Bugger - group b strep

MegAndMikey · #1 (**permalink**) 26-07-2007, 10:16 PM

Today I was told that my swab tested positive for GBS. My VBAC plan has up until now been as follows:

Hired a doula, who is a very experienced private midwife. Planned to labour at home until well into established labour (preferably 8cm's or so!) before transferring to Redlands public hospital (who are very pro VBAC), about 5 minutes drive from our home.

However, apparently I should be given antibiotics a minimum of 2 hours before the baby is born - or pretty soon after my waters break should that occur before labour. This is what the Ob I saw today reckons anyway.

Does anyone have experience of this sort of thing? Should I give up on the idea of labouring at home as long as possible? I see some internet sources say the antibiotics should be given more like 6-8 hours before the baby is born. As I can't get hold of my doula right now (could be that she's busy with another birth, not sure) I thought I'd ask here.

~jane~ · #2 (**permalink**) 26-07-2007, 10:58 PM

There is a lot of info out there about group b strep and the validity of giving antibitotics and the risks to the baby of both giving and withholding antibiotics. I have to rush out now but will be back to post the link to a really great article if no one else does before I get back.

justincredible · #3 (**permalink**) 26-07-2007, 11:19 PM

have a look at the bottom of this page for similar threads.i tested positive with my first vbac and birthed at home with no treatment, for this last vbac i chose not to be tested and had no treatment again

jayadevi · #4 (**permalink**) 26-07-2007, 11:54 PM

I tested postive for strep B and took homeopathic strep B for a couple of weeks, then requested a re-test which showed NO strep B! I also remember being told that strep B can come and go and even if you have it during pregnancy, you might not be positive anymore at the time of birth.

~joht~ · #5 (**permalink**) 26-07-2007, 11:58 PM

yep last preg and this one i was told i had it (through u r i n e test not a swab!) but i have fast labours and didnt get antibiotics. all was fine. same will happen this time

Heartwood · #6 (**permalink**) 27-07-2007, 01:44 AM

Noadvice, but I'd wait to ask your midwife.

Does your doula/midwife have a name starting with a C? If it's whom I'm thinking of, she's absolutely wonderful and excellent for a vbac.

jarrahsmumma · #7 (**permalink**) 27-07-2007, 02:24 AM

i have heard of people testing positive at first swab then nothing at second swab (with no treatment)

i would re-search more

personally i denied any swab, so that solved that problem

i heard on the news the other day about a link with early anti-b's and asthma link??

~joht~ · #8 (**permalink**) 27-07-2007, 02:49 PM

thats why im confused about no swab, just a u r i n e test for the result?! isnt a swab prolly more accurate?!
either way whatever, i have decided the tiny risk of not having antibiotics outweighs the risk of having them for me...

kookie · #9 (**permalink**) 27-07-2007, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ~joht~

thats why im confused about no swab, just a u r i n e test for the result?! isnt a swab prolly more accurate?!
either way whatever, i have decided the tiny risk of not having antibiotics outweighs the risk of having them for me...

A positive urine test is indicative of a heavier growth of the bug because it originates from the gut. This is whether you have a positive swab or not. Women with positive urine for GBS are probably slightly more likely to have a baby who is affected. And will probably be more pressured by staff to have the antibiotics.But it is all very rare. Try the internet for resources. The thing with GBS is that in medical terms a proportion of babys who are colonized with this bug get rather sick. The risk is small but its real and needs to be balanced up with everything else.

Kassy · #10 (**permalink**) 28-07-2007, 05:44 AM

Absolutely not. Do not give up your plans. Tere is No reason to. I also tested positive with my first 2 pregnancies. My 2nd baby was delivered in a birth center. It was truly my 'dream birth'. My midwife made me take with me to labor, 2 doses of IV PCN. She only uses one b/c she administers it during active labor. My labor and birth went perfectly fine. Do not let something like this interfere with your plans. Talk to your MW, but I don't see why she wouldn't be able to handle that. As long as you get you nice dose of antibiotic, you and the baby will be fine.
My 1st baby which was delivered at the hospital, they did the same thing, only they gave me more antibiotics throughout labor, and that still worked out.
Good Luck!