Group B Strep..answers please!?

[lockets24]

My friend is 18 weeks pregnant with her first child, she had tests done at 11 weeks and the dr called her Fri to tell her that she had Group B Strep and has prescribed antibiotics called Phenoxymethylpenicillin..which in the leaflet which accompany them say not to take if you are pregnant, she is trying to get advice on whether it is safe to continue to take them but its the weekend and no-one is around (NHS direct are getting back to us)
Can anyone share any stories that might make her feel a bit more relaxed.
Thanks in advance!
x

Thanks mears

In answer to your question, I don't think that it is of any benefit to say you have urinary symptoms if you do not. If you are really worried about it, you could have private test from GBSS support website.

lockets24 - does your friend have GBS in her urine?

your welcome tryingtobemarypoppins

I had Strep B and was given antibiotics for a week before the induction (I was induced at 37 weeks) because I had a urine infection. Then during labour I was given the antibiotics again via IV. Lots of drugs packaging say "check with your doctor if you're pregnant", it doesn't mean they're not safe, it's just the drugs cies covering their backs. Am puzzled though as to why your friend was prescribed the tablets so early - I was told there was no point in taking them before labour as the Strep B would come back, unless I had a urinary infection. If you have Strep B you SHOULD take antibiotics during labour, as it can make the baby very ill. I was tested for Strep B because I had it after my mc, and got it again in the second pregnancy. xx

Hi, I had a private test for GBS during my first pregnancy, even though my midwife was highly sceptical of its value. It was positive and I had the antibiotics during labour (although the midwife didn't remember t give me the last dose 20 mins before DS was born). Then they wanted to keep him in for 24 hours to observe. When I pointed out that if I hadn't paid to have the test they wouldn't even have known I'd got it and self-discharged us (after 23 hours as it turned out) they wrote 'unwilling to stay for observation' in his red book!! I will have the test again this time and am more aware of the fact that we will need to stay. If I'd known last time, would have been prepared for it. I feel that the few babies who do get it and are very ill means it is important for us to spread the word and get tested at 37 weeks.

Just wondering bethylou why you did self-discharged ??

Because we live 5 mins from the hospital and I hadn't slept in 3 days. By the time they sorted out the issues I was having we had been there 23 hours since his birth anyway! My friend has had two home births and has GBS, it's just the midwife doesn't know! I felt I had minimised the risk by having the antibiotics and was clear about what to look out for. Just needed to get home from a full ward which was hot and dirty and very noisy all night long to my DH who sat with baby all night while I finally got some sleep!

I think it is very rare to have complications from being a GBS carrier, it is just that if those complications occur they can be very serious indeed.

I was tested at 35 weeks, on the NHS, for group B and it came back negative. I can't remember why, maybe something to do with my high risk pregnancy and bleeding, don't know what made them test.
My waters broke at 37 weeks but because of bleeding I was taken for a c-section.
6 days later when being discharged the midwive said 'oh, and they tested your waters and your a group B carrier'.
Just shows how often this status can change even in two weeks.

I was furious because nobody bothered telling me and nobody was observing him at all. Having a c-section does make it less likely to transfer to the baby but only slightly.
This time it's in my notes but I don't know what to do.
Have there ever been any complications with babies being given the antibiotics apart from thrush?
It makes me uncomfortable pumping the baby with AB's at birth but then the thought of something happening to the baby because of GBS. Difficult.

Please excuse my dimmness here (pg jelly brain) but I can't find the answer on this brill thread.

If screening for GBS is not done routinely by the NHS, at what point or what show of symptoms is the test done to determine whether or not to give IV anti biotics in labour?

Bevlin: I had the antibiotics for a whole week in tablets, then TWO IV injections during labour. No side effects whatsoever. I believe you should have the antibiotics if you have Strep B as it can really cause serious complications in the baby if left untreated. Antibiotics are routinely given during pregnancy and are deemed completely safe. In general the risk from drugs taken in pregnancy is a lot less than people think - I had an operation under general anaesthetic at 12 weeks and was pumped full of drugs (including morphine), no side effects whatsoever. Of course drugs should only be taken on the advice of doctors, they know which drugs are safe and which aren't.
TeaandCake: you will only be tested if you had Strep B diagnosed in a previous pregnancy or after a mc (that was the case for me), or if you have a urinary infection, or if they have a reason to suspect you might have it. You can do the test privately, I don't think it costs much. You should wait until week 37 or as close as possible to labour. Hope this helps.

Ah, thank you Mouette.

Interestingly they are doing some research at the moment into a vaccine for GBS - I've got a sticker on my notes to say that at 34 weeks I'm to be invited to be part of a study - www.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAweb&Page&HPAwebAutoListName/Page/1216711958769?p=1216711958769.
So might be something less to worry about in the future!

I found a leaflet about GBS in the assessment unit at the hospital whilst having some monitoring. It suggested websites to look at. The website then linked to a website where I purchased the test privately - I think it was £33.

My husband didn't much enjoy doing the swabs for me (and by 37 weeks couldn't do it myself). The results get sent to you and the midwife (so she can apply the stickers to your notes).

When you go into labour you need to ring the hospital straight away, tell them that you carry GBS and they will then get you in straight away to start the IV antibiotics. I scribbled it in my birth plan too for good measure.

I tested positive for GBS when I was pg with my daughter.

I wasnt given IV Antibiotics at all, but DD was swabbed on birth and then we were kept in until the results came back - she was born in the early hours of Tues morning and we left on Friday afternoon, when we got the all-clear.

This was 7 years ago though.