Quick Labour and Strep B concerns

[LittleRobins]

I have tested positive for Strep B and have been told that as soon as my waters break or contractions start I will need to go straight to hospital to be put on antibiotics. I’m told these antibiotics take 4 hours to be effective for the baby.

My worry is that my labour with my son was only 5 hours and I’m aware the second time can be much quicker. If the baby does not get enough it will be given antibiotics through a cannula.

Does anyone have any similar stories of what happened to them? I’m trying to prepare for every eventuality. Is there anything else I need to know?

I tested positive with my first, I was induced & they started the antibiotics then. I ended u with a c-section. With my 2nd I had an elective c-section & was given antibiotics before & during surgery. I don't know if the C-section makes a difference. Then they keep observation on the baby for 48 hrs I think it was. It was 12&16 years ago so sorry to be vague x

I had a very quick labour and no time for the IV. They kept us in for observations for 24hrs following the birth then sent home with a leaflet of things to look out for. All was well

Iv had it before and they were late giving me mine and ended up having baby befor they kicked it they kept me in for 24 hours to monitor baby she had a low temp but after being on a heat pad and holding her own temp for 4 hours we were aloud home

Thank you everyone, I wonder why I was told my baby would be given the antibiotics through a cannula instead of just being observed?

They normal only do that if baby is showing signs of it if my little one couldn’t keep her temp herself that was next step but she managed to so was all ok xx

You don’t have to consent to any medical treatment and you have the right to request observations instead of antibiotics.

I was diagnosed with GBS at about 20 weeks (symptomless uti picked up on routine urine test), had antibiotics, retested at 38 weeks and GBS was
gone (which is common - it comes and goes). They still tried to force me to have the antibiotics in labour but like you mine was fast - 1.5hrs. They then told me the baby needed the antibiotics. I refused so we did the observations instead. Much better than pumping them full of possibly unnecessary drugs! Obviously if baby had shown any signs of being unwell I’d have gone for the meds, but in my case I knew I didn’t have GBS anyway.

So I’d also recommend retesting as you may well not have it by the birth anyway -
you can get gold standard tests done privately.