Tested Positive for Group B Strep and I Am VERY Nervous!

I tested positive with my second son and it was fine, nothing to worry about. I even had a medication (other than the antibiotics)-free delivery in a birthing tub with a midwife. It was really not much of an issue. Best wishes!

I don't want to worry you because it's likely that everything will be fine, but my daughter had to be in the NICU for the first week of her life because I had the perfect storm of factors:

-GBS positive
-fever during labor (had antibiotics during labor)
-water broken for 24+ hours (broke on its own)
-she didn't cry in the first few minutes -- leading to the pediatricians wanting to observe her for a few hours, which led to them seeing that her white blood cell counts were high, which led to them wanting to keep her for a week to administer antibiotics

One of these things alone would have been no big deal, but all of them together ended up being an issue. She's 18 months old now and completely perfectly healthy, so even if something DOES happen, it's hard, but they're so careful with newborns that it's unlikely in this country that your baby wouldn't be okay.

K.
http://westsidebaby.etsy.com

Don't stress. Group B is such a common bacteria. I had it with my son (I was a little freaked out myself), the doc put an IV in me right away with an antibiotic. He was born just fine, very healthy. You and your baby will be fine, too.

my friend had it with her second child and had the IV, with her third child she went in to have the IV but there was no time because the baby came too fast. all of her children are just fine and healthy. not one of the 3 have group strep b. but it is always a good idea to make sure that everything that can be done is. good luck and congrats

I tested positive for both pregnancys. It's not a big deal at all. Both of my boys were born through home births and they were both fine. I had IV antibiotics for the first, and oral antibiotics for the second one. They are both healthy.

I tested positive with my first and needed antibiotics for each one after that. From what I remember, as long as you have the antibiotics everything will be fine. I remember being nervous with my first because you want everything perfect but I have 3 healty children. Enjoy!

If you want, I have a homeopathist who gave me a remedy with my 2nd that got rid of it for me. It usually works. But they are still gonna put you on IV bc you tested positive. Even ifyou are not during delivery. By the way, it is harmless (strep b) if youre on the iv. Its just annoying and the iv was painful for me. Don't worry - it'll be fine!

This is a VERY commong thing. My sister was GBS+ with all 3 of her kids. As long as you have time to get the antibiotics you will be golden! My sister did have a few problems with her 2nd child, but that was only because her labor was SO fast (less than 3 hours). The baby ended up being fine, he just had to be held at the hospital for a few days. Don't think you'll have to worry about this since this is your first baby-- labor/delivery tends to be a bit slower the first time around. Good luck and don't worry about it!

Hi S., I didn't test positive but one of my friends did! No worries! You will be fine!!! First time labor usually is well past 4 hours time! If you are happy with your dr and the hospital... And I'm sure you are at this point, you are in great hands! You and your baby boy will be wonderful!! Good luck! And welcome to the "club"!!!

I tested postive too and my doctor never told me so I was very confussed when I saw the IV bags and asked what the second one was for. I was hooked up to the antibiotics all through the birth. My son is fine, no problems. Good Luck and congratulations. Boys are so much fun.....

I tested positive with my last one (#4). But I delivered in 30 minutes, so I didnt get the IV or an epidural for that fact. But she is very healthy. My only problem at Copley was that I was told they have to do the testing twice to make sure all is well with the baby & they took the 2nd test later in the evening for some reason & it takes 48 hours to get the results, so we ended up having to leave her in the hospital til the next morning when the results came back. I was not happy about that. So if you deliver before 4 hours I suggest you make sure they do the testing when they are suppose to so you can take your baby home. Good luck & congrats.

It really is no big deal at all! Relax everything will be just fine. Its super common, no real rhyme or reason why some women have it and some don't.

I had it with my first too and I'm due any day with my second. I've never known anyone who's baby it got passed to. My daughter was health and just fine. It can be dangerous but, only if untreated, even if untreated there is no guarantee that your baby would get it. It's just good to always take pre-cautions. Sounds like your doctors have it under control. Best of luck to you and congratulation.

Hi S.,

Group B strep colonization is very common. Between 25-40% of the population has the bacteria at any given time. Colonization is transient, meaning that you may have tested positive at 35-37 weeks and be negative at delivery and vice versa. The reason the test is done when it is is so that the results are back by the time most women go into labor.

The risk of a baby contracting Group Beta Strep without antibiotic treatment is 1/200. With antibiotic treatment it is about 1/10,000. Of the babies who get sick, there is about a 4% mortality rate. GBS infection is very serious because newborns can't really mount a stong defense against infection. But as you can see the risk is very low- much lower than the risk of miscarriage from amniocentesis for instance and people choose to do that frequently.

Because the colonization is transient, treatment before labor may not be effective because the bacteria can just return. Oral antibiotics are sometimes used (mostly in the homebirth setting) and are thought to be equally effective, but they have not been extensively studied. In labor the first line of treatment is penicillin. First a larger dose or "loading dose" is given, then a maintenance dose every four hours. The recommendation is actually for a woman to have at least one dose on board for one hour. Many doctors want at least two doses or four hours of treatment but that really is not based in good scientific evidence. If you are allergic to penicillin other drugs can be used but are a little less effective due to antibiotic resistance.

Ways to avoid GBS are to avoid induction, avoid having your water broken, avoid having many vaginal exams in labor, and avoid a fetal scalp electrode ("internal monitor"). If you plan to breastfeed be aware that the antibiotics will increase your risk of developing yeast infections in your breasts ("thrush") so if you notice pain with nursing after the first week or so make sure you see a lactation consultant.

The CDC is who sets the guidelines for treatment of GBS so check out their website for more information. Most of all try not to worry- GBS infection is very rare. I have been GBS positive with all three of my kids and had no issues.