Group B Strep - Biddeford,ME

My sister tested positive on 2 out of the three of her children. The babies were fine, they just have to give you an antibiotic every 4 hours and I believe they give the baby an antibiotic also. I don't think it's anything to worry about.

I was GBS positive with both of my daughters and neither had any problems at all. In your IV at the hospital, they just start the antibiotics every 4 hours. The only thing they told me extra was that if my water broke, that meant I'd need to go in right away, even if labor hadn't started, because I needed the antibiotics then. Being GBS positive is something that happens to about 30% of women, so it's pretty common. Good luck and don't worry!

I was strep B positive when I gave birth to my son. I was put on an IV while I was in labor and delivery and there were no conplications. My Doctor was nonchalant about it as well so I guess there is no real risk to the baby if you get right to the hospital if your water breaks at home. Good luck!!

I too was positive for group B strep and was treated with antiiotics during labor. Mine was put right into my IV. My son had a little thrush (I think thats how it is spelt) but they said it was more due to the antibiotics than the strep. Both of us came out fine. My son is now a very lively 6 year old.

I was also + for Group B and i had to be on antibiotics when i was in labor, but mine was every 12 hours, my son ended up with thrush because of it but we got it cleared up right away and he was and still is fine as can be, he could not be any healthier

***edit*** also the antibioticcs where put into my iv it was in a bag in a drip, i think it was penacillen (sp)

hi, i have four kids and the only one i had group b strep with was my first, but as a precautionary, they gave me the antibiotic with all the pregnancies. my daughter was fine, i wouldnt worry about anything.

Hi E.,

I know it's hard, but do your best not to worry much about this. More often than not, nothing happens. I tested positive for Group B Strep as well with my last pregnancy, which happened to be my FOURTH pregnancy. I have NEVER tested positive for it before. The doctors said that it's something that can lay dormant for a long time & then rear its ugly head all of a sudden. It's something that they monitor as a precaution, out of care for the baby, but most often, everything turns out just fine. Trust me, I know as well as anyone that it's impossible not to let this weigh on your mind all of the time. I actually had the test they do for DNA abnormalities come back as a high risk before testing positive for the Group B Strep. I had to wait 2 weeks to have an amnio, then wait another 10 days for the result of THAT. Turns out my baby, who had a 1 out of 13 chance for Down Syndrome, was PERFECTLY normal...oh, and a female! What a tremendous relief and joy! Then I had the Strep B test done. Ugh! It was just one thing after another with my last pregnancy and worrying about things will only cause you AND the baby more stress than is necessary. Don't freak out about it....ok!! I'm sure you'll both be fine!!! Take care!

W.
Freetown, MA

I also tested positive for group B strep and all they do is give you antibiotic through an IV the hole time you are in labor and they also give the baby an antibiotic as a precautionary action. My middle child is the one I tested positive with and is perfectly healthy.

Hi E. I dont have experience with GBS but I did have pneumonia when I was in labor and was treated with antibiotics and my son was treated after he was born. He was fine but just developed thrush in his mouth that was treated by his pediatrician. Good luck, everything will be fine!

E.:
I tested positive for Group B Strep. I had the antibiotic in labor and never thought about it again until reading your question. Everything was fine:)

I tested positive for Group B Strep with my second child. I arrived at the hospital at 7cm as labor had progressed super fast. I was worried about the Group B Strep and delivering without my epidural so I begged for one. Nurses told me I didn't need one and would most likely deliver in 10 minutes. But my doctor gave me the epidural to calm me down as well as buy me some time to receive antibiotics. Labor slowed down after the epidural and I had about an hour or so of I.V. antibiotics before delivery. The epidural also allowed me time to deliver with less pain and really enjoy the birth of my son. He was born perfectly healthy without any complications from a vaginal delivery with Group B Strep. Congratulations and good luck!

GBS as you have seen is very common. I also had it with my second & third pregnancy.FWIW, there's a theory that most of us contract GBS while in the hospital with our first child, which is why it's so much more common with second pregnancies. While your water is intact, there really is no need to worry about it. And imo, if your water breaks and you deliver quickly there is also little reason to worry. It's when your water breaks early in labor or even before labor has started and birth doesn't happen for hours & hours that the risk of the baby testing positive starts to increase. Although most docs want to start you on antibiotics even if your water is intact as soon as labor starts. For me, having an IV in during labor feels very invasive & limiting; so I refused antibiotics until my water broke. Also during the pregnancies I took fish oil supplements, which is thought to strengthen the amnion sack- it's "crunchy" health advice & I can't swear it works,but my water with my daughter didn't break until just as she was crowning. With my son, because of a stalled labor, I agreed to let my water be broken before we got a chance to see how long it would hold out. There are also 'alternative' ideas for treating group B strep- like doses of vitimin C (during pregnancy & during labor), garlic, and others I can't remember at the moment. I'd do a search online and get some ideas, then ask your doctor if she/he thinks they may help. ]
Good luck
D.

hi, I wanted to let you know that it really isnt a big deal. I didnt have it with my first son, 4 years ago, but with my almost 2 year old I did. its not sexually if you were wondering. from what the dr told me was that one day you could be positive and the next be negitive. actually they only started tested moms about 5 years ago.actually now if a woman goes into premature labor they give the antibiotics autmatically just in case. so it really isnt a big deal. I think if a mom was postive and gave birth it could cause an infection if the baby's eyes or throat. you should sign up for babycenter they have all kinds of info. good luck and congratulations.

I had the same thing with my first baby. I was given perscription antibiotics and then was supposed to have them during labor...but everything happened too fast (10 minutes) so they never had time to give them to me. She was perfectly fine...except for being 6 weeks early and having problems associated with that. They also assumed that they would do the same thing with my second, as far as antibiotics, but they never had time again and he was also fine. I never actually had the antibiotics but everything should be fine, if everything turned out okay for me without them than you should be perfectly fine with them!!!

E., I had it with my son, and as soon as you enter the hospital, tell them asap so they can administer the first dose.. you need two doses of the meds in you before you deliver and everythign will be fine!!!! don't worry about it!!!! My son is perfectly fine...

Hi E.!
At my 35 week checkup they told me that I had Group B Strep also. My midwife assured me that it is normal and that as long as it is treated there is a very slim chance of the baby having a problem. I had my daughter 7 weeks ago and she is perfectly fine. My labor started (my water broke )at 1:00am I called and they told me to go to the hospital to get the first dose of antibiotics. Then they sent me home while the contractions picked up. At 5am I went back in and was admitted I received another dose at 10am and my daughter was born at 11am. Everything else about the birth was absolutely normal and the fact that I had this did not change anything. So don't worry about it as long as you go to the hospital when labor begins you are all set. Good luck!!

I didn't know about GBS either when I was having my third child that is when I heard about it. Do not be scared the IV was in the whole time and my baby came out healthy and stong. good luck and don't worry.

I tested positive for GBS with my first pregnancy. I was put on antbiotics durring labor, and there was no issues what so ever. Just make sure that when you go to the hospital you let them know, and most likely everything thing will be fine. It is a really common thing.

I also tested positive for 2 of my three kids. They gave me iv meds and one of the two babies had thrush. Other than that, everything was fine. I your baby does get thrush, tell your dr. at one of his first appt. so they can give meds. Good luck!

Hi E.,
I have 5 kids, and they say 20% of pregnancies test positive for Group B Strep and I am the perfect example... my last baby, 8 months ago I was GBS+. They give you 2 doses of antibiotics during your labor, 4 hours apart (if there is time). I got about 1 dose and Perry came rather quickly. So they were a little concerned, but he was fine. I wouldn't worry too much. It's a standard thing and they have procedures in place.
C. in Andover, NH

Hi E.,
With my oldest child my water broke but my labor stopped. I was in labor(off & on) on pitocin for 5 days. They did a strep B test and it was positive. They put me on antibiotics and after my daughter was born she was on IV antibiotics for 10 days (in the hospital). She is now 18yo and perfectly fine. I agree with the other moms that this is nothing to worry about as long as you are treated and the baby is tested and treated if necessary. But you should know that if untreated this is a serious illness. It can cause blindness and a host of other problems in a newborn. I think it is a great thing that they are testing moms now. When I was pregnant it was not a routine test. When I was pregnant with my other children I made sure that I told my docs about being positive with my first. I think the best thing you can do is make the docs at the hospital aware of your being positive as soon as you go into labor and get the antibiotics as soon as they will give them to you and you & your baby will be fine. I wish you all the best with a wonderful, healthy baby!

i was diagnosed with gbs in my second pregnancy and found out that it can also bring on early labor and if you have quick labor under 10 hours they wont have enough time to give you all the doses of antibiotics that you need it can also make your baby sick if you don't get the meds you need my labor lasted 8 hrs so they only had one dose of the meds needed i don't want to scare you but you might want to do a search and find out everything you can about it and on your next check up ask your doctor some questions on it.

E....I have to tell you that I also tested positive for Group B Strep, and the doctors did not seem the least bit worried, so I didn't worry. They said it was very common and just let the doctors know when I am in labor.
I told them as soon as I got to the hospital and they gave be 3 doses of antibiotics in an IV every 4 hours. Unfortunately, my son was born with Group B Strep. He seemed very healthy, but when they tested his blood it was there. Normally, when a baby tests positive for Group B Strep, they have to be on antibiotics for 12 days, which means staying in the hospital with an IV. My husband and I were devestated. Crying all the time, but if they did not treat him he could have been very sick. My son Alden started his anitbiotics with an IV in his arm, and that was so hard to see. He couldn't bend his arm or the IV could come out. He had to have 2 doses of antibiotics a day...9am and 9pm. By the 5th day in the hospital Alden was doing very well and they let us take him home, but we had to go back to the hospital at 9am and 9pm every day for the next 7 days so they could administer the drugs. His IV ended up coming out at the first visit back to the hospital and they had to give him shots in his legs for the 6 remaining days.
E., it was so hard to go through, and most likely your son will not be born with it. I just wanted to give you some insight on what I went through, when the doctors say don't worry, read your pamphlets. It can happen. I think the hardest thing for me was knowing that he was sick because of me. My son is now 10 months old and doing very well. I went to Southern Maine Medical Center and they were GREAT!! The nurses and the doctors there were so nice. I hope I didn't scare you, it wasn't my intentions. Good luck with your new baby boy.
T.