Strep B & new pregnancy

[scampadoodle]

Our ds was born 22 months ago with possible strep B infection - he was very ill but is now thankfully absolutely fine. We're trying for no 2 & I was wondering if anyone had been in the same situation? Advice / anecdotes welcome. I've seen my GP who wrote to the obs. consultant, who said there were no preventative measures to be taken at this stage (I've also visited the strep b support group website). Would just like tales of first-hand experience rather than medical jargon...

[butterflymum]

Please see this thread on Strep B, it will hopefully give you some info:

ongoing Strep B discussion on mumsnet


You will need testing again in any future pregnancy and will possibly require IV antibiotics during labour - especially as your first son had Strep B.

Please, please take any steps necessary to ensure you are not given misleading information by the medical professions. The thread will let you see what has been happening.

[butterflymum]

Oops,

Should have clarified re 'misleading info by medical professions'. Whilst many will give good information to mothers, sadly many will not.

Yes, medically there is no preventative measures you can take at this stage. However, what you can do is ensure your records are clearly marked that you are a carrier (assuming this is the case) and that you have had one baby born with (?) Strep B, so that any future ant-natal care takes this into account. Read up on as much about Strep B as you can. Find out about the new test available at 35/37 weeks which is more accurate than the current NHS test (although costs about £18 privately).

Sorry to ramble, but hopefully if you read the other thread you will see why.

[scampadoodle]

Thanks, butterflymum. have taken everything on board, although after reading the recommended thread, I am now terrified of having no2 (it took me nearly 2 years to come round to the idea after the trauma i suffered last time - & my baby turned out okay.)
The scary thing is, nothing was indicated on my notes; the comments about any subsequent pregnancies having to be monitored were buried in a letter from my son's consultant placed in his file! It just shows, you always have to be one step ahead (it's so wearing...)

[butterflymum]

Don't be terrified, please.

The intention of the other thread and www.gbss.org.uk is NOT to frighten people but to raise awareness so that more and more mums are given the testing/treatment/care they deserve and indeed need.

You will find and get, lots of support here on mumsnet.

Good luck with trying and let us know on the other thread how you get on ( why not add to it as and when you have any more dealings with your Gp/hospital - its good to know how Strep B issues develop in different areas etc).

Take care.

[LEWEI]

My little boy wa stillborn in sep last year the pm results showed that he had pneumonia caused by strep b (very rare so don't panic). I was told that i would be monitered closely in any future pregnancy, they had told me that i would be swabbed and treated with antibiotics when needed.I had two mc's this year, i had no swabs taken so when i fell pregnant last month i made a fuss to be tested for gbs. The results were -ve which is a huge relief for now, but i will make a fuss again if i make it to twelve weeks and every couple of months after that. You are right to ask people who have dealt with gbs rather than try to make sense of the rather confusing info that some medical professionals issue. Don't be frightened to become pregnant again, it isn't always the case that it will appear again. Good luck i hope you find the support that you need.

[scampadoodle]

Thanks, Lewei. I was very sorry to hear about your baby - makes me realise how lucky I am. My ds also had pneumonia. I'm not even pregnant yet, but if /when I am I'll keep y'all updated on the other thread. I'll be at a big London teaching hospital so hopefully my head won't hurt too much from being banged against that brick wall...