Strep B - antibiotics while pregnant?

[Bol87]

I’ve tested positive for Strep B & I’m 38 weeks pregnant. I saw my midwife today & she suggested I contact my GP ASAP & get antibiotics to try & clear up in the infection now before labour (as well as having them during labour).

I was quite surprised at this advice as I’ve done a lot of reading about Strep B & never once has this been mentioned as something to do.

Has anyone else ever done this?! Getting an appointment at my GP’s is such a mission & I’m also quite keen to avoid germy places at this point in pregnancy 🙈

If it’s worth going to the docs for then I absolutely will but I don’t want to turn up & them say oh no, you just need antibiotics in labour as everything I’ve read has suggested..

Thank you!

You can have strep b infection now, that's why you might need antibiotics now.

Once you had this once you will be given antibiotics in labour as to prevent it maybe being active again and going to baby.

I have strep b but it's non active, but I'm carrying it, so will have antibiotics in labour.

I've been strepB in all my pregnancies never had antibiotics while pregnant just in labour

I have strep B and will be re-tested at 36 weeks but been told by my midwife i will have antibiotics during labour and not before.

I have strep b, in the info they have sent me it says if it was found via urine sample then you will be offered antibiotics to clear the uti and the antibiotics in labour. I'll have a look for the leaflet and send a picture.

I've found this Facebook group really helpful xx

www.facebook.com/GroupBStrepSupport/

I've not been told or offered antibiotics just that I'll need them during labour

Hi all,

How did you know you had strep b? Did you pay for a test?

Thanks

@lemonysherbet - I first tested positive back in 2013 when I had swabs done before a coil was fitted. Since then, I’ve tested positive a couple more times, once picked up when I had a urine infection and once on a swab 8 weeks post birth of my first child. It comes & goes and I tested negative just before the birth of my first so thankfully didn’t need antibios in labour.

Despite having the infection picked up several times, the NHS will not test for it. Which makes me a bit grumpy. So yep, I paid for them myself. Used The Doctors Laboratory as recommend by the UK Strep B charity. It’s £35 & you get sent the tests to do at home. You have to do two swabs. One vaginal & one rectal (what a joy). It’s really easy though & results in 3 days. They recommend you test from 35 weeks!

I went to see my GP re-antibiotics & she said my midwife gave very odd advice. She said there was little point having a course of antibiotics before labour as the bacteria grows so quickly, it’d likely grow back! So, I didn’t get any, I’ll just be having them during labour as expected!

Thanks @bol87 that's really helpful. I wouldnt know about it apart from reading threads on here so for £35 it's definitely worth doing!

Am positive too and not told to have antibiotics now but will have it in labour.

In my area, if you have tested in a previous pregnancy or just generally have tested positive it doesn't matter whether you test negatively this tome round, you'll still need antibiotics in labour for preventive reasons.

Am 36+3. My question is when do I go into hsptl when I'm in labour as it has to be administered at least 4 hours before bubs is born but what if I don't make it in time... I wanted to be home as long as possible but thinking perhaps I should stay on the side of caution and go in at a reasonable time?