My GBS Came Out Positive and I Am Due in 16 Days This Is 2Nd Pregnancy!!!!

It's seriously no big deal and should in no way cause you to have a c-section. It happens all the time and babies come out just fine.

My sister for one tested positive and her baby was just fine. That's why they do the test and why they give you antibiotics...so that there are no problems.

I know it's hard, but try and relax about this one...you're in the home stretch!

-M

DONT PANIC
I had this with both my (completely healthy) kids. Just tell them as soon as you get to the hospital and they will start a drip with antibiotics. Very common, nothing to be concerned about
Good luck

I was GBS positive too. As long as they are able to pump you full of the antibotics before you give birth, everything will be fine.

I had it with my second pregnancy also, I delivered her at home and she was fine. We did try to administer the IV antibiotics but after 2 tries and trying to hold still for the IV I opted out. My daughter was born in 7 minutes the first push my water broke, then her head was born and then her body. We felt that because my water wasn't broken for an extended period of time and that she didn't stay in the birth canal for very long that the risk for her contracting anything because of my GBS, was very low. We did watch her just as a precaution but nothing developed.
Because I had a home birth I did a lot of research and I felt that the antibiotics were the best solution - only because of the circumstances we didn't even use the ones we had. Babies are protected as long as your water hasn't broke. And just so you know only 1 in 200 babies born to mothers with GBS and not treatment for it even become sick. I believe it is almost non-existent if you do have the antibiotics. And please remember this isn't a good enough reason to have a c-section, that is a major surgery and there is so much more recovery time involved. Trust your doctor, this is a very common thing. I know my experience is different but I hope it helps.

This is also my second pregnancy and I am due in 4 days and I'm GBS positive for the second time. I also wanted to add that even if you don't make it in time to the hospital (for the IV antibiotics) - which is my worry - that your baby still has a VERY low risk of getting infected. My doctor told me that the baby has a 3 in 1000 risk of being infected without the use of antibiotics! (For risk perspective - you have a 1 in 1000 chance of getting into a car accident on the highway...do you still drive on the highway?) So if you get the recommended antibiotics - GREAT - your risks are even lower! However, if not - your baby will be monitored and will most likely be fine. I would not elect for a c-section just for being GBS positive - it is a fairly common thing. Good luck to you!

Put your worries to rest. GBS when UNTREATED can cause problems, but when treated as your doctor will do with the antibiotics, it's not a big deal at all. A c-section on the other hand is major abdominal surgery. GBS does not indicate a need for an elective c-section, and trust me, those can cause waaay more complications.

What I think you need to do, is seriously weigh the risks vs the benefits of both an elective c-section (and really research those risks because they are very real) and TREATED GBS (of which the risks are vitually none). Write it all out on a sheet of paper so you can get a clear picture of each one. That will help you make your decision.

As a datapoint, I had GBS with my daughter, and it was no big deal at all. I took the antibiotics, and we were both great! She's super healthy, happy, and smart.

D., I was GBS with both pregnancies. Delivered both vaginally, with no complications for the babies (who are now exceptionally healthy 3 and 5 year olds.) I think getting a C section for only this reason would be an extreme step, unless your doc is strongly recommending it. Please be reassured, I think they have to inform you of the worst case scenario but that doesn't mean the worst case is likely.

One tip for you though, because they load you up on antibiotics, please get a good probiotic (refrigerated, live cultures--can get them at Henry's or whole Foods or Jimbo's) and take it several days after. With my daughter, I wound up with thrush I connect with the antibiotics, and that was REALLY no fun, very painful for nursing, and hard to get rid of until I used the probiotics. With my son, I used the probiotics and had no problem with this.

I don't have any good advice, but this seemed to be a good read:

http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/g...

Good luck!

I was GBS positive during pregnancy #2 as well. They want you to get 2 bags of IV antibiotics in during labor or there is a concern that the baby will become sick. According to my pediatrician there is some concern for this same bacteria to cause illness in newborns around 6 weeks, but he made it sound like it wasn't very common for that to happen. Anyway, my water broke and I went into labor right away. I got an epidural to slow down the labor so that I would be able to get the two bags of antibiotics in my system. I had a vaginal delivery and a healthy baby. She didn't get sick. I think they give penicillin to your baby if you don't get enough in during your labor but I'm sure that is less than ideal to you. Happy laboring!

I tested positive for GBS with my first child and had no problems. It was my understanding that it is a fairly common thing and as long as you get the antibiotics before they come out there's no reason to think that they'll have a problem. My water broke and I went in and got the antibiotics and now I have a perfectly fine 2 year old boy. I hope this might help ease your mind some.

Group B beta strep cultures are a standard of care. It's fairly common to have a positive result. Antibiotics like ampicillin or penicillin are usually the treatment. Pediatricians recommend 2-3 doses of antibiotics, with the last dose within 2-3 hours before delivery of your baby. Not treating a GBBS infection in mom can be dangerous for baby. The most common is sepsis; pretty serious for a newborn. Antibiotics usually do the trick. You and Baby usually stay in the hospital an extra day with +GBBS result so the pediatrician can monitor for infection.
So what does this mean? It's unlikely that your baby will get an infection from a vaginal delivery if you are treated with antibiotics. If you don't believe in antibiotics that makes things much more difficult. A c-section leaves you at greater risk for complications and infection. It is major abdominal surgery! It should be an option if you or baby absolutely need it.
Your doctor probably seems unconcerned because it is a fairly common thing to have a positive result. Baby don't usually develop an infection from this if mom is properly treated.

I was positive for both of my pregnancies. The antibiotics were given at an interval during labor and other than an annoying tiny poke I didn't even notice. Both of my babies are fine. From everything I understand you really don't need to worry. I ended up with a c-section the second time due to a different problem and let me assure you - you don't want that. GBS is no reason for a c-section.

I tested positive for GBS, but I had decided long before then that I wasn't going to have any sort of IVs, monitors, etc. unless something else happened that made me high risk. I did some research and decided to forgo antibiotics, and my baby came out VERY healthy. I also didn't want any sort of drugs - antibiotics or otherwise - in my baby's system he was born. I know a lot of people would disapprove, but this was my personal choice.
Beforehand, when I talked with my midwife about it (in-hospital delivery, but a Certified Nurse Midwife), she told me that all of her sickest babies from GBS were women who had tested NEGATIVE. Basically, that bacteria is always coming and going from the vagina and anus, so I don't know why they test so many weeks before the due date. There are also some homeopathic ways to change the scenery down there - some of it sounds odd, such as sticking a clove of garlic in with a string tied around it - but lots of all-natural proponents recommend it.
In the end, my midwife said it was a good decision for me because from the time I got to the hospital until the time he came out was about 2 hours, which wasn't long enough for the antibiotics to have been dispensed. She said that would have messed with any tests they did, etc.
I also talked to my pediatrician about it before I decided not to take the antibiotics, and he was just fine. Just said I couldn't get early release from the hospital.
So if you're willing to do antibiotics, I'm sure that you and your baby will be fine. Probably even if you didn't want to do them, you would both be fine. It's all been way blown out of proportion (my midwife's words on the subject).

I have 6 kids, with the first I was negative, #2 poitive, they don't test after that...because the positive it can come and go and they did not want to take chances...any ways, all are VERY healthy. No problems, did not get Antibiotics for all, did not have time. 30 minutes to 4 hours were the labor. Good luck, tough decision, but be sure you weigh the pro's and con's!! Oh mine were all natural vaginal.

you don't need to have c.section because you are positive for GBS .GBS is fairly common in pregnant women(10 to 35%). Yet, very few babies actually become sick from GBS infection. Treatment during labor and delivery help prevent infection in newborn and in my 30+ years experience in this field I have never seen infant mortality when the mother who is diagnosed with GBS received IV antibiotic in labor in timely manner.please stop worring and trust your provider in managing your care .

GBS (Group Beta Strep) is a bacteria that lives in most people. It is not harmful for us, or the baby unless it has colonized, which it has in you which is why you came back positive. With the antibiotics, you will be given a dose every 4 hours until you have given birth. Unless you are allergic to pennicilian, you will be given ampicillian. Once you have had at least 2 doses (one when you arrive, and one 4 hours later) the baby will be protected from the GBS. (If you have probs with pennicilin, you will be given a different one which is given every 8 hours). Do your research on it, and then watch the baby. I have been to several births as a doula with a GBS positive mom, and everything worked out just fine. The risks of the baby contracting it, even without antibiotics are much MUCH smaller than risks to you AND the baby during c-sections. Yes, a section will elliminate the risks of contracting the GBS, however all major surgeries come with high risks, and should not be taken lightly. Good luck on your decision, and I wish you the best birth you can have.

Don't freak out. I had the same issue with my second pregnancy. Feel good that they know you have it and that you will get the right treatment. Just make sure that you go to the hospital as soon as you're in labor because your labor will probably go much quicker and you want to make sure you get 2 hrs of IV antibiotics to be effective against GBS in your baby. My labor went too fast and I didn't get the full 2 hrs. Also, count on you or your husband telling the nurse as soon as you're admitted that you are GBS positive; don't rely on your records because they may not be there. Also, if you are allergic to penicillin, please tell your health care providers because the substitute needs 4 hrs of IV antibiotics to work! (I didn't know that beforehand either) C-section won't help because they can still get GBS anyway. If the baby shows any signs of infection after birth or has any problems whatsoever, they will immediately treat him/her for presumed GBS with IV antibiotics. That's what happened with our baby...he did have a 5 day stay in ICU for IV antibiotics and it was scary but he did great, was otherwise very healthy and is now 7 months old!!! They treated him for "presumed GBS" because the labs never showed he had it...Go figure. But babies are good hearty creatures, so things should go fine for you...Good luck and stay calm! Everything should go fine.

Hi! I think 1 in 3 women are GBS positive, so it's not too crazy. I am so I got antibiotic IV's for my 2 births. I didn't know opting out of antibiotics was an option, but if it is, I would consider that NOT having an IV in your arm/hand would help you to be free during labor. Also, if you're breastfeeding, keeping your arms as free as possible would be nice. If you do get the IV... most nurses know to place it correctly for breastfeeding. Good luck!

sorry to hear about that, in refreshing my memory about this, i came across a good website, that i think you should go to.
www.groupbstrep.org
it has alot of info and advice on it. let us know how it turns out.

I think it's just a case where everything sounds scary when you read the worst-case scenario. Please don't worry. As you can see there are a lot of respondents who had no problems. I tested positive and had a normal vaginal delivery -- they intended to give me antibiotics but didn't get the IV in in time -- and still everything was just fine and I have beautiful lil girl.

Hi,
I tested positive for this as well and everything was just fine. The doctor is probably acting nonchalant because many women test positive and everything works out just fine. If you take the antibiotics during your delivery it is a 1 in 4000 chance that your baby could get sick.

Also, I had a very bizarre labor...I was in labor for over 4 days and my baby was still fine!! The biggest pain was that because I was hooked up to them it made it more difficult to move around during labor.

My advice, try your best to not worry, take the antibiotics during delivery and have your healthy baby!!!

Here's a good link I found with more information:

http://www.babycenter.com.au/pregnancy/antenatalhealth/ph...

I know this is scary for you, but there is a positive side to this. Lots of women carry it, and many don't know about it! Since you know, you should be given antibiotics that will protect your baby.

As always, talk to your doctor. Current, expert advice is the kind that counts.

It really is not a worry. I too was GBS+, I had to get 2 doses of antibiotic through an IV before delivery, baby was/is fine. Just make sure you get to the hospital in time....don't wait til the last minute. If you fail to get both doses, baby will likely have to undergo a "septic work up", with needle pokes to draw blood and extra observation. You do not have to go through a c-section because of GBS+, that is major surgery and should be avoided if possible. Good luck to you! :-)

They overreact...to get you to react. GBS NORMALLY resides in the colon and they swipe BOTH the vagina and colon? Hello???? Many moms come up false positive AND if the mom gets to the hopsital without 12 hours to spare on antibitoics, they don't even bother giving it to the baby or mom - they just watch and see....which is what they SHOULD DO. Check this out:

The test involves a swab of both the vagina and the rectum (why? When GBS NORMALLY resides in the colon. Why wouldn’t they just check the vagina – you know, where the baby is actually coming out of????). The sample is then taken to a lab where a culture is analyzed for any presence of GBS. Test results are usually available within 24 to 48 hours.

This bacteria is normally found in the vagina and/or lower intestine of 15% to 40% of all healthy, adult women. A mother can pass GBS to her baby during delivery. GBS is responsible for affecting about 1 in every 2,000 babies in the United States. Not every baby who is born to a mother who tests positive for GBS will become ill.

If you test positive for GBS and meet the high risk criteria, then your physician will recommend giving you antibiotics through IV during your delivery to prevent your baby from becoming ill. Taking antibiotics greatly decreases the chances of your baby becoming ill. If you get to the hospital “too late” then a watch and see approach is taken.

Penicillin (Category B) is commonly used during pregnancy in non-allergic patients. There are substitute drugs for those who are allergic to penicillin, but they could still experience an allergic reaction.

If you are at a low risk, the decision to use antibiotics is up to you. There are herbal remedies that you can take 2-3 weeks before delivery that a midwife or a holisitc physicians can recommend.

*There are alternatives and chlorohexadine is one of them:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=link&db=...

According to Pediatrics medical journal August 2000; 106; 244-250

A retrospective study in Kaiser Hospitals in Southern California concluded:

• Of 277,912 live births, 319 had EOGBS (early onset GBS) – that’s 1 out of 870 births.
• Of the 172 term infants with culture positive who had signs of infection, 95% presented within 24 hours of life.
• ALL of the infants exposed to antibiotics during birth became ill from the antibiotics within the first 24 hours of life.

This could mean that nearly 1 out of every 3 pregnant women will be treated with antibiotics, despite the fact that only around 1 in every 870 newborns have even 'suspected' group b strep infections.

Hi,
I too am GBS positive am due in 11 days. This is my second pregnancy and was negative for this bacteria with my first. So I too was concerned when I was told that I had this bacteria. I spoke to my sister who was GBS positive with both of her pregnancies, delivered vaginally and was given antibiotics both during her pregnancy and while in labor. In both instances the treatments went well and both children were fine. And she experienced no other complications from her condition. It was reassuring to know someone who had been in the same situation more than once.

I also encourage you to once again express your concerns with your OB and have him/her elaborate on all aspects of this bacteria and how it is dealt with in pregnancy and delivery. Your doc. will be up to date on current research and treatments for GBS in pregnancy. I am very skeptical of any other source of medical info as I have no idea how current or accurate it is. My OB was very thorough is her explanation and treatment protocol for this. I hope yours will take the time to go over this with you and answer all of your questions compassionately.
As you know, especially since there are so much other stress being put on you now you don't need one more thing to worry about. It all can be too much at times. I hope all of your anxieties, will be put at ease soon.
Best Wishes and Congratulations!

With all three of my pregnancies, I was positive with GBS. The OB will give you antibiotics as soon as you get to the hospital. All three of my babies were completely fine. As long as the medical staff are aware (and you too), you will get your round of meds your baby should not be affected by GBS. The key is communicating with the staff at the hospital.

Hello D.. I know this is easier said than done, but please try not to freak out about this. I tested positive this year, in my third pregnancy, and everything turned out fine. I actually forgot about it until now. They gave me an antobiotic during my labor and that was it. We're both fine :)

Try not to stress...I know its easy to say but hard to do...I have 5 kids the oldest was 16 today...the youngest six weeks...when I had my first two kids I didn't have any issues...during my third pregnancy I found out I was GBS positive and it was quite scarry...during my next pregnancy I told my OB at almost every visit not to forget that I was GBS positive because I wanted to make sure he knew...during this last pregnancy I wondered why the OB didnt bring it up so I did...of course ...he told me not to worry... they would check close to the end of my third tri and treat me if needed...well I had it again...when I gave birth it went so quick my baby didn't get the full course of antibiotics because labor was so quick...they hurried him away to make sure he was ok...he sure was ...so all three of the babies that were GBS positive ended up just fine...Im confident you'll be ok just like me

Hi D.-

I was in the same exact situation as you. My first preg, the GBS was negative and with my second, it was positive. I was pretty freaked, too. I ended up having the antibiotics during labor and it was no sweat. I am currently living in New Zealand and they just did an IV of antibiotics during labor and it didn't take long at all. Before I knew it, it was done, and I ended up having my baby in water. From my research over here, the odds were that 1 in 1000 babies will have complications from GBS, so those are pretty comforting odds. I'm sure that all will be fine with your baby, given that you take the antibiotics. Relax, and enjoy your new precious arrival. All the best!!

H.