Group step B but choosing not to have ABx

[babybear]

Thank you so much, i really appreciate you making the time to do that for me xx

Don't worry about it happy to help. GSB is a scary, scary thing, dangerous too It always pays to know exactly what you are dealing with, then you can make the best decision for you.

If you find any more resources please share. I'm always willing to have my mind changed by a good argument

 

[lushious09]

Ill be having the IVS as i have read and been confirmed that there is more cases of babys having problems from gbs then there is from the antibiotics... i dont care if it makes my arm swell my baby comes first end of i havnt carried him for 9months to let something i could prevent harm him

 

[Poshie]

Hello there. Hope you don't mind me asking a question, but you seem very knowledgeable on this subject. I have always been slightly concerned about having GBS and not knowing, as it's not routinely tested for. However, I have had a urine sample sent of for lab analysis due to suspected UTI. This came back negative. I was wondering if GBS would have been picked up in this sample (if present), even though it was a UTI being tested for? Thanks in advance.

 

[babybear]

It would only show up on a urine test if it was the GSB bacterai that was causing a UTI. So you could have a UTI caused by E-coli or strep A. But a urine test would not pick up if you carried GBS in your vagina no.

if your really worried you can ask your MW about testing or pay for private swabs in a couple of weeks when your about 36 weeks. Reading some of the links I posted may help you get to grips with it too.

 

[ellahstruts]

hi i have had GBS with all 6 of my pregnancies and have tested positive on and off sometimes negative at 37 weeks also, i believed the risks of not having the anti biotics outweighed the risk of birthing and it passing on. thats just my opinion. best of luck to you both xxx

 

[mordino]

I have GBS, and will be going with the trained professionals advice and having the IV drip. Couldn't forgive myself if something happened to Leni that i could have prevented. GBS is dangerous. x

I feel exactly the same as you. I haven't had a test for GBS yet but I will ask for it at my next antenatal appointment.

 

[aliss]

I was GBS positive and when my waters started leaking (noticed 2 days later!), I was immediately hooked up to an IV and then induced, fetal monitor, tied to the bed for 3 days, it was awful. I didn't get to use the bath, pool, or any other natural method.

If I had to do it again, I probably would have made the same choice as you. While GBS does carry a risk, my son almost died after being stuck in the birth canal (luckily only came out with a fracture!!!) because after nearly 3 days I was too exhausted and induced/drugged to push.

So I didn't do what you did, but I understand why you would...!!!

 

[LOZANDEVIE]

If you do the ECM gold method test at 37weeks, this has a high accurate result of you being a carrier during labour if your result comesback positive its highly likely youll have it in labour. I did the ECM test at 37+ and it came back negative. I just had my temp and all OBS regularlly checked during labour.

 

[Jody R]

I was GBS positive and when my waters started leaking (noticed 2 days later!), I was immediately hooked up to an IV and then induced, fetal monitor, tied to the bed for 3 days, it was awful. I didn't get to use the bath, pool, or any other natural method.

If I had to do it again, I probably would have made the same choice as you. While GBS does carry a risk, my son almost died after being stuck in the birth canal (luckily only came out with a fracture!!!) because after nearly 3 days I was too exhausted and induced/drugged to push.

So I didn't do what you did, but I understand why you would...!!!

I'm confused here, surely your son wasn't stuck because of the GBS?

From what I remember at Joseph's birth, the antibiotics didn't have any adverse affect on me but the pain relief left me feeling the way you describe. I started the antibiotics as soon as we arrived at the delivery suite at 8:30am but felt fine until much later when they started with the pain relief.

Joseph also got stuck but he was 9 pounds 7 oz and the doctor said I'd never have pushed him out without help (episiotomy and forceps).

By then the GBS was the least of my worries but I think having him stuck would have made me glad to have the antibiotics as he was exposed for so long otherwise.

I'm not asking to be critical though, just curiosity. I made my decision to have the antibiotics before Joseph was ever conceived, when we lost our daughter (not because of GBS) but I was confirmed as a carrier just hours after her loss and even though it wasn't linked anywhere else but in my mind it was still something I felt I could take control over next time. We'd already lost our son for unexplained reasons, then our daughter for reasons that were so random and out of our control. I was so ill, my life was also at risk and they were telling me "next time this and next time that" when my tiny girl had only just died. I wasn't even thinking about next time but it didn't take long for me to decide, even before I was pregnant again, that this was one thing I could do to help my next baby have a fighting chance.

 

[moggymay]

with my first I was clear of GBS on all the tests I had done, he however had GBS on him and as a result had to have a boxing glove style IV in his hand for the first 48 hours of his life and trips to scbu for injections every 12 hours plus numerous blood draws which were traumatic for us all!

This time we are having the abx if only to avoid our next baby having the horrible boxing glove and the stress and worry again. No 1 was born at 35+4 so maybe the test results were skewed because we werent up to 37 weeks? My main concern this time is my first labour was fast so what if we cant get the abx in in time?

 

[lollie20]

I have GBS and I was hooked up to ABX the last time and I was told by my MW I will be this time also. You just dont know what would be better for you and baby either way has its pros and cons

 

[Jody R]

with my first I was clear of GBS on all the tests I had done, he however had GBS on him and as a result had to have a boxing glove style IV in his hand for the first 48 hours of his life and trips to scbu for injections every 12 hours plus numerous blood draws which were traumatic for us all!

This time we are having the abx if only to avoid our next baby having the horrible boxing glove and the stress and worry again. No 1 was born at 35+4 so maybe the test results were skewed because we werent up to 37 weeks? My main concern this time is my first labour was fast so what if we cant get the abx in in time?

That sounds really awful for you all

Can you talk through your fears about a quick labour with your midwife or consultant? They might suggest a managed delivery and chose a day to start you off in labour after first giving you the ABX in time. I don't know if that's something you would want or if it is the only option but it might help to talk it all through, even just the talking might help reassure you.

 

[moggymay]

main worry for us is prem again, baby already engaged and bump has severely dropped! I waddle like a fat duck Saying that if I get to tomorrow thats the same level of prem as our son and he was fine - apart from the GBS.

Which option of abx is better? The IV or a direct injection to the vein? Also which is quicker to protect baby? I darent risk anything happening to little Moglet after what we went through with Mogster and his glove - thats down to poor registrar comms though - the consultant paeds were great!

 

[mammym]

Iv abx are given via a bolus (a syringe full) over 5 mins, or by a small bag which is given slower into the vein over 20-60 mins. It depends on the abx as to how it can be administered as some can irritate the sensitive lining of the veins. As it is direct into the vein the abx are 'in you system' immediatly but not at full strength for a little while.

The abx during the labour are given every 4-8 hrs depending on which you have. I also need abx during labour and as I am allergic to penicillin I have the one which is every 8 hrs I think. Hope that helps a bit.

 

[suzib76]

i had a swab done at 5 days pp with jack - result came back at 10days with GBS i was given a course of antibiotics but he was fine and i suggested to the GP that as he was showing no signs of being unwell that he didnt need them, she agreed and he is now a healthy 7yo

with Lana i tested negative at 37 weeks, but a swab taken 1 day pp was positive, again antibiotics for me, but Miss Lana wasnt given anything -

 

[moggymay]

am gonna quiz MW at appt on monday as I want to specify the quicker abx if thats possible as my first labour was fast and prem.....just have to wait ti lmonday now

 

[Eoz]

Hi I am another carrier and for some reason I am in the high risk bracket?

I had a follow up appointment yesterday and had more swabs taken.I have had 3 lot's of anti b this pregnancy and nothing has shifted it.

I labour very quick and my consultant has said as soon as i get a pain or waters go get to hopital and they will do their best to get me the anti biotics.If not then little man has to saty in and have them.I'm terrified to say the least esp seeing a friend loose her baby to GBS and also seeing george's post (moggymay)

I will not refuse any antibiotics even if swabs are clear.I asked yesterday if it was clear would they still treat me as a carrier and they said yes as it can always sneak back and god forbid do some harm.I do not want to be pinned to the bed though as this makes y labours very hard and complicated so they have said I can have a cannula and be injected regularly.Yes i'll feel sore and sick but so long as my little man is in my arms safe and well who gives a crap.I can rest up and get over it x

 

[moggymay]

I am in agreement with you there Zoe, little man is the number one priority and dressing Mogster in those first few hours with the boxing glove canula they give babies was a memory I would rather I didnt have to have of his early hours, he is great and fab now though but if Moglet can avoid it and I have the pain instead then isnt that what being a mum is all about?

To share a little more about what happened after his birth, the blood draws etc were for cultures of infection and on day 3 - the hormonal blues day - at about 745am a registrar came around and started talking about Mogsters infection levels tripling, meningitis and spinal taps, I was petrified, what had I done to my baby?

Lady opposite pressed her buzzer as I went into mini meltdown tears etc and MW came straight in, doc got sent away, hubby called in and all hell seemed to break loose around me as MW and doc went head to head, doc left and OH arrived.

About an hour later the consulatant paed arrived and sat down to talk to us, luckily there wasnt a problem with Mogster it was the registrars communication skills, the infection level tripling was like a paper cut progressing to a cut on your hand, Mogster was fine and a few days more of being monitored etc and we could take him home, they took his glove off two hours later. The only doc we saw on day 3 and 4 was the consultant, the registrar seemed to disappear from the ward.

I have never been so scared in my life and would hate anyone to go through my experience just because they didnt want to have abx. I understand the OP is starting a debate on alternative measures of treating the GBS but to me there is only one option and putting my baby at risk isnt it.

Sorry for the long post but wanted to say my bit and give you my experience so that you can make your right choice for you and your baby.

Will report back what MW says on Monday

 

[Eoz]

^^ xxxxxxxx

 

[carrieanne]

i nearly lost my first daughter to gbs nobody new i carried it i wasnt tested and i would never want anyone to go through that she was so sick they really didnt know if she would make it at all at one point ive had abx for each of my babies and will for this one its not worth the risk believe me xx