Strep B Positive

[dirtyhipegirl]

I'm due tomorrow and I tested positive last week. I have to have a hospital birth. Today the midwife told me that I have to get the antibiotics while in labor. She said I could still use the Hep Lock, so that's good. But she also said I need to come into the hospital as soon as possible in labor, especially if my waters break. This screws up my plan to stay home as long as I can in order to have a natural birth. What do I do? Who else has experienced this?

[milimama]

I'm strep b + too and me water doesn't break until I'm really dilated and at the hospital. I like to labor at home too and I've always had plenty of time.
You'll be fine!

[yentroc]

I'm GBS positive too, I can still have a homebirth. My midwives told me that they just need to get one bag of IV antibiotics in me and many times with second time moms they don't have time.

As long as your water doesn't break well before you have the baby, you'll be fine to labor at home for a while.

[AimeeandBrian]

I'm positive and having a homebirth. They sent me home with a bag of abx to have on hand, which will be given with IV every 4 hours.

[Brisen]

Are you having a homebirth because of the GBS, or for other reasons? If the midwives would be able to give you antibiotics at home if you were doing a homebirth, could they come to your home and get you started, before you go to the hospital?

[Ruby2]

First, a lot of people are in labor before their water breaks, so don't stress too much about what to do if it breaks and you don't go in to labor. If it does happen that way, they can't make you go to the hospital.

If that happens to me, I'm not planning on telling anyone for a good 12 hours or so. As long as I'm not sticking things inside of me (which they would do at the hospital, btw), I figure my chances of infection are very low. If I'm feeling particularly nervous about it, I might take my temp. once in a while and go in right away if I think I'm getting a fever.

Good luck with everything! If you do end up going in, just keep saying "no thank you" if they offer you interventions. You can do it!

[dirtyhipegirl]

Thanks all, I have to have a hospital birth because they don't do homebirths here. I'm feeling more confident after a lot of reading about it. I'm not going to rush into the hospital even if my water breaks first. I'm prepared to fight for my rights in the hospital, but I'd rather not if I don't have to.

[onyxravnos]

i can't find it at the moment but mothering did a good article about group b strep.... it's online.... somewhere... of course i can't find it at the moment.

as others said most people don't break their waters until awhile into the labor and really... only you will know so you can go into the hospital when you deem it is time to do so. if you are worried you can always dose up on garlic pills (start now and continue during early labor & labor)

[dirtyhipegirl]

Originally Posted by onyxravnos

i can't find it at the moment but mothering did a good article about group b strep.... it's online.... somewhere... of course i can't find it at the moment.

as others said most people don't break their waters until awhile into the labor and really... only you will know so you can go into the hospital when you deem it is time to do so. if you are worried you can always dose up on garlic pills (start now and continue during early labor & labor)

thanks, I just went to the health food store here and thankfully found some garlic pills and probiotics. Hopefully it helps.

[HappyFox05]

I was positive last time (they didn't tell me - I assumed since I hadn't heard, that I was neg), my water broke at 4am, and we didn't go to the hospital til 4pm. One bag of ABX & no problems here.