Group B strep and antibiotics in labour

[Tegam]

Yes Yes Yes there is no need why they can not give you the AB's by slow push, this takes about 5-10mins (depending on how good the nurse is - some push them too quick!)

Another thing you can do is get to the hosptal late, like when you feel bubs is no too far away and then just say "hey there is no way those AB will do anything if i have the bub in the next 2 hrs, is there?"

Follow your gut and yes always question WHY a DR wants what they want. There is far too much intervenion in this country.....because it suits the Dr not the mother!

And like i said, yes GBS in bubs is scary and no mother would choose it to happen to their bub - but that does not mean that you have to introduce AB in labour to the unsuspecting bubs....'


I also forgot to say the delay washing baby for a few days, you dont want it to get cold getting dressed etc so maybe disposible nappies for the first few days to minimise changes????? Just a thought!

[Pandora]

im undecided on whether to be tested for GBS or not.
Its not common, but its not uncommon - in Australia is about 15% or people who have it at any one time.
The info I have read in the '3 centres' documentaton says that there is little difference in effectiveness in pre testing for it as opposed to checking for warning signs and symptoms in labour.

I also dont understand why some popel get a shunt put in and have the ABs via IV, when I know of at least one hospital in melbourne that just give the mums to be aregular injection every 4 hours.

Im very torn about what to do. I dont want unnecessary ABs and I know the risk of passing it o is low even if I am positive, but i also know what can happen to bubs who it does get passed on to.

[Tegam]

Rayray there is so much info to sort through...It may be an idea for you to go herbal?? This means that you can try to make your body as healthy as poss before labour and also there are herbal washes you can do while you are in labour... Just something for you to think about



Also there are so so so many things that CAN go wrong but it doesnt mean that they WILL happen and there is just no possible way cover everything...

Try to keep in mind every time you are at the shops or see the news or even the sydney cricket ground...All those hundreds, millions of people were born and are happy healthy people now....

Some times in our medical environment one can start to feel like its 1:100000000 chance that it will ALL be ok!

Birth is natural, normal and wonderful

[Schmickers]

Sorry guys, been busy.

This link is to the 3 Centres Collaboration review on prevention of early onset GBS disease.

[tan32]

i tested positive in my last pregnancy.
I had a short labour and there was not enough time for me to have the antibiotic.

I had an hour of skin to skin contact with bub after he was born. Then the only thing was to be monitored in hospital for 24hrs to see if bubs temp rose at all. it didnt so we could go home.
Perhaps the hospital will let you go without having the iv if you agree to satying in for obs for 24 hours after birth.

[paradise lost]

I'm always interested in this because of my experience.

In the UK they don't test gor GBS because the test is unreliable and the infection can come and go. Instead they administer AB's if the waters have been broken more than 18 hours before the birth. Some babies still get GBS (though all those who i know were induced and AROM was done at some point) and some still die of it.

When i was in labour my midwives checked m went to see the paed before coming back to me and said "her waters broken at 3am, she's still labouring, she's booked for home, they both look good...?" and he gave them PILLS, yes, oral AB's to take! And he was not at ALL worried about us. So i do wonder how much of the IV AB push is about convenience (no drug trolley or supervision) than necessity.

I was to begin taking AB's at 9pm, but i delivered at 6.20pm. DD was fine.

Bx

[Toomanytoomany]

Perhaps the hospital will let you go without having the iv if you agree to satying in for obs for 24 hours after birth.

Heh, I always laugh at the idea of a hospital "letting" me do anything... more like, if I *let* them come near me!! LOL

Thanks for your experiences, everyone. I'm feeling quite confident about this approach now - going on clinical risk factors, not just pathology!

[leesha]

I tested positive and when I went into labour (it was only 4 hrs) they put the needle and small tube in my left hand and administered the anitbiotic once.

Wasn't hooked up to an IV or anything so I could still have an active birth.

That was it....nothing else had to be done after that! I wouldn't be worried about it.

[leesha]

I tested positive and when I went into labour (it was only 4 hrs) they put the needle and small tube in my left hand and administered the anitbiotic once.

Wasn't hooked up to an IV or anything so I could still have an active birth.

That was it....nothing else had to be done after that! I wouldn't be worried about it.