Group b strep positive

[Mamagain]

Hello, could anyone share their stories about being group b strep positive please?
I had no idea until today from my maternity appointment and to be honest I am absolutely terrified my baby may become unwell.
I didn’t have this with my DD so I’m confused as to how I am now positive. Very concerned about the risks of passing to baby currently.
Any reassurance - even realistic scare stories - to help me understand and process the information would be welcomed.

The only negative stories you might hear about are from mums who didn’t know they had it.

As you know there is nothing to worry about. I had it too and was given antibiotics in labour, one dose per 6 hours of labour. Just had my second baby and because the strep B test was done late, the results weren’t back so they treated me like I was positive, so antibiotics in labour again.Both babies were/are well.

so you have nothing to worry about just remind your midwife when you go into labour that you were positive.

I had it with my second. Just required some antibiotics in labour.
I never actually got the antibiotics in the end, so they just closely monitored baby for 12 hours after birth (just keeping an eye on her temperature mainly) and she was absolutely fine.

Thank you both so much, I feel a lot better knowing it turned out well for you and your babies

I had it with DD1, all was absolutely fine. Although I was so worried so I did loads of research.

20 - 40% of women in the UK carry group strep b.
The odds even after a positive test of this affecting your baby (without anti biotics) are 1:400 or 0.25%
Now they know, you will have antibiotics and the odds of this affecting your baby go down to 1:4000 or 0.025%

Even in the now highly unlikely event this is passed to your baby, the hospital will simply monitor the baby to make sure there are no symptoms so you don’t need to worry. The vast majority of babies who have had negative outcomes from group strep b are born prematurely (before screening).

Hope that helps, I find maths and statistics very helpful for easing my pregnancy anxiety but I realise not everyone is the same!

Thank you that is very reassuring. The NHS website implies that a lack of antibiotics would result in serious or fatal repercussions which had me scared. I appreciate the helpful responses.

It's great that you no you have it as it can now be treated in labour to prevent passing to baby.
I have it and just had Iv antibiotics throughout labour. Healthy 2.5 year old next to me :)

Morning, I had it with my first child was detected and antibiotics given during Labour he was fine and now a healthy 18 year old, my last son it wasn’t detected and he was a little poorly but nothing major couple of days in special care and antibiotics for him but otherwise fine he’s now 10 and a healthy young man. I’ve tested positive again this time round and will be given antibiotics during Labour, baby getting it during delivery doesn’t mean they will be extremely poorly but they will be monitored closely and the bonus for you is that they have detected it in time to treat you before delivery. Best of luck xx

I had it with a couple of my pregnancies. My first I was just given antibiotics whilst in labour and then my second I didn't manage to get them because the midwives were not listening when I was telling them how much pain I was in (ended up delivering him myself on induction ward)

They just kept a close eye on him for 24 hours but he was fine.

Thank you all, I am glad it turned out well for you and I will keep hopeful.

I had it, not detected until after the birth, we just stayed in hospital a day or two extra, for monitoring. My baby was given antibiotics, but never actually became ill

Had it with my second DD I had an ELCS anyway so had antibiotics and baby just had some extra checks for the first 12 hours x

I take it that women are routinely being swabbed now for strep b in pregnancy? If so that is great news.
I had strep b 12 years ago, not known until my baby was born. I won't go into details as don't want to cause unnecessary worry for you but she was very poorly. She recovered quickly though with oral antibiotics. Dd 2, 5 years later. I Wasn't tested but as a precaution was given antibiotics during labour and baby given IV antibiotics pretty much straight after birth.
Just something to consider as I wish I had known about this so I could have made an informed decision - both dd's now have tooth problems, the enamel is very weak on some of their teeth, both baby and adult. Eldest has had to have an adult molar removed, it had become so weak it had crumbled. We have seen a specialist dentist and have been told the problem has likely been caused by the antibiotics received as newborns. Dd1 was very poorly so of course I would have agreed to her having antibiotics, but I think I would have had second thoughts about dd2 who was only given them as a precaution. I hope everything goes okay for you.

Had it with my first. Baby came way faster than anticipated and in the end I never got to have the antibiotics and baby girl was healthy and fine and is doing well to this day. Third child I'm currently pregnant with, I've tested positive earlier in the pregnancy and I'm getting geared up to have the antibiotics and monitoring, tbh the risk is there but very low and it's good to know rather than carry it unknown.

@LouLou198 unfortunately it's still not routinely being tested for. I know a few trusts are trialing it now though.

@LouLou198 antibiotics will prevent proper gut flora to be established initially but breastfeeding and skin to skin help with this, plus giving probiotics once they’re of age (think from 6 months)

weak enamel could also be genetic. I have it for ex but didn’t have antibiotics at birth.

Hi I’ve just been tested positive for this too I’m 23+4 weeks, will I be induced early because of this or will I have a normal delivery or c section?

I found out I had it when I was pregnant through a swap. Was told I'd need antibiotics During labour but I didn't get them as baby came 20 mins after I got to hospital. They monitored her for 24hrs and she was fine so went home.

I tested positive in one point during pregnancy and was told I'd need to call the unit as soon as contractions started or waters broke whatever, my waters broke at 39+3 but no contractions, I called the midwife led unit but was directed to labour ward where they advised iv antibiotics and immediate induction with the drip. I declined for 12 hours (had the iv antibiotics) but then agreed to the drip. Baby was monitored for 24 hours after anyway but all fine