strep b and worrying

[candyflossss]

Hi,

did anyone test positive for this during pregnancy?

I had a feeling it was coming because I have had quite bad thrush and I've been told before it can sometimes be a sign of strep too.

I am 19 weeks now, and although I promised myself I would stay away from Google I didnt. even on the nhs website it says there is a small risk of complications during pregnancy (pre term labour, miscarriage, stillbirth) although my GP said it wasnt a concern and I would need antibiotics during labour.

I have gotten myself really upset about this because I cant shift the thrush and my paranoid mind has made me think it means I'm going to be one of the cases who gets a severe infection from it and its going to affect my baby in the womb.

I'm so sad because I was so much more relaxed this time compared with my daughter and this has just shaken me a lot now :(

I had a group b strep uti discovered a couple of days prior to my due date (no idea I had a uti!!). 1 in 4 or 5 women are carriers of group b strep so it’s very very common. Recommended getting probiotics to help shift the thrush and there’s a ‘vaginal health’ blend which might be Moore effective for you. Also there’s been studies suggesting women taking particular probiotics during pregnancy are less likely to have active group b strep infections. I’ll try and find the study I’m thinking of.

So I had oral antibiotics prescribed as soon as the uti was discovered then when he finally decided to make an appearance at 41+2 had IV antibiotics during labour and then a 24hr observation period for me and baby in the postnatal Ward. We were both fine as are the vast vast majority of gbs babies

It’s a stressful time though I know

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27590374/

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16752267/

I had it, it was picked up during my pregnancy as I had horrendous thrush. I was given antibiotics during labour and it was all fine.

thanks for the links, were there particular prebiotics you took?

I think I've got myself so worked up because of the mention of miscarriage/stillbirth, my GP was actually very reassuring but once it's in your head it's so hard to rationalise :( realistically I know a lot of people must have it and not even know but still the worry is there

probiotic*

@candyflossss I also have been diagnosed with strep b- went into MAU with something unrelated, and was diagnosed with thrush and strep b. Not really sure what to make of it, I'm 30 weeks now and my midwife has just said she will be sending my urine off for testing at each visit and that I'll be on IV antibiotics during labour, but that's all I know!

I had it with my second, just made sure I went to the hospital ASAP when I went into labour as my previous labour had only been 3 hours long.... luckily I was in labour almost 15 hours with the second so had plenty of time for antibiotics and we were monitored for 12 hours after birth. I was still able to be on the birth centre and be in the pool so it didn't affect my labour too much. Try not to panic x

I have spoken to midwife and someone from the GBBS support site since.

Both were reassuring - apparently it being picked up on a swab vs a urine sample is reassuring as it means there is not as high amount of the bacteria vs if it had been enough to cause a urine infection? Not sure of the exact science behind that but it made me feel reassured anyway. And the fact that its very common in the adult population but most people will never know they are a carrier.

The person at the support site helped me with my fears of adverse pregnancy outcomes - she said for it to affect the baby before birth all of my bodys defences and the babies would have to fail. She said that is the reason we have a mucus plug etc. precisely to keep out all kinds of infections. And yes, that would need antibiotics in labour as a precaution. However as I am having a planned c section apparently I do not need them unless my waters go before the day.

I'm still a bit nervy but they also pointed out I could of likely had it with my daughter but never knew as my urine samples always came back clear and I never needed a swab for anything.

Better to know I suppose.