Strep Group B

Updated on February 29, 2008
H.M. asks from Cumming, GA
23 answers

Has anyone had any experience with Strep Group B.
My sister-in-law called me yesterday very upset that she is 37 weeks and her Strep Group B test came back positive.
She is scared that something is very wrong... I told here that the doctors know how to manage this and there really isn't anything to worry about- but to be honest I don't know much about this and don't know anyone who had this issue.
Does anyone have any advice on how to make her feel better about this experience. This will be her third baby.

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So What Happened?

I wanted to Thank everyone for your responses... it really helped put everyone at ease!
My sister-in-law had a baby boy 9lbs 22 inches (2 weeks ago) and everything went great! He had no problems and she was fine too!
Thanks again for all the wonderful advice and stories.

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D.D.

answers from Savannah on

Strep Group B is common in women. The only thing that will change about her labor is that she will be given antibiotics by IV. There is nothing wrong w/ her or the baby.

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M.M.

answers from Atlanta on

Hello. I just had my third daugther in Dec. I didn't have the Strep B, but when I went into labor and they couldn't find my test results, they made me be on anitbodics while in labor, through my IV. They also gave my daughter anitbodics once she was born, through an IV also. "Just to be careful", they said. We're fine. She and the baby will just have to have antibodics in the hospital. "At least thats what happened in my sitituation". I hope this helps...

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M.

answers from Atlanta on

I was also positive for Strep Group B. They need to get 2 units of antibiotics into her through an IV before she gives birth. It can be a very harful thing to the baby if the antibiotics are not administered in time. When I called the Doctor to say I was in labor she initially told me to wait until my contractions were stronger before I came to the hospital. I told her I was pretty sure my membrane had ruptured (water broke) she asked if I was group B positive she told me to go ahead and come to the Hospital. She may want to keep that in mind. She will want to get there pretty soon if she starts laboring. My Son is 15 mos. old now and he is perfectly healthy and I was fine also. I hope this helps.

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C.H.

answers from Augusta on

With my second child I had that same test done and it came back positive, I was told it's more common in young mothers. At first I had no concern b/c my OB assured me that they will stay on top of it and that during my labor (which was induced) they would give me an antibiotic to keep it from passing to the baby during labor. If she has a c-section she should have no concern b/c from what I was told Strep B is just a bacteria that some women have in their vagina, it's not harmful to the women and most dont know they have it until they get pregnant but that if passed to the baby it could cause breathing and upper respitory problems. When I went in for my induction on July 7th last yr I was given the antibiotic and figured all would be well but unforantely it still got passed to my baby and when he was born he had to have a team of doctors get him breathing well and for the few seconds I got to hold him u could hear him weezing for air. Naturally I was very upset and panicking...the doctor that was going to be in charge of my baby assured me that he would be fine but that he had pnemonia in his lungs and that he would have to stay a few days...they told me at first that it wasnt likely that I would get to bring him home when I left but that it could MAYBE be a day or so after...he got no better so he ended up having to stay for a week. Unforantely for me I had an older 3 yr old as well and my husband had to work so I had to come home without my baby and couldnt stay but we drove up there every day and spent a few hours visitng him. It was very heart breaking to come home not prengnat and with no baby. The hardest part was having to be wheeled out of the hospital with an empty carseat, it took everything I had not to cry. My cousins gf was due about a month after my baby was born and she too had the strep and it also passed to the baby, her and my baby both had to do the week stay and had the same doctor. Its a serious risk to the baby but not at the moment...only if the baby passes through the vagina is it at risk. The only thing she can do it to stay on top of it by asking lots of questions and making sure her doctors and the ones that will be assisting her during labor when that day comes do everything they can to prevent it from getting to the baby. They told me the antibiotic was supposed to work as well as my cousins baby, but it didn't work so I hope all goes well for her and let her know that while it can be life threatening for the baby that most babies turn out fine...while it was scary for me at first...now I have my 20 lbs 9 month old and couldnt be happier, so if she does have this happen...it will be ok.

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S.M.

answers from Cincinnati on

I had a positive strep B test with my second child. I was also very nervous when I received the test results. My doctor told me that strep B is very common and about 75% of pregnant women have a positive result. When I went into labor, I was given an antibiodics through an IV and everything went well. The baby had no reaction and niether did I. I'm sure your sister in law and baby will be fine.

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A.W.

answers from Atlanta on

I had Strep B with both my kids, and they are perfect and fine. It really isnt a big deal at all. When you go into labor all they do is give you antibiotic. Basically all Strep B means is that the bacteria is present but as long as you get the antibiotics everything is fine. Just make sure to go to the hospital at the first signs of labor to make sure you get them in time.

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R.H.

answers from Columbus on

Group B Strep is extremely common. What will happen is antibiotics will be administered during the labor. My OB told me that out of mothers that are GBS+ only about half would have babies that would become ill due to it IF, and that is IF they did NOT receive the antibiotics. He further explained that out of the babies that would get sick from no antibiotics during labor when the mother was GBS+, only a small percentage would develop serious complications. However, since even a small percentage COULD develop serious complications if no antibiotics were given (commonly given is penicillin if mother is not allergic) they test and treat for it. GBS can also "come and go". . .i.e. a person can have it during one pregnancy and not another. I would just reassure her that it is EXTREMELY common in people and with the antibiotics it eliminates the already small chance of anything happening. Congrats on gaining a new niece or nephew in the near future!! It is wonderful you are such a supportive sister!!

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M.M.

answers from Atlanta on

When my doctors told me I was positive with strep b I freaked out. I was like what i take a shower everyday and stay clean. But then they explained that has nothing to do with and like 70% of all women have it. They just administered antibiotics and everything was good. I was induced so the whole time I was on pitossin i had a bag of antibiotics (36hours before I even went into active labor) and my baby came out perfect!!

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J.H.

answers from Augusta on

Hi I had step group B with my first child. i do not know much about it but it didn't complicate my pregnancy any. The doctors told me it came back positive and I didnt hear anymore about it after that.

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K.R.

answers from Macon on

My test came back positive also. It is completely harmless to the mother, but can cause problems with the baby at birth. all they do is put you on antibiotics when you go into labor to take care of it. they really didnt make it out to be a big deal to me. just tell her from experience its nothing major.

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H.W.

answers from Atlanta on

I had that and my doctor acted like it was very common. They just give you an iv antibiotic a few hours before hand and during. My second one actually came a little too early and I hadn't been getting the antibiotic very long, but everything turned out great! (-:

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J.C.

answers from Savannah on

Hi, I am strep b positive and I have had three kids. I just had to get antibiotics or your child has a risk of a ton of infections, the most serious being sepsus. My middle child got it from me having such a quick delivery and not being able to get the medicine in my system. We didnt know if she was going to make it. The chance of survival of Sepsus is not good in a new born. But she did!!! =)
So just let her know she must get to the hospital at the first sign on labor so she has enough time to get her meds in!

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B.

answers from Augusta on

I was strep b positive with my 2nd child when I went into labor they just put an antibiotic into my IV and all was well. tell her to relax that its pretty normal actually theres a lot of women that come out with a positive strep b test. now my son did end up being born blue and not breathing with lungs full of fluid. strep B had nothing to do with it. he was born via emergency c section and didnt get wrung out properly.

heres what webmd says about what the symptoms of a newborn infected with strep b are

What are the symptoms?

Newborns infected with group B strep at birth do not have the same symptoms as an older child or adult. Symptoms may include high or low body temperature, irritability, lethargy, increased respiratory rate, and difficulty feeding. Newborns suspected to be infected with group B strep need to be seen by a health professional immediately, as the infection can be life-threatening.

heres the entire link

http://children.webmd.com/tc/Group-B-Streptococcal-Infect...

hope this helps

its not something she should freak out about the antibiotics should have 2 rounds adminstured via IV during labor safest way to ensure she gets both rounds is to schedule and induction, which is part of why mine was scheduled induction other reason was because he was big and my first labor didnt go so well and my daughter was smaller than he but thats beside the point lol .

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C.G.

answers from Atlanta on

Hello , H.. All is well , let your sister-in-law know she and the baby will be fine. I have three children 10,5,2 all girls. My pregnancies with my last 2 I had Strep, and it's nothing real serious nowadays because its treated with antibiotics right before delivery. They do it that way to ensure you don't pass it on to the baby. But it's associated with being pregnant. It's a vagianl infection. Again, that clears up, she shouldn't be alarmed.

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H.B.

answers from Atlanta on

Hi-

I had group b strep and my daughter is now 2 years old. We all have bacteria and group b strep is a type of bacteria that not all women have but those that do need antibiotics to make sure that the baby isn't exposed to it during a vaginial delivery. All they do is administer a bag or 2 of penicillin prior to delivery to be sure that the baby doesn't get it. I had a perfect pregnancy, delivery and now a perfect 2 year old so there shouldn't be any worries. Promise.

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T.M.

answers from Atlanta on

Two weeks ago I gave birth to a healthy little girl. I also had a positive Group B Strep test. Tell your sister-in-law that this strain of strep is like a body cold. Her body has a cold that she naturally fights off. Sometimes this cold can come as a yeast infection or positive pap smears, but sometimes there are no signs at all of this cold. The concern for the baby is when she goes into labor and her water breaks there is a chance the baby can also get this cold and has a few side effects which I would suggest she look online about. With a positive test result you OB just wants to make sure that you get enough doses of antibiotics in your system before you deliver. They want to make sure you get at least two doses. My husband and I made the decision to be induced two days before my due date to make sure that there was enough time for the antibiotics (each dose takes 4-5 hours to enter the system). If there isn't enough time for at least two doses then the baby just has a few more tests to pass and a round of antibiotics (this can also extend the length of the babies hospital stay). Tell your sister-in-law that there is nothing to worry about and that about 75% of pregnant women test positive. It isn't a sexually transmitted disease, nor can she pass it to her husband or anyone else in any way. The only concern is at the time of birth. Hope this helps!

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T.W.

answers from Orlando on

I had Strep Group B when I was pregnant. Please tell your sister-in-law not to worry. It is very common. They gave me a shot the day of delivery to take care of it so it does not affect the baby.

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J.J.

answers from Athens on

I tested positive for it with my third child and I tell you that dr could've been telling me I had cancer b/c I acted like it was the end of the world. I thought something must be wrong w/me as a woman. I was induced and they gave me antibiotics during delivery and other than that it was just like my 1st two deliveries. Nothing special or unusual happend and my baby was born healthy just like his brothers. Afterwards I got to wondering if this was so bad how come they didn't check for it back when i was pregnant with my other 2 and since i probably had it back then and i had normal healthy kids then it's no wonder everything is fine. Just tell her that to me it sounds alot scarier than it is and with the antibiotics she should be just fine. Good luck

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C.F.

answers from Atlanta on

Hey H.,
Tell her to enjoy her wonderful bundle of joy and I am so glad everything went ok for her.

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D.H.

answers from Atlanta on

Both of my babies were born three weeks early, so I wasn't able to get the strep-B test results back in time. When I went into labor they just included antibiotics with my IV to ensure that if I had strep-B it wouldn't be passed onto or harm the baby. Luckily my tests came back negative after the babies were born but I never got the impression that it was a big deal, just one extra step to take in the delivery room.

Hope that helps and tell her not to worry too much because she doesn't need the stress to affect her blood pressure.

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B.J.

answers from Atlanta on

I actually had Strep B with all three of my children we didn't know with the first baby and it did pass to him during the delivery he spent 7 days in the NICU hooked to IV's and montior but 11 years ago they didn't test for it. They did test him to tell us what was wrong with him. Hes has no long term effects from it. I was give antibotics with the second and third babies and every thing was normal. Strep B is just a bateria the pregant woman carry not all the time just some of the time. My sister just had her baby 3 weeks ago and she tested postive for it. I think the antibotic have to be in your system 4 hour before its considered "safe" for the baby to be born. she had to stay an extra 2 days so the baby could be monitored and blood drawn to make sure it didn't pass. Hers was only in her systen a little over 2 hours. I hope this helps. Good luck and Congradulations ! ! !

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C.M.

answers from Savannah on

hi H..

my sister-in -law had it with both of her children. all they will do is give your sister-in-law iv antibiotics during the delivery so she won't pass it on to the baby and everything should be fine!! good luck!!

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A.M.

answers from Atlanta on

No worries about this really, I had it myself with the girls and all it means is that if she has a vaginal birth, they'll put antiobiotics in the IV to make sure baby doesn't catch the germs on the way out. That's all, nothing more to worry about!

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