Strep B

[Miracle babe]

Ok I haven't been feeling well really since I delivered Rowan and have had heavy periods and constant discharge so last week finally went to docs and had whole load of tests done. Results have now come back that I have Strep B and it needs to be treated with Penicillin....oh dear I'm allergic to penicillin and apparently it doesn't really respond to other drugs The worst part of all this is they now tell me it can be transfered to baby during a vaginal delivery and if not treated can lead to septicemia, meningitis and death. Now guess who was in hospital over the new year with septicemia???? Rowan!!!! This now suggests I've had it for MONTHS and apparently I should have known all about this before I even gave birth from my midwife. I'm an intelligent woman but I can honestly say I had never ever heard of this and apparently 1/3 of woman carry it
Am I being totally stupid? Should I have known about this? I feel like I'm so very lucky I didnt lose Rowan although it was touch and go for a while. I actually feel quite upset about it. Am I being unreasonable?

 

[Sammystar]

No you are not. i think you have every right to be very upset. I wonder why it wasn't picked up during the pregnancy?

The exact same thing happened to somebody I know with her third baby. She was feeling ill (whilst PG) and went to the docs who ran some tests. They diagnosed Strep B and two days later she went into premature labout at 34 weeks. The SAME doctor who had diagnosed the Strep B allowed her to have a vaginal birth!
The baby caught it on the way out and as she was already premature she almost died. They had actually given the baby just hours to live but my friend saved her life by insisting on kangaroo care (this was in France)
She was SO angry with the doctor afterwards and almost started legal proceedings but he then died of a heart attack so that took care of that.

I think you need to get some questions answered by your health authority.

What treatment will you have for it if you can't have penecillin?

Hope you feel better soon.

 

[Melanie]

I think id be asking why you werent given a strep B test at 34 weeks! I thought it was standard procedure now?

I think id be lodging a complaint if i were you hun.

 

[mum2A&L]

I think id be asking why you werent given a strep B test at 34 weeks! I thought it was standard procedure now?

I think id be lodging a complaint if i were you hun.

isn't at my local hospital. you have to pay £32 to get it done at boots, if they don't have any reason to test for it.

i agree though. i would complain.

 

[leckershell]

I was told by health visitors running a baby basics course today that the tests are unnecessary as you may get it after you run a test which says no! They said it can be spotted when you go into labour and it would then be dealt with by the hospital if and when it happened.

I don't know how true that is but thats what I was told today, and that paying for the tests was a waste of money.

 

[Melanie]

Here you get the test at 34 weeks so they can give you preventative meds and you are checked again when you are in labour just incase. I think its disgusting that its not common place to test in the UK.

 

[Tangerinedream]

apparently most of us carry strep b in our gut and it doesnt do any damage, its just if the bactreia gets into the vagina. I asked about it because I've had food poisoning recently. the mw said if the bad tummy continued then i could get it done by the GP

 

[Daggers]

I was diagnose with B strep when I was about 24 wks, it was just by accident as I had some spotting when I was 19wks and went to the hospital where apprently when doing an internal examination a swab was taken and tested. I am a carrier and therefore had to be on antibiotics during labour to ensure Otis wouldn't get it. I don't understand that it is not a standard test done while preggers - think it is because it takes time to grow the cultures - all seems to burn down to cost and time!!!! .
At least now I know so for any future pregnancy's I'll make sure to advice my MW and get my dose of antibiotics during labour.
Hope there is some way of clearing this up for you Miricle babe, doesn't sound like your having to good a time of it!

 

[h33]

I had it when i was having Conal my youngest but no mention of it when i was having Willow my eldest, i'll never forget the poor doctors face when he was trying to put in a drip when i was having Conal

They did test when my waters broke with him and i actually told the mw the doctors hadn't passed it on but he was a natural delivery at 28weeks and i just had a drip, i suppose because my waters broke with both mine they had time to test but not sure if they do it all the time.

Apparently it is commen i was given a lovely leaflet, but they should of picked yours up surely i think you have every right to be angry

Heather

 

[mrs_tommo22]

Sammystar im so sorry bout your friend, I cant believe all that happened to her. You can legally have a vaginal birth with GBS, but you are meant to be on antibiotics ad soon as your labour starts so they can be passed to mother and baby to keep them safe and infection free.
Ive decioded not to test for it as i have felt very well and didnt have any problems last time.
I will eat my hat though if i have it this time around.

 

[Daggers]

As far as I was told once you are diagnosed with B strep (whether you are a carrier or it is active) then you have it for life?! Hence why I was told that for any future pregnancy's I need to have an antibiotic drip when I go into labour.

 

[Funkylady]

As far as I was told once you are diagnosed with B strep (whether you are a carrier or it is active) then you have it for life?! Hence why I was told that for any future pregnancy's I need to have an antibiotic drip when I go into labour.

I was told exactly the same and it is on my notes for me to be on a drip four hours before I give birth.

x

 

[jenni32]

I was told in my hospital that the test wasn't reliable as it could show up both false positive and negatives