Ahh crap - tested positive for Group Strep B.

[Epacris]

Blergh!

My midwife is being so good about it. He says, given my history, I’ll go into labour spontaneously, I’ll have a short labour, my waters will break close to birth and there won’t be time for me to have IV antibiotics. But, the "hospital policy" is that if a baby is born without the mother having had the IV ABs the baby needs to be monitored for 12-24 hours. But I’m giving birth at the birth centre and only wanted to stay the required 4 hours (all being well of course). But the "hospital policy" is that my baby and I need to be transferred to the big hospital for the said monitoring. He said, don’t worry, if I think all is going well, I won’t transfer you, stay for 6 hours and then I’ll just come and see you at home at 12, 18 and 24 hours. Phew.... but crap still.

And.... I had just put in my request to the universe for my dream birth. I wanted to drop the kids off at kindy, go home, have cuppa tea and some toast, go into labour, get to the birth centre, punch out a baby, stay the required 4 hours and pick the kids up on the way home. Hmmmm..... I think I might still be able to fit it all in, it will just have to be an extra quick tea and toast yeah?

And can anyone point me in the direction of more info on Group Strep B infection in babies. 1:300 will have some sort of infection and of them 15% will be really, severely infected (and will die)? Is that correct?

Anyone with any experience or wisdom to share?

[ladybird11]

Having just received my results today (positive too doh!) I know little about it too!

Sorry, I'm useless - but I totally understand the spanner these results can put in the works!

[roses]

Punch out a baby??? Lol - so funny

[Party-of-five]

I had it with DD2 but they only got the iv with my first dose of Abs in about 15 minutes before she arrived. She was fine but and didn't get the infection good luck punching out your bub hope it all goes to plan


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[*Efjay*]

LOL Punch out a baby & pick up the kids on teh way home LOL thats the spirit

I don't even bother doing the test. It such a variable. Positive now but in 3 weeks maybe not....

I don't know what the go is here in cairns but my plan is to labour in secret & give birth at home before DH has a chance to get into a panic & make me go in LOL

[mummydreamer]

I don't know what the go is here in cairns but my plan is to labour in secret & give birth at home before DH has a chance to get into a panic & make me go in LOL

oh no!! you can't do that to him, although i can understand you wanting too

no words of wisdom......im positive as well, but dont know much about it to be honest. i was given positive with DD and was classified as 'high risk' anyway cause i'd had pre-ecplampsia and an emergency c/s with DS, so.......when she was born didn't think much about it.....that's so great that your midwife is really trying to accomodate what you want though....hopefully it all turns out without too much complication. good luck on the upcoming birth! xxxx

[Trillian]

Fantastic plan hun! I reckon you might need to skip tea and toast altogether because you don't want to throw it up later

I wouldn't be overly concerned about the positive test. Yes it can be quite serious in some babies and yes, some will die (I know one woman who lost her first baby to it). I don't know where you would find truly reliable info about it though. I tested positive with DS2 and all google told me was scary stuff about how dangerous it was etc.

[Gigi]

oh crap, this is NOT what you want to hear, when you're just about to pop. Sorry to hear your news Ecapris, hoping you will get someone posting very soon, to say whatever the thing is, that will set your mind at rest.

There are so many things you can't control with pregnancy, with labour, i guess this is yet another one of them. Hmm i wonder why i suddenly got a whole line of text underscored, oh well, back to you - i'm sorry this has thrown you for a spin, rocking your last minute nesting vibes.

[M D]

I too got a positive this time around, didn't have it with DD. Ob did explain risks to me but I sorted of zoned out so I'll ask him to explain again next week when I see him.

Would love to hear others experience with it though. What causes it/ how did I catch it??

[*TripleJ*]

i had to have the anti biotics and only ended up with one dose and i didnt know in advance (VE at different hospy long story) it sucked and the canula was a PITA but it was still ok and DS is fine (albeit a bit loony lol)

[Epacris]

What causes it/ how did I catch it??

It’s normal, normal, normal, and there’s nothing you can do about it, it can come and go. It causes no problems for the mother but it can make the baby very sick (and even be fatal - very, very rarely).

[minniemouse]

could you take a course of antibiotics now to get rid of it and get another swab in 1-2 weeks which will hopefully be all clear and then you can continue on with your well thought out plans ?

or if you cant have antibiotics now can you have another swab in a week to check as it is transient and might be gone by then

[Epacris]

Yeah MM, I asked my MW about that but he said, ummm, yeah, it’s just not really “done” like that, because it can come and go, I could be negative at 39-40 weeks anyway. but the chances are if I’ve got it now I’ll have it then. To give the baby the least chance of picking up Strep B (and then possibly getting an infection from it) IV antibiotics need to be given for at least two hours before birth, but even then it depends on exactly when the waters broke and how the labour progressed AND most importantly, the “health and vigour” of the bub?

[onthefly]

Can't you monitor baby's temperature etc at home?

[ezymay]

I just found out I've tested positive too! Grrr!! The MW told me i can't labour at home for too long cause I will need the four hours before bubs is born!!! I just hope it doesn't interfere too much with being mobile throughout labour.

[Danielle_NZ]

In the brochure I got today (yip my results came in positive too) it says 1 in 1000 (newborns) are affected by it
A positive result is only reliable for the next 5 weeks
A third of men & woman carry it in their intestines and a quarter of woman carry it in their vagina
Doesn't cause any problems or symptoms for us

Risks for baby of developing EOGBSD (Early Onset Group B Streptococcal Disease)
* If you have raised temperature during labour
* If you have ruptured membranes for more that 18 hours before you deliver
* If you have tested positive for GBS during the current pregnancy
* If you have tested positive for GBS bacteriuria this pregnancy (when it's found in your urine)
* If you have previously had a baby with EOGBSD
* If your baby is born preterm (less than 35 weeks)

[ladybirdflies]

My midwife told me that nature has ways of protecting the baby. One, the baby is born in the sack. She is a highly experienced midwife(20yrs) and she said that she has seen this coincide on several births. Also, the waters breaking is a natural way to 'clean' the birth canal. Amniotic fluid is sterile, so it does the job. So going into spontaneous labour is a perfect outcome for the birth of baby to a mother that has tested positive to strep! Intervention complicates this situation!
Good luck.

[Epacris]

MadB - yep, that’s the plan.

Danielle - thanks.

Ez - The IV ABs are only supposed to be worth it if they are in for at least two hours. My labour is unlikely to go that long so my MW just isn't even going to bother, that’s why monitoring the baby is going to be important. You know you can always refuse to have them or labour at home as long as you want and get to hospital when you want to. Just be aware of all the implications of your decision.