Group B Strep - AntiBs during labour

[lisaspoon]

Hi Mums!

As in the title... I had a positive test for Group B strp and have been told I have to have ABs during labour...which I accept.

Has anyone else had this and how did they find it? Also I've only been told that I will have an IV infusion every 4hrs through a cannula which takes about 30 mins. Are there any alternatives such as an an injection every so often instead of the infusion? (just want to know my options!)

also - how long did you have to stay in hospital afterwards.....

I'm a bit disappointed as I know it means I'll have to go into the hospital earlier than planned when I was planning to stay at home as long as possible......

thanks

 

[emman24]

Hey! I have this as well but I've been told they will insert the tube then give me an injection into it every 4hrs. I was a bit concerned about it because I want a water birth & I wasn't sure if they would be keen on this if I was hooked up to a drip, but they don't seem to think it will be a prob.

Both my MW & consultant seem pretty laid back about it, they don't seem to see there being any probs at all. They did say it is quite common & as long as the baby is past 37 weeks it shouldn't be too much of a concern. I also haven't been told that I need to go in any earlier. I will need to ask about that at my next appt. Did they tell you what stage of your labour you should go in at??

xx

 

[lisaspoon]

Hi there,

All I've been told so far is they like to get 2 doses of ABs through me 4hours apart (each taking 30mins on the drip).

So far I've been told I have to ring up when I think I'm having regular contractions or if my waters have broken. I think they will ask me to come in earlier to get the ABs in me rather than leave me at home, if you know what I mean!

I presume from what they have said that if I'm not going in until my contractions are regular that I will be in established labour.... but will def ask more questions at my appointment on friday...

Dont get me wrong, both the midwives I've spoken too seem quite relaxed about it and stress that its quite common too...

That's good you can still get your water birth though

 

[noodle1]

I had this last time and will obviously be treated for it again this time.

You only need the antibiotics once your waters have broken, before that it's really not an issue. I had them every 4 hours, although my labour only lasted 6

I don't think you can have it in an injection, it needs to be through a drip.

I'm surprised emman24 has been told she is still allowed a water birth. I wanted one and was told that it was totally out of the question due to the strep and the increased risk of transferring the infection to the baby.

I would have been allowed straight home the day after he was born (he was born at 23:45) but he couldn't retain his sugar levels so had to stay in an extra 2 days.

Don't worry about it tho, it is very common.



xx

 

[LittleLambe]

I had Group B strep with DD but they didn't realise until after she was born. We had to stay in for 4 days and she had to have anti biotic's in SCBU every 12 hours. It's so much better that they know now that you have got it, because its easy to treat whilst in labour. I will be treated this time. My midwife also said it is fine for me to have a water birth, which I never thought she would agree with.

 

[Baby&i]

hey hun i tested posative for GBS during the last month of my pregnancy and it scared the hell out of me i was so upset as i wanted an all natural birth with no injections or needles- i was more scared of that then the labour! anyway obviously i accepted to have the ABs through an IV during my labour. i called my midwife at 5.30 thursday morning telling her i was a little uncomfortable and she said shed nip over to have a check so arrived at 6am and i was almost 6cm dilated! i wasnt in a huge ammount of pain so was very surprised. she hooked me up to the IV right away (sat on my sofa) only 20 mins and it was done! then we went upstairs and layed in bed, three and half hours later and without any pain releif, my beautiful new baby daughter was born! no problems very healthy and content i still got my homebirth do they tell you you have to go in right away? i guess its just safety precutions. good luck sweety x

 

[lisaspoon]

thanks for your replies I think i'm going to ask a few more questions when I see the midwife on friday just to get things clear in my head.

Baby&i - i just read your birth story...sounded lovely and relaxed!! I think I have to go in if my waters have broken or when I'm getting regular contractions...

 

[Charlie:-)]

I tested positive for GBS during pregnancy and had IV ab.

First dose was through a drip then all other does were administered by an injection through a cannula in my hand every 4 hours.

You need antibiotics as soon as you are in established labour even if your water haven't gone. It is important that the mother receives antibiotics for at least 4 hours before the baby is born to ensure the baby has taken some of the ab's, if that doesn't happen that baby will also have to receive antibiotics once born as the risk of infection could still be there.

My hospital also didn't allow me to have my waterbirth but each trust is different. Take a look at the GBS website www.gbss.org.uk I found it extremely useful, particularly all the reading material you can download. In my experience I found the midwifes and consultants were not really that knowledgeable about GBS (my midwife gave me a leaflet that was 3 years out of date) and gave me conflicting information to that which I had received form the GBS website. I would advise to do your research and find out what you need to know and ask the consultants lots of questions. I found that the NHS were insisting on doing things which were unnecessary basically just to cover their own backs like for example giving Maia antibiotics after she had been born despite me receiving them for well over 4 hours prior to her being born. This meant I had to stay in hospital for a further 3 days waiting for her blood tests to return to make sure she was clear of the infection, if it had come back positive then she would have had another 2 days in hospital on the antibiotics. If I had known they had planned on giving her antibiotics I would have spoken to my consultant before hand to explain I didn't want this to happen unless I hadn't had then 4 hours prior to giving birth. No ne had bothered to explain this to me and I didn't know to ask.

You shouldn't need to go to hospital any earlier than you would normally except if you waters break then you should go in/call them for advise.

 

[emman24]

Thanks for the website Charlie. Just had a look & it does give a lot more info than the leaflet. I've read a bit on water births and they seem to think they are ok. Didn't realise that we might have to stay in a bit longer, I'll ask my MW about that on thurs. Thanks xx

 

[purplebluered]

I had antibiotics in labour and can't add anything that hasn't been said already...BUT!!! Make sure you don't kink the line...the needle was put in my hand and with the labour I bent my hand all the time and it meant the antibiotics didn't go through properly. They realise too late when they put a 2nd needle in that the antibiotics didn't have time to go in and work etc...so my poor baby had to go to SCBU for antibiotics and blood culture etc.

Moral of the story is...don't kink the line! I'd rather I got the drug than the baby. Isaac had to stay in for a couple of days because of this. Keep your hand straight!!!!

 

[lisaspoon]

thanks for the advice purplebluered! Like you said, I would rather have the ABs than have the baby have them....
I'm under the impression from the midwife, that as long as I get the dose 4hrs before delivery, baby wont need to get them, but I think they will still monitor for any signs of infection

 

[purplebluered]

i never actually recieved the AB due to line kinking. so, dont kink it and your baby wont need it! straightforward, eh! learn from me!

 

[Charlie:-)]

I'm under the impression from the midwife, that as long as I get the dose 4hrs before delivery, baby wont need to get them

Thats what I was led to believe by my midwife but the hospital gave Maia antibiotics because "it was hospital policy". I would still check with the hospital before hand. At the time I was still coming round from the c-section otherwise I might have been able to stop them from giving Maia the antibiotics.