Strep B and pregnant

[ATmummy]

Any advice or anything I should know? Don’t know anything about strep b or how it can affect pregnancy or if there’s anything to look out for or if I need to get any extra injections. Just worried and completely unsure about what this means for me or baby. All advice appreciated xxxx

I had it my last pregnancy, I mean tested positive for it. No extra care during pregnancy, the only thing is that if you deliver vaginaly you will have an antibiotic drip every 4 hours to prevent baby catching it.

Thus time I'm pregnant again and they assumed I still have it so I'll get the same.

Not sure with a C-section thou, you might or not have the drip of antibiotics.

How do you know if you have it? I've seen a few articles on it on the news and I'm worried as I'm 38 weeks

You also get antibiotics at the birth with a section

I don't remember how they knew I had it first time around.

This might help:

gbss.org.uk/info-support/we-are-here-to-help/faqs/

With DC1 they swabbed me in labour as I had a high temp and vomiting. Confirmed it was strep b but obviously too late for antibiotics. With subsequent babies they then look to swab at around 36 weeks as it comes and goes. IV antibiotics in labour. C section means no action is required.

I had strep b with my son. It was picked up during a urine sample that went for further testing as I repeatedly had funny samples that couldn't be pinpointed to anything. I'm now 21 weeks and urine sample at 12 weeks came back clear. I've been told it can come and go though so will be tested again. I was put on antibiotics during labour with my son and had to be induced as soon as my waters broke to prevent infection. Just one of those things.

I was also wondering this and whether anyone had any home test kits they'd recommend?

I tested positive my last pregnancy and was told if you test positive even just once, they have to take precautions at birth. My breech baby decided to come earlier than the planned c section, so no time for the antibiotic drip and he was taken away several times after he was born to be administered the antibiotics.

@sep30 there was a petition for all women to be tested, as it is a case in other countries, but i dont think the petition was a success. I was tested because I told my gp that I was very thirsty especially at night. I have no idea if there's a link, but she sent me for tests, i didnt know what for, but then she rang me to tell me i tested positive for strep b.

That's interesting about taking precautions in future pregnancies if you test positive once. Definitely going to ask about this at future midwife appointments.

I did a home test kit the other day. Same company that I used with my first baby. the doctor's laboratory. tdlpathology.com/gbs

Shockingly they don't ruitinely test for it. I found out I have it due to a bleed at 22 weeks. Op antibiotics and 12 hour monitoring on baby after birth is all

I'm assuming by strep b you mean group b strep?

I had Group B strep with my first DC and I unfortunately it wasnt picked up... I had zero symptoms. When he was born it passed to him causing him to be very poorly. The positive is he recovered with no long term effects and is a healthy happy little boy. However it was extremely traumatic. I'm now pregancy with DC2 and will be having the antibiotics during my labour, I have decided not to test as I will be treated regardless and baby will be monitored after its born. From my experience you can never be to cautious and it's good you know now. What happend to us is extremely rare but it does and can happen.

I tested positive in my first pregnancy. There is no extra monitoring during pregnancy but you have IV antibiotics 4 hourly during labour (they like you to get 3 or 4 doses I think). They class you as positive for every subsequent pregnancy. My second labour was very quick and i only managed to have the first lot of antibiotics. Baby was fine but both times we stayed in for 24h and baby was assessed every 4h.