 but with all due respect, GBS cases with outcomes like his are very, very rare. I don't think it helps the OP much to dwell on the absolute worst case scenario (other than death, obviously). There are cases of IV antibiotics being given during whereby baby ends up needing them again afterwards anyway, so it's not a miracle cure by any means.

OP i would highly recommend you read up on GBS and know your options before you consent to iv antibiotics in labour. Group b Strep explained by Sara Wickham is a well researched book with lots of advice and case studies, so you can make an informed decision.

Testing for GBS is also highly disputed. You are better off being swabbed again between 35-37 weeks as the bacteria is transient. I was swabbed (without my knowledge or consent during a speculum exam) and tested positive for it at 32 weeks; I'm now 38 weeks and because they waited til now to tell me, I can't justify having the home birth I'd planned. You've got lots of time, do some research.

Also, hypnobirthing really helped ease my anxiety. You might find it helps for you. Good luck

@aliensprig "with all due respect " means anything but respect , so please don't be so condescending.
It makes you look silly .
The op will know the outcomes for GBS and I shared my experience of 2 GBS births ( 1 without antibiotics and 1 with antibiotics) so she knows that the antibiotics DO work and are a blessing.
She's in a position to have that information during pregnancy that most women in the uk aren't thanks to the lack of GBS testing.
I didn't even know what it was before my son was born.
Op has been given some great advice by other posters.
I'm sure I did say that my DS2 had antibiotics after birth.
For 7 days as a precaution because of his prematurity .
Which had nothing to do with GBS but my very high blood pressure.
Yes she has choices , we all do and if you choose to not have antibiotics or let your baby have them then good luck to you !

I had group b strep, no antibiotics in Labour as it wasn't tested for so we didn't know and Ds was fine he had antibiotics when he was born as they suspected gbs due to grunting and he was fine. They know you have it so will deal with it well.

Thanks everyone.

@ItsNearlyMorning your first comment was unhelpful and scaremongering. Again, very sorry you had that experience but it's not appropriate to worry an already very anxious mum-to-be even more than she already is. That in itself makes you look "silly".

@aliensprig you might be happy to risk the life of your unborn child by foregoing antibiotics whilst you know you're carrying GBS , so you can have your home birth but in my opinion babies safety comes first.
You're being very irresponsible even suggesting op doesn't listen to her medical professionals advice on such an important matter.
Reading a book does not make you an expert!
These people have degrees and have years of training and experience but ok you read a book and consult some articles you found via dr google.
You must know better though......
I think you were scared by my story because you know what could happen but you are so irresponsibly putting your desire for a home birth before your babies safety.
The best birth is a safe birth , where ever that might be.
Now I don't have anything else to say to you , so go ahead and have the last word and get yourself more wound up.
I won't be replying or even looking at your comments.

Op good luck with getting the help you need.
Take all of the support you can and please listen to your dr and midwife.
They know what they are doing and will look after you and your baby.

No experience of BV but I would use the cream if I was you.
With DD1 I suddenly became very ill in labour, fever and vomiting. They swabbed and found GBS. I was put on fluid and antibiotic IV. I didn't realise until I was home that it was GBS and antibiotics wouldn't have been effective as my labour was too short and therefore they should of monitored DD1 closely. It's good that you know so you can do a bit of research and if they don't follow guidelines you can pull them up on it.