UTI - Group B Strep

[TheGlitterFairy]

Hi - I'm 19+4 and have been diagnosed with a UTI that's group b strep related. Cue lots of dr googling and scaring myself with horror stories about premature births/ miscarriages and the like. I'm on the correct set of antibiotics now so it's all being sorted and will be monitored but I wondered if anyone else has been in this position and if all was ok?

I'll be having an ELCS so probably won't need the IV antibiotics in labour though obvs not a problem if it's required but I guess just anxious about the pregnancy anyway (it's been a long time coming after many rounds of IVF) and just feel as though it's one thing after another. Hoping that someone else has had a positive outcome from this too?

My cousin had this. She did actually lose her baby, a few weeks further on than you are now, BUT they couldn't be sure if it was the UTI or something else entirely. Her situation is different to yours though, as her UTI was asymptomatic so they think she had it for a long time untreated. She started leaking amniotic fluid before they finally found the UTI, but by then she had a really bad infection.

You've caught yours so am sure it will be fine! I think they'll do a repeat urine screen after the antibiotics course, but demand it if they don't. Assuming it's clear, maybe you could request regular urine tests going forward, and insist they get sent for cultures, not just dipsticked. The dipsticking did not catch my cousin's UTI, only when it was sent away.

Not trying to scare you, as I think my cousin's issue was the fact that it was undiagnosed and untreated. But maybe things learned from her experience will help you continue to have a healthy pregnancy :)
The other thing to remember is that UTIs in pregnancy are incredibly common, and the vast majority of women do not go on to have problems xx

@FeistySheep so sorry to hear about your cousin's baby - that must have been very traumatic.

Yes - this was picked up on a routine sample at a midwife appt then sent to the lab as due to some previous history, I'm more susceptible to UTIs in pregnancy anyway (joy). They'll be repeating the urine screening next week after the 7 day course of antibiotics and I'm thinking to ask about more regular screening anyway. There has already been a discussion about the possibility of putting me on low dose antibiotics for the rest of the pregnancy so that may happen anyway.
All very stressful but trying to think positively in that we know it's there now and as you say, it can be dealt with.

Sorry you're going through this! UTIs in general are very common in pregnancy. As long as they're caught early and don't become a kidney infection, they're usually fine!

At least they're aware of it so they can keep checking though!

Thanks @SnooperTrooper12345 - yep, understand they’re common, it’s just the group b strep part of it that’s got me feeling anxious. As you say, perhaps I should concentrate on the fact it’s been found and being dealt with and stay off google!

@TheGlitterFairy

Thanks *@SnooperTrooper12345* - yep, understand they’re common, it’s just the group b strep part of it that’s got me feeling anxious. As you say, perhaps I should concentrate on the fact it’s been found and being dealt with and stay off google!

Group b strep doesn't have any affect on pregnancy and its just something some women carry. As long as you know about it and have anti biotics during a vaginal labour, you'll be fine and so will baby.

Snoopertrooper, I think that Group D Strep in the vagina doesn't really have any effect (until birth), but in the bladder is a different kettle of fish. Any UTI in pregnancy should be dealt with.
OP, as far as I know though, a UTI caused by GBS is not any worse for you than one caused by E Coli, or anything else. So I don't think you need to worry about the fact that's it's GBS specifically. If you have continuing trouble with it, definitely ask your midwife about your concerns. But hopefully the antibiotics will work though and you won't need to know any more about it!

@FeistySheep

Snoopertrooper, I think that Group D Strep in the vagina doesn't really have any effect (until birth), but in the bladder is a different kettle of fish. Any UTI in pregnancy should be dealt with. OP, as far as I know though, a UTI caused by GBS is not any worse for you than one caused by E Coli, or anything else. So I don't think you need to worry about the fact that's it's GBS specifically. If you have continuing trouble with it, definitely ask your midwife about your concerns. But hopefully the antibiotics will work though and you won't need to know any more about it!

Ahh sorry! I didn't actually realise there were 2 different things!