Strep B during pregnancy, help, I'm scared!

[ChefMelanie]

Hi all. So am currently 29 weeks pregnant, I went in for a growth scan the other day (cause baby is 10th centile, so a bit small, so they are going to monitor it's growth more from now on), and they also took a swab.

They just rang me and said that I have something called "Strep B", which means when I go into labour, I'll need to be put on an antibiotics drip, to reduce risk of passing it on to baby.

I've never heard of it, but the leaflet they sent me said it affects 20-40% of women, so wondered if it has affected any of yourselves? I'm scared because it says there's increased risk of miscarriage, and if baby gets it, it's risky, so I'm going to be scared to go home with it soon after birth.

I guess I'm just looking for reassurance really. Anyone have strep b during their pregnancies/ any stories? Thanks all, I've been finding mumsnet very helpful with my anxieties during this pregnancy.

I believe the increased risks are if you don’t have the antibiotics. But, as you stated, a lot of women have it so it’s not a huge deal (although I appreciate pregnancy anxiety!)

the real downside is that you can’t have a homebirth/midwife led unit, if you wanted that. Of course, if you were planning labour ward anyway, it doesn’t make a difference.

I thought the only risk to baby was during a vaginal delivery. They don't test for this on the NHS either so not many people know about it. I was told I had it after a c section when I had an infection after the birth and was just told next pregnancy I would need antibiotics if I had vbac.

It simply means that when your moved into the delivery ward you'll be given antibiotics.
Its given via a drip intravenously.
I was also stressed when I read about the miscarriage risk ( my little boy was a miracle 18 years in the making) until i read about it properly. For that to happen, the bacteria has to enter your uterus , it lives in your vaginal . Your cervix has a mucus plug that prevents that, like a seal. They dont give you antibiotics before labour because itll just come back. The risk is to your baby during delivery which is why they'll only give it to you during labour.
The risk of it affecting your baby before is extremely low because your plug should be protecting your uterus. The sac is also protecting your baby and it only becomes a danger once ruptured during labour. In RARE cases it can penetrate the sac but pay attention to the word rare. It has the plug and sac to penetrate before reaching your baby. Its not common. Theres risks with everything. Even if they are very low, they are risks that still have to be medically noted, no matter how rare.
Most women with strep b have perfectly healthy babies. I had a vaginal birth with mine with strep b.
My doctors weren't concerned at all

It’s really not a big deal. It also comes and goes, so just because you’ve tested positive now doesn’t mean you will have it by the time you give birth.

I tested positive at about 20 weeks, then repeated the test at 36 weeks privately and it was negative. NHS policy is to treat with antibiotics if you’ve ever had a positive test, even with a subsequent negative one, (which doesn’t make sense since they don’t test for it routinely, so lots of women who do have strep b but weren’t tested don’t get antibiotics, whereas people who definitely don’t have it do…) so they tried to insist on me having the antibiotics but I refused. They then tried to give my baby antibiotics after birth, which I again refused. We stayed in for observations instead and both absolutely fine.

There’s lots of research about harm caused by unnecessary antibiotics, so I didn’t want them unless needed.

So I’d recommend testing privately at about 36-38 weeks and making your decision from there.

They don’t routinely test for this so it can’t be a huge risk. I was swabbed during labour (I assume because there was some concern there was meconium in my waters, I’m not 100% sure because I didn’t know at the time they were testing for it) and I got a letter when DD was about 10 days old telling me it came back positive. No idea why they swab a woman in active labour when clearly the results won’t be back in time to be relevant. I didn’t have antibiotics and she was fine. They also didn’t mention it during my second pregnancy at all - that time I did have antibiotics during labour for another reason.

I’d have the antibiotics but I really wouldn’t worry about it after that. The antibiotics significantly reduce any risk (which is low to begin with).

I had this. Normal delivery. Antibiotics for daughter for 48 hours then home.

I tested positive after birth with my first child 19 years ago, I found out a week later from a letter in the post. 2nd child 13 yrs ago I was swabbed at 36weeks and negative, was allowed a home birth. 3rd child 9 years ago, I wasn't swabbed as was negative with the last one. (Which is ridiculous given we know that its a transient virus and can change week to week) And fourth baby, last month, I was encouraged to swab as the rules had changed, which I did at 36 weeks, negative again and another homebirth.
The NHS do not routinely test for GBS meaning thousands of FTM give birth with the virus and how many more, like myself, have tested negative a month before delivery yet could be positive on the day. A small number of babies have died from the infection which is why they have to insist on the antibiotics when they know about it. In a way you are lucky, your baby will be safe and protected and have the very best start.

Ok can we not play this down!

I had t, my episiotomy got infected with it and burst open. I ended up very unwell. despite antibiotics during labour. It didn’t pass onto the baby thankfully.

second baby I had a c section as I didn’t want to risk anything like that again.

if you tear or cut as for antibiotics to take home too. Just to reduce the risk.

A baby can develop complications from GBS that incluse sepsis, pneumonia, and meningitis. The complications don't necessarily develop immediately.

Meningitis can be life altering.

Worst case scenario from all of the serious complications is death.

The NHS doesn't routinely test all pregnant women but it should.

If you have the antibiotics in labour the chances of baby becoming unwell is 1 in 4000. 3999 babies out of 4000 will be absolutely fine.

I had this with my girl, I’d never heard of it and must’ve had it throughout pregnancy. It came up on a swab I had done in early stages of labour but didnt know until just after she was born so had no antibiotics during labour. All I remember is the nurse telling me after that some babies die with it before 12 weeks. Well that’s just what a first time hormonal post partum mum wants to hear and couldn’t wait for the 12 week danger zone to pass, effectively wishing away the first few months of her little life. Thankfully all was fine and no treatment required.

At least you know you have it so they will treat you accordingly. Don’t worry. It’s apparently pretty common but it should really be tested for as routine if it’s as serious as they say.

it's not a virus.

I was found to have it as part of a clinical trial during my first pregnancy. I then had IV antibiotics during labour in that and my following labour. No issues.

No it's not a virus. I'm 13 days postpartum, sleep deprivation had me using the wrong wording without thinking.

I had this in my last pregnancy. It was my fourth pregnancy and I had never heard of it before either. I had the antibiotic drip during labour and then had to stay in for 24 hours after my daughter was born so that they could monitor her every few hours. She was absolutely fine. I'm sure it will all be okay for you too.

Hi OP, I have had two pregnancies - the first time, i did not know i was GBS+ and my DD1 developed GBS sepsis. She spent two weeks in NICU and was very ill. The second pregnancy, the GBS was managed with antibiotics in labour.

Its (strangely) actually great news that they've found it now, as it means it can be managed. As you've said, you'll have antibiotics in labour (did not stop me moving around, or having a very good active labour with DD2) and you might have a bit of extra monitoring afterwards. You can totally be in a midwife led unit with GBS (at least in my local trust you can. You can also have a water birth - just not a homebirth). The hospital should give you some stickers for your notes, but if they dont, there is a GBS charity who will send you some for free. The charity also have a really good helpful and website - ill post the link in another message but it sometimes takes a few minutes to be approved.

There is a very large study going on at the minute (300 hospitals or something) to gather data on whether the UK should move to universal testing as in the rest of US / Aus / Can / EU etc. As someone who has seen a baby go through lumbar punctures, NICU etc, I would be hugely in favour of this. Its due to report preliminary results at the GBS conference this year i think?

I dont want to add to any anxieties, but one baby a week dies from a GBS infection. There will be thousands of babies born to GBS+ mums who are fine, and whilst these can be babies who are prem or maybe with other health issues, my experience was a small but otherwise term baby (38w) who was very very ill. So with DD2, the antiobiotics were an absolute no brainer for me - I just made very sure i told every healthcare worker or midwife involved in my care that I was GBS+ and please could they make sure i get all the antibiotics and monitoring required. You'll be able to do the same.

Wishing you a very healthy third trimester and delivery!

This is the charity i mentioned - they have a helpline and a very helpful FAQs as well. https://gbss.org.uk/

I had it with my first, had the antibiotics
and then was able to have the water labour/birth I so badly wanted and was luckily negative with my second. My sister didn’t have it for her first but was positive with her second and didn’t get to the hospital in time for her antibiotic as they told her she didn’t sound in enough pain and ended up arriving at the hours 9cm and giving birth 15m later 🙄 so my nephew was monitored overnight for any signs of infection then given the all clear the next day

It's really good that they know you have it. I had read about it while pregnant and opted to do a private test (I asked my GP and she said she would) which turned out to be positive, so I had antibiotics during labour and my baby was fine. Obviously if I hadn't known about it there's still a strong chance she would have been fine anyway, but it put my mind at rest that they gave preventative antibiotics plus kept an extra eye on her. Hugs, it's scary being pregnant! 💐

Very surprised that anyone hasn’t heard of strep B. Shows that antenatal education is not good enough in UK. It can be very dangerous to babies if passed on through birth canal. It is tested for as standard in US and should be considered with any unwell neonate. It is a good thing you know about it pre delivery as it can be treated. It’s all the women carrying it without knowledge that is terrifying

I had strep b with my first and it caused premature labour (didn’t know I had it- was only tested in labour as had a temp). Didn’t have antibiotics as there wasn’t time but thankfully baby didn’t catch it. Second time round went to full term, had a swab towards the end of pregnancy and was negative so didn’t have antibiotics in labour. I wouldn’t worry too much. You’ll always hear the horror stories.

I had this and my midwife advised that most people get over the infection in 2 weeks. I.e. if you make it to term, yhe chances are that you won't have it at that point.

As others have said, it does mean you will get antibiotics during birth so this means you'll not be able to have a home birth

I had oral antibiotics at 30 ish weeks as it had got into my urine area as well as my vagina. I was quite unwell but not dangerously so

I was then advised I would need antibiotics during labour. DD was born too quickly to have the antibiotics so they kept her/me in hospital for 2 nights and checked on her quite regularly. She was fine but they were planning to give her antibiotics if they weren't happy with how she was getting on

They also said to bring her to the Dr's to flag if she seemed in any way unwell for thr first couple of months but seemed to think that she would have presented poorly in the first 2 days if she was going to be unwell.

It's more a colonisation than an infection. Group B strep isn't the same streptococcus bacteria you get in your throat (that one is Group A Strep).

It can cause UTIs though, which I think is what the poster was saying.

I found out I had GBS when a urine test showed I had an (asymptomatic) UTI at about 20 weeks, caused by GBS. It was treated with antibiotics and as I say I was GBS negative at term.