Strep B

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I'm late on in my pregnancy and the hospital picked up that I have strep B in my urine. They called to tell me to collect my prescription and that I would be given prophylactic antibiotics closer to labour.

I have an allergy to penicillin and wasn't able to tolerate erythromycin so I called looking for an alternative. One of the hospital doctors explained that there wasn't a suitable alternative and if I couldn't tolerate the erythromycin then there wasn't anything I could do and to make sure I get the antibiotics closer to labour.

I'm extremely anxious about it and terrified that my baby might get strep B. Has anyone had anything similar happen to them?

Advice appreciated x

Hi OP, it would be unusual to have no alternative antibiotics, but not impossible. Have you access to the result to see the sensitivities? Group B Strep is unfortunately becoming resistant to many antibiotics due to antibiotic overuse, but I've always seen a couple of antibiotic sensitivities at least. Have you got an appointment soon where you can discuss it with someone? Either way you have a UTI to be treated so it sounds unusual that they can't do anything.
Do you mind me asking what kind of allergy do you have to Penicillin?

My labour was so quick that I didn't have the antibiotics as no time - baby didn't contract strep B. Obviously better to be treated but please try not to be anxious about it, there is no guarantee baby will contract it if no antibiotics are had. A lot of women carry strep B (1 in 4?) but wouldn't know. I only found out I did because they were investigating why I bled during pregnancy (thought to be unrelated to the strepB). Most women won't know and therefore won't have antibiotics.

Try getting in touch with the Group B Strep charity - www.gbss.org.uk They might be able to advise on alternatives that they know of or at least help you have an informed discussion with your doctors.

I did not know i was GBS+ with DD1 and she ended up developing GBS sepsis. She's now a thriving 3.5yo, but it was very scary at the time. For DD2, I only got one dose of antibiotics in due to such a quick labour, so they kept us an extra day for monitoring to check she wasnt at risk of developing GBS sepsis/ meningitis/ pneumonia. So if there are no antibiotics at all that you can have, maybe prepare for a slightly longer stay before you are discharged? Also just make sure EVERYONE knows you are GBS+, especially if midwives are handing over etc. I took a black pen and wrote it in massive letters on the front of my notes for DD2.

I should add that the reason DD1 developed GBS sepsis (we think) is because my waters broke and then it took another 15hrs before my contractions started. Apparently this puts baby at higher risk.

Delivered two babies that I was positive for group b strep for. Both labours far too fast, 1st I didn't even get an hour of antibiotics, second I got maybe an hour max even though I purposely went in even earlier to try to get the full dose....
Baby 1 held in for 8 hours and had blood levels and temp checked, baby 2 had temp only and held for 8 hours also. As soon as that 8 hours was up we went home and did our norm.
Both now a pain in my backside talking back and with their fathers stubbornness 😅😅😅

I was the same. I was induced and put on IV antibiotics for the strep b, told to expect a very long labour. Baby was out and on the boob two hours after 😂 There was no time for him to get the antibiotics through me so he had a few doses once he was out to make sure. It was all fine.
They do everything out of an abundance of caution when it comes to babies. Usually nothing to worry about.