Positive Group B Strep

No worries:) I would ask about being induced however, but that is just so that you can ensure that you get two doses of antibiotics in you before delivery. I actually had it with my 4th too, and am about to find out if I have it with my 5th. I am typically induced, so we just started my antibiotics immediately and because I was able to get both doses in, the baby did not need antibiotics, and we left 24 hours later. She was...and still is..perfect:) One word of warning, the antibiotics that they put in my IV felt like they were burning my arm inside. It really hurt actually. So, they gave me a warm blanket to help immediately, and then diluted the antibiotics with saline I think to make it easier. After that was done, the rest was great. Most doctors wont induce until 38.5 weeks, but with so many previous successful labor/deliveries, you should be able to do it around then. Good luck, I am sure everything will work out great!! Congrats on your big family..they are lots of fun!!~A.~

I tested positive for Strep B. I ended up with a C-Section so it wasn't really an issue delivery wise. If I remember this correctly there is a small chance the baby can get growths in the throat from it. I would ask the OB directly or call your pediatrician for specific baby issues.

Good luck!

I had this with my son when I delivered him last year. No big deal. I had some antibiotics in my drip and stayed 48 hours after delivery. It's apparently very common and fine as long as your have your meds before you deliver. Good luck! !:)

I was group b positive with both my pregnancies. With the first one they gave me oral antibiotics (they really don't do this often anymore though) and with the 2nd they gave me an IV of antibiotics once I got to the hospital. My son came very quickly though, so I did not receive the full dose. They kept us in the hospital for 48 hours to observe him and make sure he was fine and he was :) Also, the extra time in the hospital was nice and gave me some time to relax and enjoy being waited on by the sweet nursing staff! Just try and get to the hospital as soon as you can once labor begins so that you can get the full dose. Good luck!

I understand your concern and although I dont know why your doctor doesnt just give you antibiotics right now - I am not certain.

I had Group B Strep with all three of my kids and with the many other complications I had - this was the least of my worries. My OB/GYN just gave me antibiotics (pills) that I took - then he would make sure it was gone a week before we induced labor - I didnt have to have antibiotics during labor/delivery (that I know of) but in any case - my son and two daughters were completely healthy.

Trust your doctor - they pretty much know what they are talking about most of the time. I know that mine definitely told me what to be worried about and what not to be - and Strep B was the least of his worries with me. It is more common than you think!

Congrats on your new baby girl!!

GBS is really no big deal. You get the antibiotics and that's about it. The only other issue is during nursing, my kids got thrush because of the antibiotics. I had to use Nystatin cream on me and oral thrush medicine on the babies. Ask your Dr about it. I tested Positive 2 out of 3 times but I got the antibiotics all 3 times.

I was positive group b with my first and there was nothing to it! There is nothing to worry about! They just hooked me up to antibiotics during delivery and everything was fine! I didn't have to stay longer in the hospital though, so I don't know anything about that! I wouldn't worry about it! Everything will work out fine! Good luck on your new addition!

I had a friend with undiagnosed GBS and she had quite a few problems with her daughter after birth. She was in NICU for a couple of weeks.

I had GBS with my first child and was told to let them know when I got to the hospital, so they could start antibiotics. My advice is to be sure you let doctors, nurses, everyone know because I had to tell them several times before they hooked me up to an IV. Doctor (on call, not my usual one) looked at the chart and said "oh yes, you need the antibiotics" and several nurses were told, but it took several hours before they finally did it. So be proactive and be sure to let them know, early and often!

I don't recall any burning from the IV and my son was fine, although I ended up with a c-section.

Hi D.,
I also tested positive for GBS before the birth of my daughter who is now 4 months old. My doc said the same thing-- that it would not pose any threat to me, but it can be dangerous for a baby during a vaginal birth. So, I was on an antibiotic during delivery. Everything was fine. No problems at all for me or my baby girl. :-) We did not have to stay in the hospital longer. I was actually discharged within 24 hours of delivery. Good luck to you and God bless!

Hi. I had it with my 1st pregnancy, but not my 2nd. I was induced and was able to get both doses of the antibiotic before I delivered. The antibiotic did burn a bit as it went in, but it wasn't terrible. My daughter was fine after delivery and neither of us had to stay in the hospital longer than usual. It's best to start the antibiotics at least 4 hours before delivery and to get 2 doses in; if this does not happen, the pediatrician may want to keep the baby in the hospital at least 48 hours after delivery to monitor for signs of infection (and may give "preventive" antibiotics).

I had it and got the shot during labor (heads up- that one burns, but it's survivable). Nope, didn't stay in the hospital any longer, though I wanted to (my daughter was in NICU with a collapsed lung and I wanted to be close- that is completly unrelated to the group b strep). Really it didn't cause any complications or problems at all, sure wish I could have stayed longer... going home without my baby was unexpected and heart wrenching! Happy note- she was well enough to go hoe in 7 days and is now a perfectly healthy 2 year old!

I went through it twice. Both times no harm was done. I was on antibiotics during labor and then they monitored and tested the baby. My OB told me that the only time it is usually an issue is if you don't get enough meds during labor. He told me that at the first sign of labor I needed to the hospital and not wait. Don't stress about it. I am sure everything will be fine. Good Luck!

i had it with our 1st child. it is a condition you have to deal with but it's treatable. you just have to make sure you get to the hospital early enough to get the full round of antibiotics (through i.v.)in your system before the baby is born. I can't remember but I think it's like 2 hrs before you have the baby...your obgyn can tell you that. as far as the baby goes..they will monitor the baby for a while but it's nothing that they don't normally do. I didn't stay in the hospital any longer that usual. As far as the symptoms...i had no symptoms but tested positive. it will be ok...just do what the doctor says and your baby should be just fine.

D.-

This is nothing to worry about. I'm also considered GBS positive. My OB/GYN made a note of it in my medical file and will administer antibiotics during labor/delivery of any additional children. When admitted, they will administer antibiotics until the end of delivery. It can be very serious if your baby was to contract it, but the antibiotics help fight it and and the baby shouldn't contract it. The only bad thing is that the antibiotics do burn a little bit when they start to flow (they give it to you by IV). I was in the hospital, from beginning to end, for 2 days. My little was very healthy when he was born and he continues to be a very healthy and active 2 1/2 year old!! I hope this calms your fears. It truly is nothing to be worried about.

It is normal. Some women have this and some don't. The nurses will give you a few doses of antibiotics prior to the birth of the baby. If you don't receive the doses (like if the birth progresses too fast or something like that) than they will have to give medications to the baby. The nursery nurses are used to dealing with things like this though considering this is so common. I was GBS + and didn't have to stay any longer in the hospital.

I was group B positive with all three of my babes. You inform the nurses when you arrive at the hospital so they know to get you hooked uo to the drip. They give penicillin, if your not allergic. With me, they wanted to push 2 bags of penicillin before breaking my water (my water never broke on its own and if this is your case, they will wait until they have all the penicillin pushed through the IV). Other than the IV antibiotics, the only thing different is that they will require you to stay the full 48 hours that insurance allows to make sure that the baby is doing alright. None of my three ever had any complications resulting from the GBS. The first time that I was diagnosed with Group B, my OBGYN told me to stay away from looking it up online because it would seem worse than it is, and that as long as they got the antibiotics in that the baby would be fine.

Good Luck, and relax- it's just a little more hassel for you with the IV antibiotics and the required 48 hour stay. They deal with this all the time!

D.,
I was like you when I found out with my 3rd baby, there was a 9 year gap between my second and third. My doctor even told me that a lot of women have it including herself. That made me feel a little better, but I was like how did I get it. She said some women just produce more bacteria. Anyway, she first told me that I too would have to be on antibiotics during labor. However, we later talked about having a c-section, main reason was my son could be very large, I actually wanted a c-section, I had too vaginal deliveries and all my sister's had c-sections, which it seemed a lot easier, and it was. Since I did have the c-section it wasn't an issue at delivery.
However, my son was in the NICU, I think they gave him a full bath after he was born, anyway, they said he couldn't keep his temperature, and so they put him in NICU. He was the largest baby in there. They started him on 48 hour antibiotic, he stayed in the hospital for 3 days. All his lab work came back fine there wasn't anything wrong with him and he really didn't even need the antibiotics. I was so mad at the hospital, don't worry it was in San Antonio. But they said since I did have the Group B Strep that's why they started him on it. They also said they had to watch him because I had diabetes, I have NEVER had diabetes, so you can see there are many issues I had with the hospital.
So, with that all being said it didn't affect my son, again I had a c-section and not a vaginal birth.

Good luck, don't worry too much!

Don't worry - this is very common. My Group B Strep was positive during my first pregnancy and because of that - they didn't even test for my second pregnancy.

They give you antibiotics during delivery in an IV - that's it. It is very routine and everything was perfectly fine :)

I had itbwith my first two but didn't know it when I gave birth to the 1st one because he came the day I was to be tested ai 35 weeks (he was a whopping 8 pounder @ 35 weeks) anyhow he did have to stay in the NiCU for two weeks on IV meds b/c they didn't give me any during labor....and it was a very long labor with my water breaking when I was only at 1cm. My second baby we knew it and I was given iv meds during labor and everything was fine.

My third I was put on an oral dose about two weeks before and then Iv meds during labor, then he ended up being a c-sec.

They say once you have it you always have it, but I didn't have it when they tested me with my 4th. I made them retest three times, all came back neg and I had a wonderful VBAC (vaginal birth after c-sec) and a healthly girl. And I was negative for the next two pregnancies after that also. go figure.

Everything will be fine!

I have never dealt with this personally but I am a nurse and debating on whether to get my nurse practitioner liscence in women's services. I do know about this condition. It is a big concern for your baby due to beinig delivered vaginally and having an immature immune system but it's not a big deal as long as you are receiving antibiotics. You will get two rounds of antibiotics during labor and one either during delivery or after delivery. If the baby comes unexpectedlly fast then they will give the baby a shot of antibiotics just to be careful. The moms do stay maybe a day longer than usual that is it. Some even stay the recommended 24 hours for vaginal delivery or 48 hours for c-section. It really depends on your doctor, the baby, and your vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and respirations) for how long you stay in the hospital.

Hi D., I tested positive also and have had 4 children. With each one they put me on iv antibiotics during labor for the protection of the baby. All 4 children were born perfectly healthy and were not affected in any way at all. I did not stay in the hospital for any longer than 2 days with each of them. Put your mind at rest that this is very common and the hospital deals with it all the time. They know exactly what to do and the antibiotics will help protect your child. Relax and enjoy your moment.

Hi -- I also tested positive. My daughter is now 5 and she's never had any problems. We stayed 3 days in the hospital due to early delivery (4 weeks early), but it was not due to the virus. I had problems carrying. I've never known anyone who has had this virus to have problems -- mother or baby. Pray. God takes care of all our worries.

Hi D.,

I was Group B posotive with my pregnancies and your OB is right, it's NO big deal. My best advice to you is to MAKE SURE the nurses remember the antibiotics. With my first daughter, they forgot and my Mom was actually the one who realized it wasn't given, (luckily she remembered before baby was born) and everything was fine. With my other babies, the nurses remembered but again don't let them forget. Just bring it up while they're hooking up IV's and getting you situated so they hear it from you directly and not just written on a doctors file. I don't remember actually staying longer because of this reason but if it's recommmended than go for it. I took an extra day after having my 3rd baby (C-section delivery) because I knew I was gonna have my hands full at home and it was almost like having a vacation at the hospital getting food served to you, all the help from nurses you need, relaxing in bed with just you and new baby.....you get the picture! : )
Congrats on your baby and good luck to you!

6 years ago I was in your shoes and so I know how daunting the info online can be.

I, too, tested positive for Group B Strep, but had no complications during my pregnancy. I was on IV antibotics from the time I was admitted and my son was born totally healthy. I've had several other friends since who have tested positive for it as well, and all of their babies were totally healthy as well.

The only word of advice I can offer is to let your family know that if for some reason you go into labor and are unable to speak for yourself, that they need to inform the hospital that you are positive for GBS. I made sure I told my hubby, friends, parents and co-worker, just in case!

I was Group B Strep colonized with my first child. It showed up at week 12 and I went on antibiotics for a short time to bring it down. I also had the antibiotic IV during delivery, and my daughter stayed the 2 days recommended for a Group B delivery. Everything was fine. Because this is your 4th child, you should be at the hospital with plenty of time to spare in case the birth moves quickly. Also, have your doctor mark your chart Group B+ so that protocol is followed no matter who is in the delivery room with you. Good luck!

GBS is a vaginal bacteria that is not uncommon. Since you know that you are positive and will be treated during labor, your baby has little risk. You are getting the antibiotics so that your baby can get them and be protected. Depending on hospital policy you may or may not have to spend and extra day in the hospitals. I am a nurse and used to work at JPS. Only babies whose mom had no treatment during labor stayed longer because their babies had IV antibiotics. Also, the ointment that they put in babies eyes helps with any GBS that might have been passed to your baby. Relax and enjoy your new baby girl. Everything will be just fine.

I was GBS positive with my 4th baby also. I think as long as you can get the 2 doses of antibotics (I actually had 3 - I was induced so it took awhile.) before the baby is born everything is usually fine. My son was born about 8 pm on Friday and we left the hospital on Sunday afternoon. I hope everything goes well.

I tested positive for Group B Strep with my daughter. I was put on antibiotics as soon as I got to the hospital. My daughter was born vaginally with no problems. We went home the next night. I didn't have to stay any longer than usual and neither of us have had any lasting effects.

I tested positive with my second baby. I took some oral antibiotics at around 37 weeks, and then IV antibiotics during labor. With my third baby, my doc didn't even test me. He just said that if you test positive once, they go ahead and treat you for it in subsequent pregnancies. So, with her I was supposed to take the oral antibiotics too and then have the IV antibiotics during labor. Well, I only got to the hospital 27 minutes before she was born, so they barely even got an IV in, much less the meds. Normal vag delivery, but they kept us for 3 full days to watch and make sure she showed no signs of infection, which she didn't. It was awesome! Good luck with baby #4!

I had antibiotics before delivery, and everything was fine. I did stay one extra day because of it, but I believe that is standard procedure. You will both be fine. Congrats to you!!!!