Hospital don’t want to see me GBS POS

[Anonymoususer456]

38+1 had a sweep yesterday, been having on and off pains all night, this morning I’ve rang I’ve lost my plug, been having a lot of cramp and backache and a few tightenings, and a lot of pressure and pushing downstairs.
i also feel “open” down below

I’m strep b positive so the midwife yesterday said not to wait for contractions to be 5 minutes apart, ring with any signs of labour which I have twice.

both times they don’t seem concerned, one of them basically said strep b is made out to be worse than it is and the other said I’d be fine going in at contractions 5 minutes apart.
im Now stuck and don’t have a clue what to do.

I was having pains every 3 minutes for about 15 minutes but these have dropped off now and again back to the cramping and backache and pressure down below.

what do I do?

You turn up and explain you can’t cope at home, you want a healthy baby, delays not always good.
Don’t be fobbed off

There is a charity called GBSS (i think their website is gbss.org.uk) which provides advice and campaigns for better care for GBS. They have a helpline that you can call and ask for advice.

But I'd also call back and ask to speak to the senior midwife available. Tell her your concerns and see what she says.

I didnt know that i was GBS positive and my daughter contracted sepsis at 23hrs old. She is fine now (2yrs old) but it was a horrible time for her and us. It could have all been so easily avoidable with IV antibiotics. I wish I had been able to advocate for myself better so don't make the mistake i did of not being pushy about it.

I'd go to the hospital too. I had to have IV abx in labour due to being positive, and dc had to have IV abx for 5 days after he was born. It's not worth the risk, in my opinion. Or ring again and ask why you've been given such different advice by two (I presume) midwifes. Look up NICE guidelines online and see what they recommend.

Since rang again, told them my worries and they still won’t see me not even to check how much I have progressed, I was 2cm yesterday when I had the sweep

Can you just turn up?

Go in. That is not acceptable.

What number baby is it for you? You wouldnt start any IV prophylaxis until you were in an established labour. Your contractions don't sound established which I imagine is why they don't feel it's time for you to come in. I know it can feel frustrating but this stage of labour can last a little while and there would be a risk to you and baby of jumping the gun and starting antibiotics too soon. You will have then IV 4 hourly in labour with the aim of getting at least 1 dose into you before baby is born. Lots of unnecessary doses isn't great for you or baby. That said some people do progress very quickly and if you feel that contractions are strong and regular I wouldn't wait for the magic 5 minute spacing necessarily. GBS is a scary thought and shouldnt be minimised but to put into context out of 680,000 ish births in 2020 (with GBS affecting 2-4 in 10 women) there were 17 deaths due to GBS infection including stillbirths. 0.002%.

Especially if this is your first, it can be days before labour is established. 54h for my first

Two considerations here.

One - once your waters break your baby IS at higher risk from GBS, so if that happens don't hesitate. You don't mention that though so I assume that's not relevant yet.

Two - if you have opted to receive IV antibiotics during labour, you'll ideally start these 4 hours before birth. If this is your first baby it is very unlikely you will give birth less than four hours after labour is established, so you have time to wait until that happens. Normal advice stands re contractions frequent and regular. There is no point you going in early, as you'll be so much comfier at home.

If it helps, I had a couple of evenings when I had lots of contractions like you describe, but they never regularised for a decent period of time, and then they tapered off. I gave birth two weeks later! So if I'd insisted on being put on IV antibiotics at that point against medical advice I'd have been waiting a long time.

I'm assuming you don't have other risk factors which make GBS more dangerous, such as prematurity, likely low birth weight, medical conditions etc.

Also, despite the fact that I (a stranger on the internet) think that the midwives are right to tell you you're not ready, if you think they're wrong then you know your situation best, so you should advocate for yourself and your baby.

Not saying they’re incorrect at all I just haven’t a clue who to go by with so many different pieces of advice given! I live a 45 minute drive from the hospital, first baby was born 12 hours after waters being broken.
Baby number 2 pregnancy number 4, high bmi, have been having growth scans, previous preeclampsia which I was induced with with my first.

I feel the lady that did my sweep yesterday has made it sound so urgent to get there as soon as there is any signs of labour that the other advice seems a bit laid back?

@Fluffyrug191 @Miekle ^

Ok so second baby does change my opinion a little as they 'tend' to be faster once you establish. I would definately hang on till it feels like the 'real deal'... so all as intense as eachother and fairly regular for an hour or so. If hospital was closer you could ask if you could call in for an examination to hopefully put your mind at ease that cervix is unchanged (explaining to them your anxieties around it) but that's your call given the drive and if you are happy to accept examinations etc.

I agree with @Fluffyrug191 . Get going as soon as it's the real deal. Your first labour was pretty average length, so hopefully that means you won't have a super fast second (well from a GBS point of view anyway).

Do you have to go to the 45mins away hospital for exams, or could a community midwife do that for you? Might be worth asking for a check if you think it's picking up pace again?

Good luck!

@Fluffyrug191 @Miekle Thank you, hopefully not long and it all picks up!
I don’t have a community midwife I can contact 🤷‍♀️ The hospital don’t do them either so im unsure to be honest where I could go for an exam, I remember having pretty irregular contractions with my first but when I went in I was 4cm and then they broke my waters.

Honestly hun just go in! I'm strep b positive too, I'm 27 weeks. I plan on going into hosp as soon as I feel contractions, I was induced with my first and he was born within 8 hours and they say the baby's come faster each time. Stick your ground, they can't turn you away!

Just checking how you're doing? Xx

@cashmerecow went in again this evening for reduced movements, they gave me another sweep, and I now have a plan in place for induction Tuesday if nothing happens. The lady couldn’t understand why they had given me a sweep and not had a plan in place for anything else. Why start something and not follow it up was her view which i 100% understand!
I asked while I was there and she gave me clear advice for when to go in, based on where I live/second baby etc… either way I’ll have a baby this week which I still can’t believe!! Xx

I don't remember being offered sweeps with mine until 40 weeks. It seems like the first midwife jumped the gun a bit offering an intervention so early.

Fingers crossed baby arrives on thier own before Tuesday OP, that's so exiting that you will meet your baby this week.

@IkeaMeatballGravy they offered due to 3rd episode of reduced movements I believe, I know with my first I didn’t have a sweep until 40 weeks. Having niggles so fingers crossed 🤞 thank you.

It's crazy how different health professionals within the same profession can work so different! Hoping for a safe and quick delivery for you xx