35 weeks and found out I have GBS

[donna-maree]

I had blood in my urine on the weekend and the hospital did some tests thinking I just had a UTI but instead they have found I have Streptococcus Group B which can be fatal 2 a newborn. How did I get it?:confused: This is my third pregnancy but first 2 get this far.

[the_queen]

25% of women will test positive for GBS at any given time.

You could test positive for it this week, and negative for it next week.

If you are positive for it during labour, there is about a 1% chance that anything will happen to the baby because of it.

Immediately after the birth, if there are any signs of the baby being affected, they can administer anti-biotics to the baby straight away.

If you'd prefer to pre-empt any problems, they give you anti-biotics during labour. If your waters break and labour does not begin with 18 hours, then they will give you anti-biotics; otherwise you can request the anti-biotics or choose not to have them.


Don't be upset by the "it can be fatal to babies" scare-tactic. :thumbsup:

[donna-maree]

Thanx 4 the reassurance:) . The doctor has advised me that they will end up giving me antibiotics as soon as I go into labour and present at the hospital. Just don't know too much about how it is contracted.

me 28
dh 26
bub is a girl due 28th May:smiliedance:

[Femme-Fetale]

Dont Quote me but im pretty sure that the GBS germ is natural and lives within us all to some level or another
Its when it becomes an unsafe level, such as what u have found, that its a worry. I was told that so many ppl carry this in a higher % but it doesnt affect your life at all.
Like i said, pls dont quote me and pls talk to your health carer
You can get drugs given when u go into labour, sometimes u can also opt for a C/S and as uve just been told, bubs can get a shot too!
Dont stress, it is only a minor irritation to have this, its not as dangerous these days as it could have been centuries ago! :hugs:

[BigW]

Hey Donna- Maree,
I have GBS, and had a very healthy and happy little man in May 2005 - v birth. I was given antibiotics when I arrived at the hospital in labour to help him out should any problems arrise - note I say "should". :rolleyes:
It is basically a mucus bug that some of us have and some of us don't. It doesn't affect either us or bubs, but they do keep an eye on your wee person for 24 hours or so after birth, as untreated it can lead to pneumonia type symptoms etc in the baby.
Please please please don't get freaked out. It's not a biggie, just another 'thing' that the medical profession impart to us mere mortals that don't understand medical jargon, hence hyping us up in a vulnerable state.
The only thing is that when your waters break, you'll need to head to the hospital earlier than you maybe had to in the past for the antibiotics.
PM me if you need any other info, I checked it all out last year! :thumbsup:

[xkwzit]

Hi
I also had DD2 VB with GBS. It's really quite a common bug and is hardly ever treated unless you are pg and close to term. Most ppl who have it aren't even aware of it.

I had antibiotics both orally and by drip during labour, but some docs don't even see the need to do that. They monitor baby's temp after birth to make sure they haven't picked up an infection.

Don't read up on the internet, you will simply stress yourself. We have had some good threads on here though:
http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/showthread.php?t=17886&highlight=strep
http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/showthread.php?t=10574&highlight=strep

Cheers

[bronny-jane]

well well donna so you finally joined bubhub.:D

[MizzSocial]

hey, its nothing to worry about at all.. I was +GBS and during labor i had one needle in my hand once and that was it!!! Its a good thing they test women for it now!! imagine back in the old days where they didnt know about GBS and couldnt prevent it!!

[the_queen]

"the old days" weren't that long ago. I wasn't tested for it during my first pregnancy (2001) and everything turned out fine. The protocol then (and now) is to give AB to any woman whose waters have been broken for more than 18 hours prior to labour starting, as a "just in case" scenario.

As I pointed out before, without any testing whatsoever, you have around a 20% chance of testing positive, then a 1% chance of it affecting your baby.

I've actually chosen not to be tested for it at all this time around.

[bronny-jane]

she's just worried cause the midwife told her that they have had babies die from it at the hospital she is going to, and the midwife told her everything that could happen. i know this cause donna is my older sister.

[the_queen]

The thing is, medical staff often use that "it can be fatal to newborns" scare-tactic. I'm just offering more facts. :)

[bronny-jane]

oh yeah she knows this now, she was worried till she started reading the posts

[donna-maree]

Ok. i am feeling a bit more relieved now about the GBS. The doctor explained that I will have an anitbiotic drip inserted once I present in labour. Now the concern is the little bugger keeps flipping to transverse with 2 weeks to go.

Me 28
DH 26
Bubba Girl due the 28th May:smiliedance:

[titania]

hi All,

I know that GBS is generally not a big deal and I agree that you shouldn't stress about it. However, do make sure that the test is done and if it is positive don't take any chances. Ask for antibiotics, they can't hurt the baby but will help if bubs contracts it.

My nephew died because he contracted GBS during birth and it wasn't treated. It ended up being a big medical negligence case and the circumstances were very unusual, so I know it's not something that is going to happen often, but there is no harm in being informed.

I am being tested next week for it. Here's to a safe delivery and healthy bubs :)

Sarah