Mixed strep B advice...rant!!

[pigginteacher]

I saw different midwife yesterday, my usual is on holiday. Anyway I just happened to mention that I thought I might have an infection, down below, and that the last time I had the same symptons it turned out I had strep B. Anyway my usual midwife said that I wouldn't be given any antibiotics in labour unless I was showing symptons, such as a high temperature but the midwife I saw yesterday said that when i go into labour or waters break I should let the hospital know that I had strep B and they would give me antibiotics on arrival, regardless of symptons or not. I'm glad I saw her now because I wouldn't have said anything to the hospital. I find it frustrating that midwives can have varying opinions on these matters!!

 

[lushious09]

Both midwives are stupid sorry but they are... if you have been diagnosed with strep b before then they are supposed to just assume you will have it through this pregnancy!! you should have been offered a test around 37 weeks and if it is showing up as pos then you will need to have a drip! no point giving you antibiotics now as it probs will only just come back a few weeks later! x

 

[Katybarnes15]

I was tod I have strep b and to go in on a drip when labour starrts ages ago. Now today at 40+6 I got a call from my GP saying they have decided to but me on antibiotics orally as well from today- bit late I am thinking!

 

[Carley22]

i was of the understanding that if you have had strep anytime throughout this pregnancy (previous DO NOT count) then they will automatically out you on a drip through labour as a mater of caution as its too risky for the baby to not and too expensive for the NHS to constantly routinely check for strep.

i had strep at 12 weeks and was told then that no matter what i would be put on a drip during labour as i will always carry strep even if its not showing as an infection. Unfortunately as a sick twist of fate it has come back just before im due to im on a crash course of oral antibiotics to clear it up AND will have antibiotics during labour as well.

The only thing i can suggest is that different areas deal with strep differently perhaps?

I hope this info helps!!!!

 

[lushious09]

Theres a lot of confusion and conflict here...

i was diagnosed with strep b after it came up on a routine swab... heres a few facts to help

1. if you have been diagnosed with strep b in a past pregnancy they wont even bother testing you again... they simply assume you will have it again in this one and you will be given an IV drip through labour.

2. There is really no point in giving you oral antibiotics before labour as the chances are it will just re vegitate a couple of weeks later!

3. If you have been seen to be a carrier at any stage in your pregnancy they will re test you at around 36 weeks to see if it has clung... if it has not and seems under control then you will not need an IV if it shows to be clinging i.e increasing then they will put you on an IV during labour.

4. You will have to have an IV for atleast 4 hours before the baby starts passing through the birth canal so that means as soon as labour starts get yourself to hosp.

5. Strep B is never curable... it lives in everyones guts... but 1 in 3 pregnant women will have issues with this it dosnt ever fully go as nature intended for it to be there... it just de cultivates from the vagina but it can also re cultivate after a few weeks! so if you test neg for it one week... you could be pos 4 weeks later... its a bit like thrush everyone has some level of canidia in them but sometimes these levels vegitate...

The main thing to remember is its good that they are aware of it as it means they can take the appropriate measures ... just think of all the women who have it but have never tested pos... and they go on to have totaly healthy babas

 

[chella]

I found out i had group b strep with my first child at 6mths preg when had to hav a swab or i guess i would have never had known, so my 2nd pregnancy was treated as the same and also had to stay in 3 days too didnt enjoy that part .

So i ask the midwife this time round and she said i would be able to go home and i wont need treatment ??? as if i dont hav test then they can treat me as a grop b strep so i went away confused!!! Then hav a different midwife as mines on holiday and she says i will be treated like my other 2 pregnancies and the midwife said the same up hospital so i guess im prepared to be in at least 3 days so not much i can do about that lol

Did any of u ladies get told u hav to stay in? x

 

[pigginteacher]

So sounds like I haven't been given full info, midwife didn't say anything about me having to go on drip 4 hrs before, so when should i ring hospital? As I was thinking I wouldn't need to ring until my contractions were close together. Also I have just been given antibiotics today because I asked for a swab, they weren't going to offer me a swab at all!! Does it make any difference that i diagnosed with strep b pre pregnancy?? Thankfully I'm near my due date so glad i had swab done now x

 

[pigginteacher]

Sorry just another point, noone told me I would have to stay in hospital, why do u have stay in??

 

[celestek89]

I was told i have to stay in for at least 48 hours. I think its to keep and eye on baby and make sure everything is ok, like the anti biotics have worked etc. I was told to go in as soon as i started to feel labour come on, as they need to get the IV in asap...

 

[forgodssake]

Both midwives are stupid sorry but they are... if you have been diagnosed with strep b before then they are supposed to just assume you will have it through this pregnancy!! you should have been offered a test around 37 weeks and if it is showing up as pos then you will need to have a drip! no point giving you antibiotics now as it probs will only just come back a few weeks later! x

This is dependent on where you are from because it doesnt work like that here - they will ONLY automatically give you the IV anti b's IF your baby contracted strep B previously.

If its just that you were + they dont treat you any differently.

Thankfully my midwife will insist on a swab at 36 for me to see if I am + again this time.

 

[Katybarnes15]

I was told I would only have to stay in a couple of days if I didn;t get the IV drip at least 4 hours before birth (so need to go to hospital as soon as labour starts) or they are concerned that baby might be showing signs of contracting Strep B in which case they wil keep you in t=with baby to monitor and give antibiotics.

 

[noree]

Hi all, I find the info very confusing and conflicting. I tested postitive for strep b about 2 months before I became pregnant. I have had two swabs during pregnancy which came up clear, yet these were NHS swabs and the info I was given by my modewife stated that the NHS tests often return a flase negative. When I mentioned this to my midwife she looked at me like I was making this up, she has to take the leaflet out and re read it herself, then she told me she didn't know this was the case. When I have spoken to the doctors at the hospital during antenatal appoinments they have been so relaxed about it that they have made me feel incredibly stupid, only on Thursday I asked if I was found to be carrying at 35 weeks ( I have ordered my own test) when do I come into hospital as I understand women stay at home for alot of their labour but if I need antibiotics when should I come in...well I was smiled at like I was a 3 year old and told not to worry I will know when I need to come in?? I will know When Labour is establised??? How will I, I have never had a baby before and I am sure every labour can be different! I have no idea what she meant and I was so frustrated I just left it. I will have my midwife take the test soon and take it from there. I just wish they weren't so laid back, or just rude. I am in coventry by the way, wonder if anyone else local with strep b have different experience?
xx

 

[lushious09]

So sounds like I haven't been given full info, midwife didn't say anything about me having to go on drip 4 hrs before, so when should i ring hospital? As I was thinking I wouldn't need to ring until my contractions were close together. Also I have just been given antibiotics today because I asked for a swab, they weren't going to offer me a swab at all!! Does it make any difference that i diagnosed with strep b pre pregnancy?? Thankfully I'm near my due date so glad i had swab done now x

As soon as you start getting strong frequent contractions get yourself there... if your waters happen to go before contractions start getting bad/frequent get there as this is when infection is highest ... youl be fine they have to give you the drip 4 hours b4 baby comes down the birth canal not 4 hours b4 labour starts... its to ensure you and baby get plenty of it to prevent transmition... if your unfortunate not to get the full 4 hour dose b4 baby makes an appearance they will give baby more antibiotics and keep a close eye on them x

 

[lushious09]

I think the problem with them been laid back is due to the fact its very rare they have any problems with strep b these days... its like phemmonia can be incredibly dangerous but most dont worry about it as its easly treatable? alot of doctors dont know the facts which is annoying. Main thing to remember is if you have been diagnosed with it you should be re tested around 36weeks if pos again get to hospital as soon as you think labour starts its easiest way xx

 

[noree]

Thank you, that is what I believed I should do (if test positive). But they are just so 'whatever' about the whole thing, she started telling me how countless women carry this and started talking about Flora blah blah!! I just wanted to cry, I understand that many women carry this but do not know, but I carry and I do know and I wanted some sensible advice, not to be made feel like a nutter mum to be. Hopefully I will see someone else last time, she wasn't my consultant but some kind of junior on his team.
x

 

[lushious09]

Thank you, that is what I believed I should do (if test positive). But they are just so 'whatever' about the whole thing, she started telling me how countless women carry this and started talking about Flora blah blah!! I just wanted to cry, I understand that many women carry this but do not know, but I carry and I do know and I wanted some sensible advice, not to be made feel like a nutter mum to be. Hopefully I will see someone else last time, she wasn't my consultant but some kind of junior on his team.
x

I totaly understand what youve been going through hun, i kept going back n back again and again for swabs due to thrush and after like the 5th swab they picked up on strep... problem was the dumb ass doctors didnt even bother informing me!!! they just pescribed me for thrush and when i asked if that was all that was found i kept just getting told yes everything is fine...

Anyways it was my midwife who told me thankfully and was appaled the doctors hadnt... when she told me she was very laid back about it just saying how its nothing to worry about it wont do me any harm they cant treat it bla bla bla... so there i was after been told i had this groub b strep and had no clue what/why/how serious it was!!

I googled it and found out the most horrific shocking things it was made out to be the worst thing you could possibly have and could kill your baby!!! so in tears i had my mum ring the midwife and have it explained properly!! It was down to speaking to several doctors, midwives sufferes and proper GBS facts before i learnt EVERYTHING i could abou it!

And the facts are it is EXTREMELY commen 1 in 3 pregnant women have it, its incredibly rare without antibiotics that baby will catch it its just that IF they do it can be serious... but now with all the treatments etc no harm comes to babys they keep a super close eye on your LO and any signs of raised temp they are on it like a fly on ...well poo lol

The fact they know we have it makes us more lucky then most as they can take every measure just in case just think of all the women out there who have no idea?? they go on to have totaly healthy babies it really isint such an issue these days as even if baby gets it it can be treated and it poses no threat to you, its just one of those things in life, so try not to worry! like i said if you have been diagnosed with it make sure you are tested at 36 weeks.

End of the day if its clung youl be given an IV if it hasnt you wont need one and they will keep a good eye on LO... everything will be fine xxx

 

[noree]

Thanks lushious, I think it is the combination of looking things up on the internet and reading all these extremely serious problems and then speaking to the professionals only for them to act as if you're crazed. I will have my swab taken in a month and that will make me feel alot better either way, at least I will know if it is a reliable +/-. Do you know if there is anything we can do ourselves to help prevent colonisation down below in the lead upto birth?
x

 

[emmi26]

im paying for the test privately as far as i know ive never had strep b but i want to make sure anyway!!

 

[lushious09]

firstly emmi everyone has the strep b bacteria in them so its not wether you have it or not its wether it is colonilized in the vagina...

as for preventing it there isint really any sure way but eating/drinking probiotic drinks have been proven to substain colonization and give your body a good chance at fighting it... best advice to give is keep your immune system tip top... and you can try putting pro biotic yogurt inside the vagina... it wont rid the bacteria but the good bacteria in the yogurt will take up the group b streps breeding room... and give your body a better chance at ridding of it x