Tested Pos. for Group B Strep

[gadivapeach72]

hello all

this is my first time starting a post. i love the support here and i usually just read...but today is different. i am headed into my 38th week and found i have group b strep.

im not entirely TOO worried..but at the same time, i am concerned. any words of wisdom to share? stories to share? positive reinforcement?? ANYTHING...i really need it at this time...

thank you all in advance

peace:shy

[elmh23]

I tested positive last pregnancy. My dd was born in the hospital and I had IV drugs to help fight it. This time we're going with a free standing birth center and my midwife said she could do a vaginal cleaning (not those exact words but it's late, I'm pregnant and fried!) before the birth to reduce the risk. Also, she said something like 1 baby in 800,000 (or was it 800, that sounds low) actually gets sick from it. I wouldn't worry! It's more annoying then anything if you're having a hospital birth.

[ewp11100]

I tested poss. for it with my last preg. was a planned home birth that eneded up transfering. no abs durning pg but had some at the hospital all was fine:)

[ma_Donna]

I'm bummed I just tested+ again.

It does limit your laboring options a bit if your water breaks early in labor (like mine did last time) - there is just a bit more concern for infection, then there's the hep lock for the abx which is really no big deal, but I'd rather not have it.

There is an increased chance of thrush & yeast infections, I think yeast is more likely in the summer, too. Start taking your probiotics if you're not already! I had no yeast issues with Noah, but feel 'lucky' that I didn't

Did your practitioner check for sensitivity? I've gotten a skin rash in the past from amoxicillin so the panicillins are not an option for me. Last time the GBS was sensitive to clindomyacin (sp?) which only needs administration within 8 hours of birth instead of 4 (or in my case with Noah, every 8 hours for a day and a half until he was born). Plus, my Mw says thrush is a little less likely with clindomyacin.

Mw was expecting sensitivity results yesterday, but was also anticipating a couple births so I think she may be a bit busy this weekend!

I'm right there with you - 38 weeks tomorrow!

[ChristyMarie]

I haven't tested yet but have discussed with my OB - he's very willing to do shots instead of an IV. That might be an option for you if you want to avoid the IV or heplock.

[Zoeanne]

I recently tested positive, and also started a thread. I am concerned about the use of antibiotics largely because I have a history of yeast problems--the use of antibiotics will increase the risk of thrush/yeast/etc. Lovechild421 posted the following links, which I found helpful:


I was GBS+ too but I chose not to have antibiotics. There are other ways to treat it. Here is tons of info on GBS:

http://www.gentlebirth.org/cgi-bin/q... axresults=40

I did this:
http://www.gentlebirth.org/Midwife/gbs.html#Lavage

My water broke 20 hours before ds was born and I also had 3 vaginal exams and ds still showed no signs of GBS infection.

[LoveChild421]

http://www.gentlebirth.org/cgi-bin/q... axresult

I think that link was broken- here you go: http://www.gentlebirth.org/cgi-bin/query.pl?swishindex=%2Fusr%2Fhome%2Ffalcao%2Findex .swish&metaName=Keywords&keywords=GBS&detail=yes&maxresults=40

It's a lot of info but I think it will help you to know that antibiotics aren't the only option.

[gadivapeach72]

I'm bummed I just tested+ again.

It does limit your laboring options a bit if your water breaks early in labor (like mine did last time) - there is just a bit more concern for infection, then there's the hep lock for the abx which is really no big deal, but I'd rather not have it.

There is an increased chance of thrush & yeast infections, I think yeast is more likely in the summer, too. Start taking your probiotics if you're not already! I had no yeast issues with Noah, but feel 'lucky' that I didn't

Did your practitioner check for sensitivity? I've gotten a skin rash in the past from amoxicillin so the panicillins are not an option for me. Last time the GBS was sensitive to clindomyacin (sp?) which only needs administration within 8 hours of birth instead of 4 (or in my case with Noah, every 8 hours for a day and a half until he was born). Plus, my Mw says thrush is a little less likely with clindomyacin.

Mw was expecting sensitivity results yesterday, but was also anticipating a couple births so I think she may be a bit busy this weekend!

I'm right there with you - 38 weeks tomorrow!

FIRST OFF...THANK YOU all for your wonderful responses...

NOW..i feel so OVERwhelmed. i just had my first ever yeast infection and UTI about 3 wks ago (both at the same time). i know nothing about probiotics as you have mentioned or any of the other options mentioned in this thread.

i was just told not to worry and that antibiotics would be given to me during labor/delivery.

thank you again for all the wonderful advice..NOW..i have some research to do!:thumb

[jul511riv]

tested positive with my first. Birthed in a Hospital with NOTHING (no antibiotics!) declined them. B"H all was well!

do you have risk factors? If not, consider declining and forgetting about it.

Good luck!

[Cathy T]

When I had my first baby 12 years ago, doctors didn't test for Strep B and my child was one of the few who actually got sick (even if you test pos, it is rare to have complications...). I won't go into the complications because they only happened because I didn't know I had the strep b. That said, I wouldn't risk anything by not doing what my doctors have suggested now that I know I carry it....

I've had two other kids and will have my fourth now in Nov. and what the doctors did and will do again is give me penicillin as soon as my water broke or when my labor started (the last time I was induced and when they started the pitocin, they started the penicillin.). It was fine for all the kids and me; I didn't like having the IV in my arm but I felt it was best and it worked out great!

Cathy

[gadivapeach72]

thank you all again for the responses!:wink