i have just been told i test positive for this, the midwife said she can give me a leaflet on monday but it will probably scare me to death. any ideas why that is? what is group b strep and whaty are the implications for me and my baby? im 37 weeks
2007-08-09 09:13:43 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
Group B Strep is a bacterium that lives on people's bodies. It is incredibly common. This will not hurt you at all. When they tell you that you are positive for this, it means that it is living in your vagina. The concern is that the baby will get this bacterium on the way out of your body. Babies who get this can develop some serious infections that cause them problems. So, when you go into labor, they give you an IV and doses of antibiotic. This is for the baby. You pass the antibiotic to the baby so that the baby can resist the infection. The antibiotic is given every four hours usually and they need to get two doses into you.
Don't panic! It will be okay. If you were hoping to avoid an IV, just tell them that you will get the antibiotic, but that you don't want to be hooked up to fluid all the time. They can "saline lock" the IV in between doses so you are not hooked to an IV pole all the time.
Additionally, you and the baby are safe from this except for right as the baby is coming out as long as they do not do a bunch of cervical checks on you after your water has broken. If they want to check your cervix after your water has broken, make sure it is really needed or decline it. This will help to protect your baby from infection.
Lots of people are GBS positive. I am too! It will be okay. Good luck!
2007-08-09 09:23:42 · answer #1 · answered by ? 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Group B strep is a bacteria that is normally present in about 30% of women at any given point. It is a bacteria that lives in the intestines normally, but can be transfered into the vagina quite easily. It is harmless to you, an adult, but to a newborn that becomes infected, it is life threatening.
Don't worry a bit - they will give you IV antibiotics during labor, and that is always enough to prevent infection of the baby. MANY women have this, and have safe deliveries with healthy babies.
2007-08-09 16:18:09 · answer #2 · answered by Take A Test! 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Don't worry too much! Group B is something found in 1/3 of most women anyway. It's a bacteria and won't hurt you but to a newborn that's exposed it can be a really serious thing.
You will get antibiotics during labor and that should do the trick.
All the best to you and baby!
2007-08-10 18:38:34 · answer #3 · answered by Veritas 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Everything will be fine as long as your midwife gives you antibiotics as soon as you go into labor. That way your baby won't be able to catch the b strep from you when he/she goes through the birth canal. If you have a c-section, then there is no risk at all.
b strep does nothing to you but can be potentially dangerous to the baby if he/she comes in direct contact with it and if you don't have the antiobiotics.
don't worry though, really, you'll be fine. Something like 25% of women have that and everything is ok.
2007-08-09 16:19:05 · answer #4 · answered by ad 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
im not exactly sure on what the implications are for you baby, but i believe they just put you on antibotics when you go to deliever so no infection is passed. Many women are carriers of this i wouldnt be to worried. This is why they test you before you go into labor because so many woman have the same issue.
2007-08-09 16:18:47 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I just went to my OB and my group B strep is positive too. She said it's no big deal though. Everyone has this bacteria but I just have more of it and it's treatable by antibiotics during labor.
Here's more info.:
http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/pregnancy/prenatalhealth/1647.html
2007-08-09 16:18:24 · answer #6 · answered by linda 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋