Has anyone else considered refusing GBS antibiotics?

[Mia9292]

I have been found to be a carrier for group b strep at 20 weeks (I’m now 38 weeks) ..I understand this is common and 1 in 4 women carry the infection at some point. The protocol is to administer antibiotics during labour as a preventative..however I’ve been reading all the medical research studies so i can make an informed choice and I’m leaning towards declining antibiotics unless I meet one of the other risk factors that increases chances of infection (waters break a long time before delivery, prolonged labour, fever during labour etc).

This is my second birth so I’m hoping there won’t actually be enough time for them to give me the drugs which makes the decision easier...but I’ve read that:

• although it lowers the incidence of GBS infection to baby, it doesn’t lower the incidence of serious infection or death. I know GBS can be very very serious but if it doesn’t eliminate this risk, arguably what’s the point?
• it has been found to effect the baby’s gut micobiome for up to a year after birth, leaving them more susceptible to other serious infections and there has been an association with increased serious E. coli antibiotic resistance and even GBS antibiotic resistance after birth in babies who received the antibiotics..so if they do get GBS it’s actually harder to treat than if they’d not had the antibiotics!
• increased risk of thrush to mum and baby which can impact breastfeeding (obviously this is more minor)

I mentioned to my midwife and she was very relaxed about it and said it’s controversial and women do decline because preventative antibiotics are not to be taken lightly..she wasn’t pushing me to get them at all.

I didn’t have any issues with first baby either..quick birth and sent home a few hours later. She said if no antibiotics then they will monitor baby for longer which I’m happy with..just wondering if anyone else had made this decision?

You would end up with a longer hospital stay. Worth asking to speak to a neonatal doctor as well as a midwife who will be able to discuss the risks and benefits for baby with you more fully.

Yeah good idea I’ll try speak to the consultant. The main reason I feel very apprehensive after reading some of the research is the increased risk of antibiotic resistant bacteria and other serious blood infections...there was a study following infants for 6 years and they found decreased risk of GBS infection at birth but increased risk of other serious blood infections like e.coli so no relative advantage. My first daughter was hospitalised with serious bacterial infection at 12 months which was terrifying...I think it’s the thought of nuking my newborns immune system before she’s even born and the impact that could have later on that scares me.

I’m trying to get a private GBS test ASAP to see if I still have the infection which will help with decision as well

I think all the reasons that you’ve outlined are the same reasons that the test isn’t even offered in the NHS. Do you live overseas?

I didn’t decline 11 years ago but if I knew then about the potential downsides I probably would have. I’d have worked instead on getting my own health and microbiome in tip top shape before the birth

I paid for a private step b test because I was so terrified of my baby getting meningitis. It happened to a friend who's son now has severe cerebral palsy, that could have been avoided were her NHS trust to test for strep b and have given her antibiotics in labour. Do you follow @overatkates on Instagram? A similar thing happened to her baby. here is her blog

My baby got infected with GBS during her birth and spent a week in intensive care. I would definitely accept the IV antibiotics if I have another child.

My friend's baby died of GBS meningitis when he was a newborn. I would not refuse the antibiotics.

I'd suggest speaking with a consultant before making a final decision - they'll be able to go through the risks and benefits of the available options as applicable to your own circumstances.

My personal view would be that, if my consultant thinks I should get a particular treatment and can explain the reasoning behind that view, then I'd be inclined to follow their recommendation.

Thanks everyone and I’m very sorry to hear about people’s personal experiences with GBS / friends who’s babies have suffered or worst. I definitely don’t dispute the seriousness of the infection..I guess it’s the usefulness (and potential harm even) of antibiotics given that studies have shown it can leave babies more exposed to other harmful bacteria and actually make GBS itself harder to treat. I’m not anti vax or anything like that ..had everything available to me during pregnancy and my daughters has all jabs etc and I obviously was fully on board with my first baby having antibiotics for 1 week when 12 months old because it probably saved her life....but I do feel apprehensive about a massive dose of preventative antibiotics when the risk for me passing infection to baby personally is low and antibiotics are not risk-free for my baby.

I’ll take these concerns to the consultant though and see what they have to say though.

Being colonised/a carrier for gbs bacteria is transient. Why were you tested so early? It's generally done in third trimester close to delivery since if you were/were not a carrier at 20 weeks that could change by 36+ weeks

@lipschitz it was picked up in one of my urine tests rather than a vaginal swab. I had antibiotics at that point to get rid of the infection although I never had any symptoms. I’m trying to get a private home test to see if it’s active now (in which case I would have the IV anti-bs) ...but today I’ve lost my mucus plug so not sure I will have time!

I had the antibiotics but still had a longer stay and they insisted on IV antibiotics for the baby too- I'm still pissed off about it TBH. I'd have the antibiotics for myself but refuse them for the baby unless infection is actually suspected.

@Mia9292 Hi Mia, I know this is an old post but did you end up getting the antibiotics during labour? I'm in same position as you, I've had GBS detected in my urine and on antibiotics for that but very concerned about the antibiotics that will be given during labour. The more I'm reading about it the more confused I'm getting!!