positive swab result?

**Ginger** · September 3rd, 2007, 07:55 PM

this is going to sound really vague but i just need to get some information. last week i had to go for a swab and then today i was told that it came back positive and that i will need to let the hospital know when i'm in labour that i got a positive result and the baby will need antibiotics? is anyone able to explain to me what this all means? sorry to be so vague but i was really out of it today and didn't get the information i should have. any help would be appreciated. thanks

**treelo** · September 3rd, 2007, 08:01 PM

Hi Gracie,

From what i remember, it means that you have an infection called Group B Streptococcus
and the baby may pick it up when it travels down the cervix and comes out. So they give it a course of antibiotics just in case.

hugs and good luck
treelo

**Ginger** · September 3rd, 2007, 08:12 PM

yes! that's it treelo! thank you. do you know anything more about the infection?

**mbear** · September 3rd, 2007, 08:13 PM

Hi Gracie.

Basically a bug has been found in vagina, which causes no harm to you, but seeing as you will be having a bubs travelling down that region soon, they need to protect bubs. Babies in womb are in protected environment, however, they may pick up the bug on their skin during birth process.
Intravenous anitbiotics will be given to you during labour so bubs doesnt catch anything.... docstors and midwives will prob observe your baby for symptoms after birth, but really its just a precaution......

**mbear** · September 3rd, 2007, 08:15 PM

oh, just wanted to add, approx 1 in 5 women carry this bug at any one time and we dont even know we do....just reiterating the point that it doesnt harm adults....

**Ginger** · September 3rd, 2007, 08:23 PM

oh, ok. thanks mbear. i feel better now...just didn't like the idea of thinking i had some infection and didn't even know that i had it or what it was iykwim? thanks for your help

**Trillian** · September 4th, 2007, 07:55 AM

Gracie, it is a naturally occuring bacteria that can occur at anytime in the vagina. The test you take one week may show a positive result and one taken the following week may be negative. I have been tested 3 times for it this pg (long story as to why) and tested +ve the first time and then a few weeks ago tested negative. The most recent test results haven't come back yet.

As a result of testing positive you will need to have ab's at least 1hr before the birth of the baby to make sure they have adequate protection. Even though having the test is not routine and can be refused by you, if the baby does get it, it can have some very serious repercussions and unfortunatley babies have died from it. Baby will also be closely monitored after the birth to check for any signs of temperature etc.

**Lowe** · September 4th, 2007, 09:49 AM

Hi Gracie,
I had the same virus that you have, Strep B, and all they did was make sure that I had antibotics before the baby was born. But if I didn't have it before the baby was born then the baby could get the antibotics. There is really nothing to worry about. My son came out perfectly fine after and he is normal as anything now. But just because you have it with this pregnancy doesn't mean that you will get it with the next. I just got my results back for the swab, I'm 38wks, and the test came back negative. Don't worry to much just talk to the midwives for information if you are worried.

Jennifer
James 2
Baby due Sept

**Ginger** · September 4th, 2007, 12:27 PM

thanks sherie and lowe. sounds like it's not too much to worry about.

**PinkPalace** · September 4th, 2007, 12:29 PM

The risk is if bub inhale the virus into the lungs on passing through the vag passage. Can cause severe respiratory problems.
YOU get the ab's as a prophalactic NOT bub.
I had the GBS and got 1 dose of avb's as begining or labour and it is givem 4th hourly during. You dont need a drip so your hands are free - thy push it straight into your veins - it dpesnt hurt. As my labour was 2 hours i didnt require anymore than the once off dose and Ashley is fine.

LizzysMum · September 4th, 2007, 01:42 PM

If you do not want anti biotics you can also choose to have a douche with is 2% chlorhexidine. If I am positive I am choosing the douche as I do not want antibiotics in my system while bub is stil in there.

If you Google chlorhexidine douche it there is heaps of info.

HTH

**PinkPalace** · September 4th, 2007, 02:47 PM

ouch to chlorhex if any tears or abrasions.. when do they do that?

**Angel Babies 3** · September 4th, 2007, 02:48 PM

Gracie, I was found to be Strep B positive with my first pregnancy and have been treated as if positive ever since. The other ladies are spot on with their info as to how and why you are given the antibiotics (which are perfectly safe).
Just be aware that if your waters break before you go into labour you should go to hospital. Ring them and let them know what has happened and tell them you are strep B positive. Make sure you stress that you are strep B positive. Most hospitals don't like you to hang around once your waters break if you are positive. If labour doesn't start pretty soon after the breakage they like to get you started so they can introduce the antibiotics. There is nothing to worry about. This happened with my daughter Grace.

All the best,
Debbie

**stillhoping** · September 4th, 2007, 06:00 PM

Do you get induced if your waters break and you are Step B positive, but no contractions? How long do they leave you after your waters break?

LizzysMum · September 4th, 2007, 08:28 PM

I think the douche is repeated every 6 hours or so through labour. It is not needed once the baby is delivered as the danger of giving it to them has passed.

**cazzacan :-)** · September 4th, 2007, 09:30 PM

Stillhoping, I just asked my ob the same questions last week. She told me that with Strep B positive, if your waters break but contractions don't follow, she would only wait 24 hrs before inducing. In any normal situation where there is no Strep B, she would wait 48hrs to induce.