Group B Strep; positive at 26 weeks?

Question

I’m 26 weeks Pregnant and tested positive for Group B Strep. Now I’m on antibiotics. I had never heard of GBS, when the nurse said Group B Strep I thought, my throat…feels fine. So I went online and did some research. I’ve found out a lot of information mostly not so good. Knowing that I can potentially pass this to my unborn baby during delivery scares the crap out of me. I already have one child, so the whole racing thoughts about crazy scenarios isn’t new to me. I’m use to freaking out while pregnant (I'm sure those of you who have children can relate). But this is serious. So you can imagine how I feel knowing this has caused fatalities or mental disabilities in newborns. Any way I need some inspiration some reinforcement that someone out there has this and has had healthy children. What were the steps taken during labor and delivery, and after for the baby? Thanks! I appreciate it.

Thanks to everyone...all of you have lifted my spirits. THANK YOU!!!!

Answer 1

26 weeks was really early for them to test you. GBS infections come and go, and have about a 30 day cycle. This means that if you're positive now, chances are good the infection would be gone within 30 days. Or, conversely, if someone tested negative, they could potentially become positive several weeks later.

This is why most docs do not culture for GBS until around 36 weeks, so they can treat you when you go into labor. It's unusual to be treated before labor begins, so I have to wonder why your doctor cultured and treated you so early - have you been having preterm labor issues or something?

GBS is a bacteria that everyone carries in their intestinal tract. It can be spread into the vaginal canal easily and at any given time up to 1/3 of the population has it present in their vagina. It does not make you feel sick, but yes, if baby is exposed during birth, although rare, if baby develops infection, it can lead to things like pneumonia, sepsis, and possibly death. Even though the risk is rare, it's so dangerous to baby that they routinely treat all mothers who are GBS positive.

Don't worry. Antibiotics do the trick. But I would ask your doctor why they cultured you so early, and why they didn't wait until near your due date. That's a question that deserves asking.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Don't worry! Group B Strep is something that a lot of women get during pregnancy, and the antiobiotics take care of it. ... Your baby would be at real risk only if you hadn't been tested for GBS, and the antibiotics hadn't been started! That's why the test is run so routinely...

It's possible, though, once your current round of antibiotics ends, for the "flora" to come back. (It occurs naturally, as I know you've read, but gets out of whack sometimes in pregnancy)... so, eat lots of yogurt or drink acidolphilus milk or take other forms of probiotics, all which serve to keep the flora in balance. ...

If you're still really concerned, your health care provider can give you IV antibiotics every four hours while you're in labor... Don't stay hooked up to the IV in between, though (unless you have an epidural, then you'll have to) -- but get up and move around. It will make labor so much better! (And faster, always a bonus!)

Good luck, and just relax.

Answer 3

It's a good thing you did some research on Strep B. Now you are more informed and know better. Mothers who test positive for GBS or Group B Strep are given antibiotics while in labour. This is to reduce the chances of the baby contracting the same GBS. If babies contract GBS, their infection is likely to occur in the first six hours following birth up to seven days. The infection can cause inflammation of the lungs which can be disastrous and cause babies to die. The antibiotics given to mothers while in labour should take care of this. As long as your doctor is aware of you having GBS, the appropriate care will be given to you and your baby. Don't stress out too much in order not to affect the condition of your baby. Best is to calmly wait for your scheduled appointment. But if you notice any unusual symptoms, don't hesitate and see your doctor right away.

Answer 4

I tested positive for GBS with my first, and my second child. It did not affect my children or myself at all. I think the statistics for GBS are somewhere around 30 - 40% of women having it. It is more common than you may think. I never had to take antibiotics throughout my pregnancies, but as soon as I was in labor and got to the hospital, they did an IV and administered the antibiotics throughout my entire labor and delivery. I had normal labors and the babies were perfect. My Doc told me that 1 out of 400 babies born to moms with GBS that do not recieve the antibiotics during labor will have problems, and 1 out of 4,000 babies born to moms with GBS who do recieve the antibiotics will have problems. There is nothing to worry about, just make sure you tell the nurse at the hospital that you are GBS positive when you get there so they can administer the antibiotic quickly. I tested negative for GBS with my third and I still recieved the antibiotic as a precaution. Your baby will be fine. No worries : ) Congrats to you!!!!

Answer 5

i have been positive with group b strep with 3 out of 4 of my children. my first two i was in labor at the hospital for 9 hours so i received enough of the antibiotics in time i think its two bags in two hours so they were fine and we had nothing to worry about. my third i only labored for an hour at the hospital for an hour so i only received one bag of the antib. and he had to get teasted and every thing was fine with him. i was told by the doctor that it is a very small chance of anything happening to the baby but they like to be safer then sorry so they add. the antibiotics. then when i got tested with my 4th i didn't even have it so it is not something you have forever. alot of women do have it but you might not have it with every pregnancy. all of my children are healthy and happy today and i am expecting my 5th and not worring about group b strep. there is so much more to worry about lol. good luck with yours but try not to worry to much there is such a slim chance of infection even if you don't get antibiotics that it's not even worth the stress. have fun and enjoy that little bambino inside ya. and thank god for every kick and turn!!!!!

Answer 6

I know it's hard to do, but....relax! It is very common. I had it with my son. You will have antibiotics through an IV when you go to the hospital to deliver. You will need to have the antibiotics for a certain amount of time before you deliver...I think it was about 4 hours. If you have concerns you should talk to your Dr. and ask anything that you want...that's what they are there for and you'll feel much better.

Good luck!!

Answer 7

It sounds scary, but it is really not as bid a deal as it seems. Around 25% of people have this bacteria. The only difference is that as soon as you get to the hospital they will give you an IV with antibiotics(most hospitals like to start the IV anyway). This will put the antibiotics in both your and your baby's system and is all the protection they need. Everything will be fine.

Answer 8

They will put you on IV antibiotics when you go into labor. The baby will be watched closely for the first 48 hours. As long as you are on antibiotics, the baby has a good chance of being perfectly healthy. Some babies may get the infection at birth, then they are put on antibiotics and the infection resolves. I have seen many women who are GBS positive have healthy children.

Answer 9

Honey, you can relax. :) Many women test + for GBS during their pregnancies. I myself tested + while pg with my son. As long as antibiotics are given to you during labor, all should be well. My son is now 8, completely healthy, no complications at all from the GBS.

Some ob/gyns prescribe antibiotics after finding out that you are GBS +, however, most just treat it via IV during labor. Either way, as long as it's treated with the antibiotics, you are safe.

Good luck to you. :)

Answer 10

It is actually very rare for it to be fatal to the baby. My son was born at 29 weeks and I had not yet been tested for GBS and because I had been slowly leaking fluid (I thought I just had to pee a lot) the GBS got into the fluid and he was born with it. He was put on anti-biotics for the first week he was in the NICU at Children's Hospital and he was fine. He is now a competely healthy, active, smart 3 year-old with no delays what-so-ever.