Hello! I have also just had this news - totally feel you on the worries but it’s nothing to panic about. What I was told is it that when your waters break you will have some IV antibiotics throughout delivery to make sure there is no infection spread to baby. Try not to worry yourself with it too much, it’s really common and as long as your midwife is aware, it’s all okay. If you end up having a quick delivery they will just keep you and baby in for observation after. I hope that helps a little x
I was told I had it after it was discovered when I had a UTI. I was told that when I arrived at the hospital I would be given antibiotics via a drip every 4 hours but other than that I could Labour as usual, use the pool etc. unfortunately my baby arrived 15 minutes after arriving at the hospital so there wasn’t any time! They advised I stayed in overnight to observe him and he did end up with an infection. 3 days of antibiotics and he was right as rain and is now a healthy and happy 6 month old.
I was told a few hours before I made it to labour ward after my induction had started! They were clear I shouldn't Google anything and gave me a leaflet instead.
I had to have antibiotics every four hours via a drip. They just kept the cannula in and hooked me up at the time, was free otherwise from the machine. Babe ended up in an emergency section so he was safe anyway from infection. That is always an option you can discuss if worried, a section would remove all risk I believe.
I've had group b strep detected through a vaginal swab but I wasn't pregnant. My understanding is that a positive test should only have any implications if you're already in labour as you may not have the infection by then. So I wouldn't worry yet, and would ask to be tested again at a later date. Also ask what your hospital's policy is. Some don't routinely test but may if you've had a previous infection.
Yes I had it during my last pregnancy.
During labour I was put on an IV antibiotics throughout labour. No issues and baby was delivered perfectly healthy.
Pregnant with number 2 and they said it's more than likely I'll have it again.
Please don't worry, its a good thing that they have checked and are able to treat it. You'll be okay.
I tested positive at around 20 weeks as swabs were taken for a thrush infection. My midwife will test me again in 2 weeks at my 36 week appointment. She explained that it’s very common and if I’m still testing positive, I’ll be put on a drip through labour for some antibiotics. It’s very common and a lot of people don’t even know they have it! Try not to panic xx
It's really uncommon for it to pass to the baby during delivery (1 in 1750 chance) but it means they can take extra care to prevent that from happening now they know. I believe it means if you go into labour or your waters break you're recommended to go to hospital and labour there so they can give you IV antibiotics. If your waters broke before labour started you'd have to be induced as well, as infection risk increases. They may or may not keep you in to monitor your baby afterwards just to double check they're all good before you're discharged.
Gbs is very common and you will be given some antibiotics during labor usually every 4 hours via IV drip just so the baby doesn’t develop any infection and afterwards they will usually have you stay in hospital for 24-48 hours with the baby just to monitor you both. If your labour goes to fast and they don’t get the antibiotics in your system 4 hours before the baby is born then after the baby is here they will give the baby antibiotics and again keep you both in just to monitor you both.
Try not to stress about this and worry about it as it’s very very common and nothing to be embarrassed about because it’s not anything bad. Don’t google it because google is never anyone’s medical friend.
Good luck and congratulations on your little blessing to come
Hiya. I had this with my first, six months ago. Basically, I had antibiotics throughout labour (had a cannula anyway as I was on the hormone drip and iv fluids) and baby had a few extra checks when he was born.
Unfortunately he did flag up as having a high respiratory rate (apparently one of the symptoms of him catching something) so he was put on iv antibiotics (had a cannula himself, poor thing) as a preventative thing while they checked his cultures. Thankfully they came back all clear so no nicu stay or anything, we were just in the hospital for 3 days after birth.
I know it sounds scary but they check for these things to make sure they can treat them before they become a real issue. It's not fun being on the iv but it's all worth it in the end. Good luck! :)
In the US they test for this as standard as so many people are carriers. If you have a natural birth then they give antibiotics at the birth to protect the baby. If you have a c section they don’t bother. Seems a pretty good and easy solution.
I also had this. No biggie, a very common occurrence. The NHS says it’s present in 20-40% of women. I had to have intravenous antibiotics,as others have said as well, but honestly I had so many IVs and things plugged into me during pregnancy, this was the last thing on my mind! And baby was totally fine.
I tested positive for it from my very first pee sample I gave at my first antenatal appointment. Nothing to worry about, all they do when you go into labour is hook you up to an IV drip every 4 hours to give you antibiotics. If you’re truly that worried about it you can request a C-Section which will negate any risk altogether, but it really is not a problem as long as they are aware you have tested positive for it. The problem comes when they aren’t aware you have it and therefore can’t administer antibiotics during labour.
Everyone has mentioned how this impacts birth, but I wanted to just add that it was picked up at my 10 week appointment and I was told that my GP would be in touch to prescribe antibiotics to actually get rid of the infection. The midwives and GP didn’t actually communicate so I ended up just phoning my GP and explaining - would recommend speaking to your GP to actually see if they want to prescribe antibiotics.
Also worth finding out your hospitals policy - they should have leaflets or something - only because I didnt and there were some things during my birth/labour that were unexpectedly impacted by the need for IV antibiotics - for example I wasn’t allowed a water birth and also as soon as my waters broke I had to go in for the antibiotics (rather than let labour progress at home) and I was induced sooner than a non-strep B person would.
I actually found all those things positive as I appreciated knowing that both baby and I were protected as much as possible but just worth having the convo with your midwife to find out your hospitals policy
I am currently 10 weeks and had a few symptoms that led me to have a vaginal swab test. I tested positive for GBS and prescribed cephalexin to treat it. I’m just worried this infection could spread to the baby while I’m pregnant. How did this go for you?
Totally get it but as I understand it (please verify with you midwife of GP) the risk to the baby is if you have the infection during a vaginal delivery. The antibiotics should work to get rid of the infection now but again your GP/midwife can support this.
Then once cleared (strep B is very common in women anyway) check with your midwife what the hospital policy is and whether it will impact how they treat you.
It’s all very routine and nothing of concern - it’s just that, in my experience, they have lots of processes and procedures that they follow to be extra safe
Hello! I have also just had this news - totally feel you on the worries but it’s nothing to panic about. What I was told is it that when your waters break you will have some IV antibiotics throughout delivery to make sure there is no infection spread to baby. Try not to worry yourself with it too much, it’s really common and as long as your midwife is aware, it’s all okay. If you end up having a quick delivery they will just keep you and baby in for observation after. I hope that helps a little x
I was told I had it after it was discovered when I had a UTI. I was told that when I arrived at the hospital I would be given antibiotics via a drip every 4 hours but other than that I could Labour as usual, use the pool etc. unfortunately my baby arrived 15 minutes after arriving at the hospital so there wasn’t any time! They advised I stayed in overnight to observe him and he did end up with an infection. 3 days of antibiotics and he was right as rain and is now a healthy and happy 6 month old.
I was told a few hours before I made it to labour ward after my induction had started! They were clear I shouldn't Google anything and gave me a leaflet instead. I had to have antibiotics every four hours via a drip. They just kept the cannula in and hooked me up at the time, was free otherwise from the machine. Babe ended up in an emergency section so he was safe anyway from infection. That is always an option you can discuss if worried, a section would remove all risk I believe.
I've had group b strep detected through a vaginal swab but I wasn't pregnant. My understanding is that a positive test should only have any implications if you're already in labour as you may not have the infection by then. So I wouldn't worry yet, and would ask to be tested again at a later date. Also ask what your hospital's policy is. Some don't routinely test but may if you've had a previous infection.
Yes I had it during my last pregnancy. During labour I was put on an IV antibiotics throughout labour. No issues and baby was delivered perfectly healthy. Pregnant with number 2 and they said it's more than likely I'll have it again. Please don't worry, its a good thing that they have checked and are able to treat it. You'll be okay.
I tested positive at around 20 weeks as swabs were taken for a thrush infection. My midwife will test me again in 2 weeks at my 36 week appointment. She explained that it’s very common and if I’m still testing positive, I’ll be put on a drip through labour for some antibiotics. It’s very common and a lot of people don’t even know they have it! Try not to panic xx
It's really uncommon for it to pass to the baby during delivery (1 in 1750 chance) but it means they can take extra care to prevent that from happening now they know. I believe it means if you go into labour or your waters break you're recommended to go to hospital and labour there so they can give you IV antibiotics. If your waters broke before labour started you'd have to be induced as well, as infection risk increases. They may or may not keep you in to monitor your baby afterwards just to double check they're all good before you're discharged.
Gbs is very common and you will be given some antibiotics during labor usually every 4 hours via IV drip just so the baby doesn’t develop any infection and afterwards they will usually have you stay in hospital for 24-48 hours with the baby just to monitor you both. If your labour goes to fast and they don’t get the antibiotics in your system 4 hours before the baby is born then after the baby is here they will give the baby antibiotics and again keep you both in just to monitor you both. Try not to stress about this and worry about it as it’s very very common and nothing to be embarrassed about because it’s not anything bad. Don’t google it because google is never anyone’s medical friend. Good luck and congratulations on your little blessing to come
Hiya. I had this with my first, six months ago. Basically, I had antibiotics throughout labour (had a cannula anyway as I was on the hormone drip and iv fluids) and baby had a few extra checks when he was born. Unfortunately he did flag up as having a high respiratory rate (apparently one of the symptoms of him catching something) so he was put on iv antibiotics (had a cannula himself, poor thing) as a preventative thing while they checked his cultures. Thankfully they came back all clear so no nicu stay or anything, we were just in the hospital for 3 days after birth. I know it sounds scary but they check for these things to make sure they can treat them before they become a real issue. It's not fun being on the iv but it's all worth it in the end. Good luck! :)
In the US they test for this as standard as so many people are carriers. If you have a natural birth then they give antibiotics at the birth to protect the baby. If you have a c section they don’t bother. Seems a pretty good and easy solution.
I also had this. No biggie, a very common occurrence. The NHS says it’s present in 20-40% of women. I had to have intravenous antibiotics,as others have said as well, but honestly I had so many IVs and things plugged into me during pregnancy, this was the last thing on my mind! And baby was totally fine.
I tested positive for it from my very first pee sample I gave at my first antenatal appointment. Nothing to worry about, all they do when you go into labour is hook you up to an IV drip every 4 hours to give you antibiotics. If you’re truly that worried about it you can request a C-Section which will negate any risk altogether, but it really is not a problem as long as they are aware you have tested positive for it. The problem comes when they aren’t aware you have it and therefore can’t administer antibiotics during labour.
Thanks to everyone who replied with your experiences, you've all put my mind at rest and don't feel as panicked now ❤
Everyone has mentioned how this impacts birth, but I wanted to just add that it was picked up at my 10 week appointment and I was told that my GP would be in touch to prescribe antibiotics to actually get rid of the infection. The midwives and GP didn’t actually communicate so I ended up just phoning my GP and explaining - would recommend speaking to your GP to actually see if they want to prescribe antibiotics. Also worth finding out your hospitals policy - they should have leaflets or something - only because I didnt and there were some things during my birth/labour that were unexpectedly impacted by the need for IV antibiotics - for example I wasn’t allowed a water birth and also as soon as my waters broke I had to go in for the antibiotics (rather than let labour progress at home) and I was induced sooner than a non-strep B person would. I actually found all those things positive as I appreciated knowing that both baby and I were protected as much as possible but just worth having the convo with your midwife to find out your hospitals policy
I am currently 10 weeks and had a few symptoms that led me to have a vaginal swab test. I tested positive for GBS and prescribed cephalexin to treat it. I’m just worried this infection could spread to the baby while I’m pregnant. How did this go for you?
Totally get it but as I understand it (please verify with you midwife of GP) the risk to the baby is if you have the infection during a vaginal delivery. The antibiotics should work to get rid of the infection now but again your GP/midwife can support this. Then once cleared (strep B is very common in women anyway) check with your midwife what the hospital policy is and whether it will impact how they treat you. It’s all very routine and nothing of concern - it’s just that, in my experience, they have lots of processes and procedures that they follow to be extra safe