Group B Strep Positive

Hi ladies 🥰

I’m a FTM and had my baby in November. I found the entire experience quite traumatic and just want to vent in a safe place if possible.

I had a routine 36 week scan and that’s where it all went a bit wrong. They said my girl had dropped to the 16th percentile and I’d have to be induced bang on 37 weeks. I opted for the rods (didn’t work), then they broke my waters and gave me the gels, then had to stop the 2nd dose of gels as short staffed so couldn’t progress my labour even though I was having mild contractions. I restarted my gels on day 3, broke my waters again as there was fluid left behind, and put on the hormone drip. I made it to 6cm dilated before babies heart rate started to drop and before I knew it, I was being wheeled in for an emergency c-section. I had my girl at 37 + 4 weeks.

The next few days I’ve blacked out completely and can’t remember. My baby was in the NICU for days on oxygen, feeding tubes, antibiotics etc. and I don’t even remember meeting her. I was also on IV antibiotics and had to stay on a separate ward. Days later a midwife told me my placenta was sent off and positive for Strep B which is what my little girl had too.

Anyway, she’s now 7 weeks old, home and thankfully thriving ❤️ I was so traumatised that I told everyone, including my partner, that I was one and done. I’m still traumatised but I don’t feel our family is complete, but I’m terrified of childbirth again.

Anyone else been through similar and had a more positive experience 2nd time around?

Thanks for letting me get it off my chest 🫶🏻

Hi all, I am 37 weeks pregnant and having found out that I carried Group B strep in my 1st pregnancy I have been swabbed and came back positive again this time round.

I have been advised to take the IV antibiotics during labour which wouldnt be an issue to me except that I tend to be very sensitive to antibiotics - usually causing vaginal thrush.

Obviously I want to keep baby safe and minimise any risk to them but I also am terrified of having thrush while recovering from a vaginal birth while also tandem feeding my newborn and toddler.

Is there anyone else who would be quite sensitive to oral antibiotics that had no issues with the IV ones or any other advice or personal experiences that you would be willing to share?

Hi everyone I have recently tested positive for strep B I’m currently 26 and 5 days pregnant. Is it something I should be worried about? What will my birth be like? Any stories from anyone that has tested positive will be helpful as I have never heard of it.

Hi everyone, I’d really appreciate some advice as I’m feeling anxious about my next labour after a difficult experience during my first.

I was never tested for Strep B during my pregnancy, but when my waters broke, I called triage to let them know (my plan was to labour at home as long as possible but called in cos it was my first baby). The midwife on the phone told me to come in immediately because they would need to induce me. I was shocked and asked why, and she said I had tested positive for Strep B.

I explained I had never been told this by my midwife, but was told I had to go in anyway. Midewife at triage said it was in my notes from five years ago. I now vaguely remember being given antibiotics by my GP years ago, but I was never told it was Strep B.

So at triage, they insisted on starting induction and giving me antibiotics. I was progressing quickly in labour, and within 5 hours of my waters breaking I was nearly 4 cm, so I asked for just the antibiotics without induction. The midwife repeatedly told me, “You’re a smart woman, you wouldn’t want your baby to die, would you?” which she said multiple times and really made me feel like I was going to kill my own baby and that just asking for antibiotics was so silly of me. It left me feeling distressed and pressured during early labour.

After 3 hours of me refusing induction, she finally agreed to just give me the antibiotics, which I had been asking for from the start. My labour continued naturally, and my baby arrived 14 hours after my waters broke, healthy and without any problems.

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I’m now worried about my next labour. Will they pressure me to be induced again just because I tested positive for Strep B years ago? Will I get tested during my pregnancy and if it’s negative what would they do when I go into labour? If it’s positive will I have no choice but to be induced?

Any advice from medical professionals or mums with similar experiences would be really appreciated. I just want to feel prepared and empowered this time. Thank you ❤️

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I’m aware you have to contact triage and make your way to hospital straight away but is there like a time limit on how quickly You need to get there? I’m 33 weeks and not planning on being far away from the hospital anytime soon, just in case!!

I was tested at my booking appointment in January, I assume once your waters break and you get to hospital they test again to make sure it is still present? Without unnecessarily pumping you with anti biotics? Or do they put you on an IV drip regardless because you have had GBS at some point during pregnancy?

I’ll be asking my midwife at next appointment but I’m always keen to learn about others’ experiences who are in the same situation!

Thanks! Xx