Group B Strep Positive- advice please

[gk1701]

I just tested positive for GBS- I don't know anything much about it but now I am researching it, I'm worried.

Do I need to make sure to get to the hospital extra early now to make sure I get my antibiotics?

Also, does anyone know how long I'll have to stay in the hospital?

Do these babies always go to NICU?

Also, how long afterwards to I need to worry about meningitis?

 

[Alr83]

I was positive too. Likely bc I was so sick and also had 3 other infections going on, but who knows.

I was suppose to be induced early and they just started my antibiotics right away and I got new iv's every 4 hrs - my induction was put off bc of complications of another pt, then never needed the pit- just had my water broken and I was done. Just ask your dr what the plan is with a natural labor, likely they'll just start it right away.

My daughter was 3 1/2 wks early...even with that we didn't go to nicu. We went there with our first. It is scary with all the machines, but just know that if there are issues then you will have the most knowledgable staff. nicu was actually one of the best things with our first, bc it put her on a schedule and made things really easy at home. think of the positives if you have to go.

I don't know timeframe with menegitis. Honestly with all my other issues and scares I didn't want anymore worry and stayed away from google. Trusted my dr (laughable, with the other stuff!) would give me the info I needed and what to watch out for. You could also ask pediatrician.

My hosp stay was the normal 48 hrs for our hosp. Once I had antibiotics and delivered there were no other issues for gbs.

Good luck!

 

[eddjanuary10]

I tested positive with my first pregnancy and was advised to phone the midwife as soon as my contractions started for advice on when to go in. As it happened my waters broke before I had any contractions and I had to go straight in, they started me on an iv drip for strep b straight away. I never knew about the whole meningitis relation with strep. My son had the cord around his neck when he was born and I also had a part placental abruption, he was struggling to breath when he was born and risk of infection from placental abruption meant he was taken straight to IC. It was very scary, but not related to strep b. Try not to worry, you will be in good hands I'm sure should anything happen but think positive I'm sure everything will be fine! X

 

[dvc2012]

I was also positive for Group B Strep and my doctors didn't give me any different instructions. I went in to L&D after contractions had been coming for at least an hour less than 5 minutes apart. They didn't start antibiotics until a few hours later when I finally got out of triage. After I had antibiotics for a few hours, they broke my water. He wasn't going to go to the NICU until I developed a fever and they said I had gotten chorioamnionitis where bacteria travels up into the uterus, so he had to go to the NICU after that. They gave him antibiotics the whole time he was in the hospital (2 days) but he was released from the NICU a few hours after he went in, so it didn't cause any long lasting problems. I've never heard of the meningitis link.

 

[geordiemammy]

I tested positive with ds4 and I went into labour without even knowing went for an appointment at the hospital at 39 weeks at 12:30 and they done a scan for other reasons and said they would give me a sweep so when then went to do that he said oh your 4cm and took me straight to labour ward to have my waters broke this was at 1:30pm the put me on Iv antibiotics by 1:45 and I was 6cms I still had no pain so expected them to be able to get a few lots of antibiotics into me but baby had other plans at 3pm I got my first pain baby was born by 3:20pm so I panicked as when you read about gbs they say they like to get 2 lots of antibiotics into you and at least one 4 hrs before hand I had one lot 1hr 35 mins before birth :/ they took swobs from baby straight away and sent them for testing all they do is check baby's temp regularly after birth but they are kept with you with ds4 I had to stay in 48hrs after birth and his tests came back negative!! I'm positive this time also so I'm a little more panicked after the way my labour went last time that they will not be able to get any into me they said as soon as my waters break I must go straight in as long as waters are intact baby is safer they have also said that this time ill only need to stay in for 24hrs as its changed I'm hoping due to other complications they start me off earlier so I'm sure I get the antibiotics as long as they know you have it though there is less risk as baby is tested straight away and treated if needed its if you don't know you have it that makes it more dangerous x

 

[melfy77]

I tested + for Strep too. My water started leaking during the night but didn't end up getting to the hospital until 12 hours later because I thought I'd peed myself (again lol). They started the antibiotics and when DD was born she was perfectly fine and didn't go to the NICU

Strep B is actually really common (about 25% of pregnant women test positive of it) and complications usually happen when they don't get antibiotics at all