Strep B Infection

I have tested positive for Strep B for both of my pregnancies. It is just a form (strain) of the streptococci bateria that lives on skin. When you are in labor, you will be treated with a powerful from of Penecillin (Penicillin F, I think). While you are immune to Strept B, a newborn is not and it can make them sick. However, if you are treated with the Penecillin while in labor, it kills the Strept B at that point (temporarily) and most babies are fine. It is one of the many bacterias that we co-exist with. One way to help minimize it and it's effects is to be sure to eat yogurt with 3 or more active cultures in it. I hope this helps.

Out of my 4 babies, I only tested positive with the 3rd, despite the general idea that once positive, you're always positive.

Like the other poster said, they like for you to have antibiotics while in labor to prevent the transmission to your baby. But you have a choice in whether or not you take the antibiotics. There is research to suggest that it isn't always the best course of action.

This article was given to me by my midwife to help me decide if I wanted treatment if I tested positive this last pregnancy (but I was negative.) You may want to read it just so that you know all of the risks associated with both having and not having preventative treatment. http://www.mothering.com/articles/pregnancy_birth/birth_p...

I tested positive for Strep with both of my pregnacys. This means you are a carrier. When you are in labor they will give you an IV of antibotics.If strep is passed to the baby in the birth canel it can be harmful to the baby. Make sure that when you go to the hosptial to deliver that the nurses know that you tested positve for strep,they like to get two IV bags into you before you deliver(at least my dr did). Both of my boys are fine!! Hope this helps.

Strep B isn't an infection, it's just the presence of this bacteria in/around the vagina. The hospital will give you an antibiotic (usually in an IV, unless you go 100% natural) to prevent the strep from spreading during childbirth. However, if you have a c-section, it's not necessary.

I have had strep b with my last two pregnancies. I know a lady who had her baby at home and had no idea that she had it. Within a day her baby had a high fever and they took the baby to the hospital. They ran test after test and found out that the mother had strep b and did NOT have any antibiotics during labor and delivery (she had her baby at home)and on the third day-unfortunately, the baby died. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR BABY IN THE HOSPITAL and you and the baby should be just fine!

webmd.com is a great site for medical questions. Its ran by leading doctors and is the best source on the net I have found. I have found if you google anything medical, all you find is the negative about it, webmd.com tells everything about it, plus give other sites like chat groups, that are associated with that particular problem. Good Luck!

Yes, I had strep B during my first pregnacy. I really didn't know much about it before my daughter was born. I remember that my doctor stressed the point of getting to the hospital if my water broke. No shower no nothing and when get there tell them you need antibotics. Well, I was lucky as I was induced so I got the antibotics when being induced. However, I watched a dateline episode on Strep B and complications and boy I was extremely happy I DID NOT TAKE IT LIGHTLY. There are many serious problems(don't want to elaborate as not to frighten you) that can happen to the baby if is goes through the canal(birthing) without those antibotics. So, just be ready to go when your water breaks even if the contractions are far apart. You NEED those antibotics Right Away. I have 3 well daughters(2 are twins) with no problems from strep B, but I had the two rounds of antibotics that are recomended. DOn't worry is normal for women to get this but know what to do when to time is right is important

I also tested positive with my first pregnancy. They just want to get two doses of penicillin in you before you deliver. We all have the bacteria, but when you test positive you have a higher concentration of it. They give you the antibiotics to be safe. I did not test positive with the second one, though. Even if you are planning on doing it 100% natural it is not a problem. I had no medication other than the antibiotic with the first delivery and nothing with the second; however, most ob's want you to have an IV anyway so it really doesn't matter. It doesn't have to hinder the way you want to deliver. Good luck!

Try not to be frightened but--- Strep B is like strep throat but in you vagina. It can be very contagious.
I had it. and I want to warn you-- you can pass it on to the baby while it's being born. Make sure you take the full prescription of antibiaotics and tell the delivery nurse all about it. Go to your regular doc no the ob. My ob didn't do anything and my son was very ill-- almost died-- because he got the infection from me.
Aaron is fine and healthy now, with no lasting effects but I made the mistake of not going back to the doc to make sure the infection was completely gone and I didn't have any symptoms. As soon as I told the pediatrition what I had they gave my son antibiotics and he improved but he was in the hospital for ten days. Make sure it's gone before delivery.

I too was Strep B "positive" (is what they called it). It sounded horrible, but from what little they told me, not to worry. They put me on an antibiotic IV drip for the Strep when I went into the hospital to be induced (I was overdue) along with the pictocin to induce labor. Everything went well and I had no worries. If you are really concerned, don't beat around the bush, tell your doctor or nurse right away. You have enough stress to deal with. But remember you need to get to the hospital right away if your water breaks and let them know about the antibiotics. Take care.

Okay, Group B Strep (GBS) is no big deal as long as you know you have it. Your Dr. is well aware of it and so are you. They will give you antibiotics when you go in labor, or when your water breaks, or if you are being induced they usually start the antibiotics 1st. In my case my OB induces at 38 weeks so he knows that my water will not break 1st and many OB's take this measure these days to prevent spreading GBS to the baby.

This should explain it to you more:

In newborns, group B strep is the most common cause of sepsis (infection of the bloodstream) and meningitis (infection of the lining and fluid surrounding the brain) and a common cause of pneumonia. Group B strep disease in newborns usually occurs in the first week of life ("early- onset"). Babies can also get a slightly less serious "late-onset" form of group B strep disease that develops a week to a few months after birth.

I hope this helps and keep in mind your baby's Dr. and the Hospital nurses are trained to look for signs in your new baby. I have had 6 and no problems (4 of my own and 2 as a surrogate mother). Your Dr. is right and you should not stress about it. Things are usually okay.

I believe this is what I tested positive for with my first pregnancy. I had a c-section but my Ob still had be put on the antibiotics before the surgery. My daughter is fine & I tested negative with my second pregnancy. My OB said its really nothing to worry about as long as I had the antibiotics.