30 weeks - urine cultures positive for Strep B, what does this mean?

[MrsMcJnr]

I am in Spain and have just been given results from a urine sample which say that there are Strep B cultures. Should I be on antibiotics for this? (I am allergic to penicillin) and does this mean I will have to have IV antibiotics in labour? totally worked up about all this I have a 14 month old son and the birth was all I wanted it to be and I am now worrying that this birth will be very medical and that has implications for me as I also have a blood clotting disorder. Any reassurance, information or experience would be very welcome. Thanks

Hi there

I have tested positive 3 times for strep b. With bertie they gave me anti b because I had premature rupture of my membranes prior to labour, otherwise i dont think thy bother until birth. Then when I was in labour had iv anti bs. I believe it's quite important to have the iv in labour as strep b can be dangerous for the baby if present when the baby is going through the vagina. My consultant said it's much easier to give anti b to the mum than to a new born.
I was tested at 24 weeks this time as due to my previous history they wanted to give me steroids to help the babys lungs incase it came early again. Because I tested positive for strep b again he gave me anti bs. But did say he would not normally do this it was only due to my circumstances. I'm allergic to penicillan too so he gave me amoxicillian. Made me quite sick

So in summary, you probably will not be given anti bs before birth, but you should be given iv anti bs on labour. But obviously with you being in Spain they could do things differently.

How you doing anyway? I will drop onto grad thread and we can catch up.

Rah xxxxx

Thanks Rah I am so pleased things are going well with you, I have been thinking about you

I guess my hopes of turning up at the hospital 20 mins before the birth again are fading fast....

Anyone else? any experience with clindamycin?

In the same boat here ? it was found in my urine too. Yes, you need antibiotics now, as your urine should be sterile with no bacteria, so you have an infection.

I am halfway through week 2 of 3-a-day Amoxicillin - yuck.

The GBS support website www.gbss.org.uk will tell you what you need to know. You don't HAVE to have antibs in labour but it is VERY advisable, to cut risk of transmitting it to the baby. However it shouldn't tie you to a bed or anything so there's no reason this should stop you having a natural birth.

Hope that helps. Good luck!

SOrry to butt in here but does anyone know if you have Strep B all the time or does it come and go??
I heard different things about this.
I was told at 34 weeks pregnant with my 2nd baby that I had this... I felt lucky really that I had an emergency c-section the first time and a planned section the second...

Did you have to be asked to be tested for this???

xx

Yes it does come and go I believe.

If it's in urine they will pick it up as part of the standard lab tests. They won't routinely test for it otherwise.

C-sections don't mean that your baby can't be infected ? see the web link below (but I don't want to worry you as I'm sure it will be fine as it was last time).

Sorry, I've just realised that you've already had both your babies I think, in which case ignore the last bit!

Thanks for all the help I had a 5 day course of antibiotics (which I didn't react badly to) and am now waiting to see if this week sample comes back clear I am still researching the whole antibiotics in labour question. My labour with DS was very quick and according to my MW if you don't have time to have 2 doses prior to the birth they give the drugs directly to the baby so I am trying to get my head around all that - I hate the idea of a newborn having drugs but I know how serious GBS can be