If my waters break what shall I do?!

[alice77]

I'm 37 weeks yesterday, going for a VBAC at the Mercy melbourne. Everyone is super supportive and I have had zero resistance along the way. My ob appt yesterday, she said baby was engaged! She said I have over 80% chance I'll birth naturally!!

Anyway, the issues I have been having is Group B Strep. I was positive last birth and that is what started the "cascade of interventions" that lead to a ceasar. My waters started to leak before labour started and I went straight into the hospital.

My fear is that this time round my waters will break first and then I'll have to go into hospital for the antibiotics. My ob said that if this happens I'll have 24 hours to get labour started - but this will be in the hospital environment. I was hoping to stay at home as long as possible.

I'm not quite sure what I'm asking but I need to have a strategy in place. Any advice?

I requested that I be swabbed again for GBS and I'm hoping that I'm negative then I won't have to worry about this but just in case...

[Beach Mama]

I went to the Mercy too for my birth (attempted VBAC) and just be aware that I tested negative with this pregnancy but because I was tested + for Izzy their policy is to administer AB's anyway! Ridiculous, I told them I was declining it, they put it on my file and I agreed that we would monitor bub once he was here for temps at each feed. Be aware that you can test - and be + and viceversa. You don't HAVE to have the ab's - many hospitals don't even test for GBS anymore. There are a few thread around and loads of info - maybe find them and see how you go. You will have a better chance if you stay at home for as long as possible which is what it sounds like you want to do anyway. Crying baby have to fly but hopefully someone else with thread links and stats will pop in.

[Sair]

I refused the GBS test and was an unknown so I could avoid the canula and anti-biotics. What they do instead is monitor the babys temp for 48 hours after birth to determine if the baby got an infection. You have every right to refuse anything the hospital wants to do. To protect yourself from infection just keep internals to a minimum and take vitamin c every 12 hours after rupture.

Good luck!

[SweetPea]

I also heard that if you test positive you can take oral antibiotics leading up to your due date. Maybe it's something you could discuss with your obs if you test positive. All the best for your VBAC, not long to go now!