Group B Strep

[FourPlasticRings]

So, apparently I have group B strep. Picked up from the standard urine culture at booking in. I've been told I have to have IV antibiotics throughout labour as a result. Any experiences of that? Currently 20 weeks in, so a while to go yet.

@fourplasticring - I tested positive for it too at 35 weeks with my dd 13 years ago. It meant that I had to have a consultant led labour - no birthing centre, water birth etc. I had antibiotics throughout labour which was 48 hours long. By you having antibiotics administered means that baby will not need to have it after he/she's born. Also I was told to go to hospital as soon as contractions start and not to wait for waters to break just in case.
This was advice I was given 13 years ago; not sure if it's still the same advice as things always evolve.
Good luck

I was group B strep positive last year and it was absolutely fine. I was consultant led for other reasons, but if the pool had been available I would still have been able to use it. It may depend on your trust so your best bet is to talk to your midwife about your options at your next appointment.

You do not have to have antibiotics through labour, but having them means that you don't need to stay for 24 hours of observation after the birth (unless there are other reasons they want to observe you or baby).

Strep B is also a transient infection so you may or may not be positive come labour day. I weighed up the different options and decided to go for the antibiotics - figured better safe than sorry! I was told to come in as soon as waters broke, or once labour was established. You need two IV infusions of antibiotics for the full benefit.

I found out I was positive whilst I was labour (result from urine sent away 2 days previously) - I was supposed to be having a home birth. My husband drove me to hospital very fast - I was 8.5 cm when they checked me in triage. I just managed one dose of antibiotics before baby shot out! We were made to stay in I overnight so baby could have regular one. Except the ward was busy so she was checked once I think. Went home the next morning. I wouldn’t change what I did as it was the safe option but I’m a bit sad that I missed my home birth because of it.

I was positive for Group B strep, ideally you need to have antibiotics at least four hours (I think!) before the birth. If you have a long labour you might need a few doses.

I was still able to have a midwife led birth at the birth centre. I had an iv for about 20mins when I first arrived and was then able to get in the birthing pool.

All went fine and was allowed home the same day. Bit of course different hospitals will have different rules. Good luck!

Thanks everyone, it's really good to hear from people who've been through it. I've been a bit anxious about it all the last couple of days, even though labour is so far away, and no one I know has had it. You've all been very reassuring.

I also had group b strep, had my baby boy in March. Both had to have antibiotics, make sure you ask them to put a cover over baby's hand so the cannula doesn't come out but other than that happening to my LO no issues. Will just keep you in to monitor baby

I had it with #3. I had a few complicating factors in the respect that I had had a precipitous labour with #2 who was also a very big baby. So they were worried that I would have a speedy labour with #3 and miss out on the antibiotics. In the end we compromised on an induction at 39 wks to negate him growing too big, and hopefully mean I got the antibiotics.

As it was, I went into labour on the day I was due to be induced. Phoned in and told them waters had gone, they said to come in in the morning. Reminded them about strep b and they said to go straight in for antibiotics. Had the drip, baby appeared about 1.5hrs later. All tests clear afterwards.

I had it with all 3 of mine. 2 needed antibiotics after birth but it was all ok.

Actually OP dont worry. The bonus is that you've found now and you'll be monitored / given the option of antibiotics in labour. Its much more common than you think but often people dont know they have it.

It can come & go so there is no reason to assume you'll definitely have it when you go into labour. Also the risk is small of passing it on to you baby, even if you do have it.

Please dont worry.

@IndecentFeminist You say all tests were clear afterwards- what tests did they run?

@PotteringAlong and @Jesskir89 why did they decide your babies needed the antibiotics?

Op it was given to anyone who tested positive at my hospital as a precaution. I actually enjoyed my hospital stay after an emergency c section I stayed on for 2 nights, just me and dh as it was the start of the covid outbreak and it was lovely tbh

I had it and was told by the labour ward that I didn't need the antibiotics until my waters broke. Unfortunately I ended up having an unplanned home birth so no antibiotics, no additional monitoring, advice or antibiotics offered to the baby after. In fact I didn't even get taken to the hospital. This was ten years ago but makes me realise we didn't receive the care we should have done!

I had it with DC1, discovered in labour as I had a high temp. Was given antibiotics though I wasn't actually in labour long enough for the full effect. DC1 no ill effects though I do think they should of monitored her after she was born. Apparently it comes and goes and you actually need a swab after 36 weeks to determine if you're likely to have it at the time of labour.

Looks like you have lots of good advice OP. Just wanted to add that lots of people have mentioned it can come and go, which is true when it is found on swabs. If it’s on a swab earlier in pregnancy but the swab is clear after 35 weeks then you wouldn’t routinely be offered antibiotics. But in your case, having it in urine at any point in the pregnancy is considered enough of a risk factor that you’ll be offered antibiotics regardless of whether it is found again later in pregnancy or not (and you should be treated for it now).
FYI - overall risk of infection to baby is still low so don’t panic; it’s just that if baby does get infected then it can be very very severe (eg babies die of this in the newborn period). That’s why doctors are so keen to recommend antibiotics in labour to prevent it.

Hiya, I have posted before on this topic but I had quite an unusual experience and I just want to let people know of the (very slim) possibilities. I had tested positive 12 odd years ago so was given antibiotics in labour. In the end I needed a caesarean so really there should have been no danger to DD (antibiotics and not passing through the vagina). She was a gorgeous baby, full term but about 24 hours later was still v sleepy, not feeding etc. One of the midwives notices the strep b on her notes and she was whisked off for lumbar puncture and chest x-ray. I had worked at a hospital many years before and had seen the procedure (and worse) but they wouldn’t let me be there, too traumatic apparently for your own baby.

In the end she did not have meningitis, which strep b can cause, but did have pneumonia (also thought due to strep b), we had to spend 10 miserable days in hospital with poorly dd but she recovered and now is a perfect pre-teen who remembers nothing, and nor do I really. I know the thought of antibiotics is worrying and might interfere with the kind of birth you wanted (although they can be given for water births as PP said). Really try not to worry, the chances are v low and by testing for this now then healthcare professionals can be on the look out for it when you have your baby and be better prepared. Good luck and congrats on your pregnancy!

I can't remember, I just remember we had to stay in for 24 hours to be tested etc and then we could leave.