Group B strep and sorry if tmi.... please help!

[emzmc]

Hi girls

I found out yesterday that i tested positve for Group B strep after two ecoli infections, I knew i hadnt been feeling right... although i have had a lot of discharge yellow/green today there has been loads of light brown discharge and a slightly sore back and weird stomach, dont know if thats due to stretching but im worried. Should i contact midwife now or wait and book an appointment tomo with the doctor to discuss??

 

[anita665]

Did you test positive with the doctor or was it a private test? If it was private then you need to see your GP and explain the results and the discharge as generally GBS doesn't cause those symptoms so you probably need antibiotics.

If the test was done by your doctor or midwife then they must been keen to talk to you so I'd see one of them tomorrow. It's late now and there is not a lot which is likely to be done over night but if it makes you feel better you can call your midwife. it's what they're there for.

 

[babybambi2011]

gbs comes and goes, so if the test was done a while ago, you need to get another test done.... they will probably do one at 36 weeks. but its symptomless and only flaires up in labour. so they will give you iv antibiotics during labour.

 

[emzmc]

thanks ladies - tested positive 4days ago and got results yesterday i know the ins and outs of gbs and it can lie without any symtoms and although it can test negative at times it is still there... gps can certainly cause this type of discharge along with external burning.. just worried as it can bring on pre term labour. My midwife tested and already discused things with me yesterday im going to call her in the morning and see how I am rest of evening. Thanks

 

[3rdtimearound]

I'd say any bleeding, however light, but especially if you're feeling 'off' is worth a call to the midwives.

Hope you feel better soon x

 

[emzmc]

thanks misses i think im more confused if it is light brown blood or just the fact that i could be iritated with all the wiping (sorry if tmi) im def going to call tomo x

 

[blinkava]

I had GBS with my last pregnancy and they tested me again at 36 weeks and it was gone, but I was told that you don't get any symptoms. So I would tell your midwife about your discharge and the color to see what else may be going on. Feel better!!

 

[emzmc]

It can test negative at different stage and positive at other stages 30% of women have it underlying its only when it flares up that it can be caught with a test doesnt mean its gone as such. .. i was told even if i test negative at another stage in pregnancy they will still giving with iv at labour. its not symtoms of the gbs as such but because the antibiotics strips the good bacteria your prone to utis etc and those are causing my discharge at the minl, i was just concerned cuz of the slight back ache and of brown colour today as its not my normal infected discharge if that makes sense... there should be alot more awarness of group b strep... the amount of women who have tested negative at its passed on to their babies is unreal it just shows you how silent it can be at times, im just glad to know now ive tested positive to put all the precautions in place. x

 

[emzmc]

Just wantd to post the info below from a gbs website.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I CARRY GBS?
Most women do not have any symptoms, but GBS can cause symptoms such as vaginal burning/irritation and/or unusual discharge which may be mistaken for a yeast infection and treated incorrectly.1 If you have "vaginitis" symptoms, see your care provider promptly for an exam and possible GBS testing

 

[blinkava]

Just wantd to post the info below from a gbs website.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I CARRY GBS?
Most women do not have any symptoms, but GBS can cause symptoms such as vaginal burning/irritation and/or unusual discharge which may be mistaken for a yeast infection and treated incorrectly.1 If you have "vaginitis" symptoms, see your care provider promptly for an exam and possible GBS testing

Wow I never knew this. I just know from what my doctor told me and what I experienced I didn't have any symptoms. I had a c-section so I didn't have to get the antibiotics, but hopefully like mine did yours goes away before you deliver.

 

[emzmc]

thanks I know, i think alot more awarness should go into gbs to make women know! Ive been doing alot of researching and Cant believe alot of what I have found out.. esp women who have been stressing that once you test positive your a carrier and should always be given antibitotics in labour no matter what as you can get a fake negative,... i suppose kinda like a pregnancy test... also found out you shouldnt have a membrane sweep as this can pass the bacteria to the baby aswel!! So sad to think alot of women arnt even tested for this in the uk and dont even know they have it or they have a test done and it appears negative again after having a positive one and think everythings ok again and then something happens... doesnt bare thinking about!! as i said im just so thankful i was able to find out now i can make sure i get the iv in labour x

 

[blinkava]

thanks I know, i think alot more awarness should go into gbs to make women know! Ive been doing alot of researching and Cant believe alot of what I have found out.. esp women who have been stressing that once you test positive your a carrier and should always be given antibitotics in labour no matter what as you can get a fake negative,... i suppose kinda like a pregnancy test... also found out you shouldnt have a membrane sweep as this can pass the bacteria to the baby aswel!! So sad to think alot of women arnt even tested for this in the uk and dont even know they have it or they have a test done and it appears negative again after having a positive one and think everythings ok again and then something happens... doesnt bare thinking about!! as i said im just so thankful i was able to find out now i can make sure i get the iv in labour x

I didn't know it wasn't mandatory in the UK like it is in the States, and it should be since it's something that can be prevented if people would just test for it.

 

[emzmc]

I know! A simple £30 test privately or £10 test on the nhs could save alot of babies lives but unfortunately its not proceedure here yet, there is petitions trying to get that changed but the argument is weighing up the pros and cons,.. that because you can sometimes test negative (when infact your positive) and the baby still gets harmed, they dont think the tests are that reliable... I still think it should be proceedure because thats always the case and like myself testing positive has now made me fully aware of it... americas rates have reduced by 80% implementing it as part of normal testing unfortunately us in the uk are not quite up to scratch I even hope this encourages someone from here to get tested already if they havent xx

 

[ticking.clock]

I tested positive last week for GBS too, it showed on swab for thrush,
Going back to drs today

 

[emzmc]

did they ask you to come in a week later? they told me theres nothing they can do other than take my antibiotics and more will be given during labour... once the test they assum it will stay positive for another 5 weeks but will still treat in same manner hope ur feeling ok with it ive got an ecoli infection, we will be run down for a while xx

 

[ticking.clock]

did they ask you to come in a week later? they told me theres nothing they can do other than take my antibiotics and more will be given during labour... once the test they assum it will stay positive for another 5 weeks but will still treat in same manner hope ur feeling ok with it ive got an ecoli infection, we will be run down for a while xx

No I'm having a few other problems, such as recurrent thrush, and I want my urine sample tested and tbh I want a dose of antibiotics now x

 

[emzmc]

ooo yeah def get checked out... ive ecoli and protein found in my urine everytime too so need anti biotics for that too.. also there is loads of info on strep b and a thrush like condition... it seems like its thrush but it cant be treated with a yeast infection type medicine or cream... you should mention that to your doctor... strep b can give you an intchy burning feeling somtimes down below and along with the discharge it gives you it can mak you think its thrush when in fact its not its a symptom of the strep b... you should google it, it can indicate that you should go on antibitotics now to try and settle it down a bit but a perssary or cream doesnt do much for it... xx

 

[ticking.clock]

The swabs keep showing thrush so they are testing me for gestational diabetes :-/
Also tonight my urine sample showed blood so I'm on antibiotics for that,
Got another pessary lol

 

[Alegria]

I know! A simple £30 test privately or £10 test on the nhs could save alot of babies lives but unfortunately its not proceedure here yet, there is petitions trying to get that changed but the argument is weighing up the pros and cons,.. that because you can sometimes test negative (when infact your positive) and the baby still gets harmed, they dont think the tests are that reliable... I still think it should be proceedure because thats always the case and like myself testing positive has now made me fully aware of it... americas rates have reduced by 80% implementing it as part of normal testing unfortunately us in the uk are not quite up to scratch I even hope this encourages someone from here to get tested already if they havent xx

It's a tricky one because the effects of giving everyone antibiotics if they test positive for GBS is not good either - I think around 25% of women have it at some point and the number of resistant strains will increase. It's one of those things that I am glad not to be the one deciding whether to screen women as I don't think there is really a satisfactory answer!

 

[Hard_working]

It's a tricky one because the effects of giving everyone antibiotics if they test positive for GBS is not good either - I think around 25% of women have it at some point and the number of resistant strains will increase. It's one of those things that I am glad not to be the one deciding whether to screen women as I don't think there is really a satisfactory answer!

In the UK, approx 21% of women carry GBS at any time, though a similar number of women would be offered antibiotics in labour anyway based on risk factors (though not the same women), so either way the risks of antibiotics resistance are there. Having said that, in countries which do give lot of antibiotics in labour, when the recommended drugs are given, they haven't found increased resistance. Clearly that needs to be monitored, but it's not a reality so far.