[JJ98]

I was neg for DS but pos for DD and I too was scared of the effects of the antibiotics would have on her.

Having had a quick labour with DS I was also told if there wasn't time to get all the antibiotics into my system then they would give bub a dose when she was born, this concerned me even more. I figured it would be better if it had to be done, for me to be the one to get the dose.

Anyway it turned out that I went to hospital late arvo as i was suspicious my waters were leaking, and they were, but nothing else was happening. They wouldn't let me leave and the 3 doses of antibiotics were administered via the cannula into my hand every 6 hours I think it was (6pm,12am and 6am) so I wasn't "hooked up" to anything, so my mobility wasn't restricted at all.

Worked out well for bub as still no indication of labour until OB broke my waters in morning and then DD was born less than 3 hours later.

As PP have said even though it probably is unlikely your bub would contract strep B, the consequences if bub does can be terrible so personally I wouldn't risk it.

Goodluck

JJ

[allyire]

I had group b strep with both babies. The first I had a cannula for an induction anyway so they administered antibiotics through that.

The second time I went through a birth centre, they gave me a pill to take at home in case my waters broke - which they did. I then had to make sure I went into the centre within 24 hours of my waters breaking (my labour started about 10 hours later so I went in then). They then gave me injections every 4 hours or so - but no cannula needed!

[suline]

OP also check with your OB what he considers adequate cover.

How many doses would he like you to have before the baby is born, how soon prior to birth etc.

Some places, if you don't have adequate cover before the baby is born, or meet certain other risk factors, recommend screening your baby following birth, and administering antibiotics (by iv cannula or injection) to your baby, and wait for the blood results to show if the group b strep has been transmitted or not. (usually 48hrs)

Your ob should be able to go over their policy/hospital policy with you.

[Furfeathersfleec...]

Suline, I am actually a public patient doing shared care with the obstetrician. So he wont be attending the birth.

When his office called they didnt mention needing anything prior to going into labour.

I am seeing my midwives late next week - do you think I need to do anything before that? I dont want to take any risks with the baby

Also, I would definately know if my waters had broke, wouldn't I? There is always a lot of mucousy stuff in my undies (sorry for TMI) ...but I would know if it happened wouldnt I?

Also, is being strep b positive a reason not to use an epi-no? I have been using one but stopped when I got the positive result just in case.

[soontobegran]

You will most probably just have a small cannula in your arm. You do not have to be hooked up to an IV line on a pole unless you are having IV fluids for another reason.
I can't see why you shouldn't use an epi-no. If your membranes are intact your baby is safe.

[suline]

You don't need to do anything prior to your next visit. The midwives should be able to cover the hospital policy of monitoring you and your baby etc.

Most women know when their membranes rupture, its usually a pretty big gush. If you get a bit of a warm trickle, it could be a slow leak. You just need to call up your Ob or head into the hospital to get it checked out - no need to worry.

I would still use the epi-no, I can't see any problems with that!

[runnybabbit]

I was Strep B positive but bub came early (37w2d) and because it was the Easter long weekend, the hospital and obs hadn't received the lab results yet.

We were down south on a dirty romantic getaway when my membranes ruptured, anyhoo, so by the time we got to the hospital and they phoned the lab and realised I was Strep B positive, it had been six hours post membranes rupturing and the baby had been exposed.

They did respiratory, ear and GI swabs when he was born, and he had a course of oral antibiotics (five days). His swabs came back positive but he never showed any signs of being ill because he had his first antibiotic dose when he was about an hour old. Not ideal but that's okay.

The only thing was that we got a bout of nipple/oral thrush as a result of the antibiotic treatment, so just be on the lookout for that. That was a real pain to deal with.

[Tesseract]

The only thing was that we got a bout of nipple/oral thrush as a result of the antibiotic treatment, so just be on the lookout for that. That was a real pain to deal with.

This ^^ was us too. The Royal Women's Hospital website has a good info sheet on nipple thrush. I really wish I had read it beforehand, by the time I figured out what was going on the thrush had set right in and it took a month of treating it to clear it up! We did get there thought.

In regards to being GBS+: I was in a birth centre and they put a cannula in my hand and administered the ABs every 4 hours I think. It only took a minute. The thing in my hand was a little uncomfortable but didn't inhibit me in anyway, it was fine in the shower. The midwife even administered the ABs to me in the shower at one point!

My waters broke long before labor started and they were getting anxious and were going to induce me with the drip, which I really didn't want. Each hospital's policy in regards to induction due to GBS+, membrane rupture and no contractions is different. I highly suggest you discuss this possibility with the midwives so you know where they stand. I managed to avoid the induction and got labor started on my own which was the ideal result for me, but the whole thing may have been quite different and negative if I hadn't have fully understood the risks and policies that we were working with.