2nd baby, 37 wks, 3 cm dilated, 50% effaced, and... GBS+

[Anonymous]

Well, great. I just tested positive for GBS and I'm worried about getting two bags of antibiotics by IV. If I'm already 3 cm dilated and am not even in labor - am worried it will make it that much harder to do 2 bags of IV 4 hours apart. Anyone had a similar experience?

[Anonymous]

Why don't you discuss with you care provider the significance and/or risks of only getting one bag (or none, should your labor progress rapidly)? Perhaps they could help you process how problematic it would actually be, and what types of risks are present.

The reality is that "anything could happen". You might have a 20 hour labor, with time for 2, 3 or 4 doses. You might have a 2 hour labor, where baby crowns as you walk through the door. My opinion is that it is helpful to discuss these scenarios ahead of time with the care provider, so you have a clear understanding of procedures and risks. My midwife explained to me that if my labor progressed SO rapidly that there literally was not time for enough antibiotic, that the risk of transferring GBS to the baby was extraordinarily low, and since there was nothing we can do about it anyway, that she would simply recommend staying in the hospital for the full 48 hours so the baby could be adequately observed.

[Anonymous]

I was about 3 cm at 37 weeks with the second baby. I went into labor at 39w5d and the labor lasted about 30 hrs. Most of that was early labor. I think the active (or at least harder) labor started about 8 am and she was born at 3 pm.

My first labor was about 10 hours.

I agree with the other poster, try not to worry about this. Talk to your provider about when you should get to the hospital. If you go too soon, they will probably send you home.

[Anonymous]

Thank you PPs. I feel better having two separate posters tell me to relax! 16:17 - sorry to hear you had a 30 hour labor with your second. My first was about 14 hours, and I have heard folks say that you can divide that number in half for second babies, so I was thinking 7 hours start to finish and along those lines - was thinking that when I start feeling contractions that I had better rush off to the hospital so I can have the IV antibiotics... I have to say for some reason I'm peeved to be GBS+. I would like to labor as much as possible at home and get to the hospital at the last minute, but it seems like this is out of the question now...

[Anonymous]

I don't think laboring at home for as long as possible is out of the question. I am also GBS+ and I have done quite some research. First, my doc says that unless the water breaks, there's no need to rush to the hospital - I should just follow the guidelines they give all women, the 5-1-1 rule. Second, if the baby is "inside the bag" for most of labor, he or she is very safe. Therefore, I would rather not let them break the bag of waters until it breaks on its own. Third, cervical checks are not good when you are GBS+, so none of those please. Fourth, in many countries in Europe they don't really make such a big deal out of GBS, and I have never heard any horrific stats on this.
All that said, I would think the nature will take its course. For myself, yes, I will go early if the water breaks. If not, I will just labor at home as planned. BTW, I have never heard that two doses should be received, and no less -at least in my OB practice they never told me anything like that, and I haven't seen it in prevention protocols which I stumbled upon on the Internet.

[Anonymous]

Here's a link to 1996 CDC protocol of Strep B prevention
http://wonder.cdc.gov/wonder/prevguid/m0043277/M0043277.asp#Table_B2

[Anonymous]

I was in the exact same situation as you a few weeks ago, OP.

Happy to report that I delivered a healthy baby (at home) last weekend and didn't end up too concerned since I had two rounds of antibiotics and my water didn't break until I started pushing.

Chances are everything will be fine! I agree about limiting cervical checks and contacting your provider as soon as your water does break (if it's at the beginning of labor).

[Anonymous]

I was strep b+ for both of my pregnancies.

For neither if my labors was I in labor long enough to get antibiotics. (labor 1 = 4 hours from 1st contraction to delivery, labor 2 = 45 minutes). For both pregnancies I was 3 cm at 37 weeks. I talked with my dr about the chance of a quick labor during my 2nd pregnancy and concern about not getting the antibiotics. What was communicated to me was that the shorter your labor is, the lower the chance of transferring strep B to your infant.

[Anonymous]

I was GBS + and had a rapid labor. My water broke at home, and I called the doctor - they said no worries, take a shower, etc. I didn't think things would move so fast, but by the time I got to the hospital (1 hour later) the nurse could barely able to get one round of antibiotics in before DD was crowning.

I was very concerned, but everything was fine...they just kept DD in the hospital for another 8 hours as a precaution to grow a culture they took from her, to see if it produced Strep B. We we were discharged that evening, instead of that morning, which was fine by me.

FWIW, I'm pregnant with #2, and this time I am going to ask if I can have some kind of oral antibiotics or injection to keep at home and have on-hand in case this happens again, and labor is faster for #2.

Also, at least to me, the antibiotics burned like heck when they put them in the IV...never experienced that before, but it felt like fire was going into my arm. I also had some trouble with a thrush infection during my first week of BF after delivery...which could be related. Just some FYIs to be on the lookout for.

[Anonymous]

PP here again - also agree that the shorter the labor, the less risk for exposure, which was a welcome relief.

either way, I think you will do OK. Just try to limit the number of cervical checks you are having now - the least things mixing the GBS around up there, the better.

[Anonymous]

This is OP. Thanks again for the helpful responses. I also appreciate the suggestion for fewer cervical checks. Why did my OB do one last week - right AFTER the told me I tested GBS+! I swear we ALWAYS have to be our own advocates - which gets a little tiring!

[Anonymous]

OP, one check won't hurt - just don't let them do it anymore. At least you know where you are But tell DH and/or doula that you don't want your bag of waters broken while in labor! It seems like the best protection for the baby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was in the exact same situation as you a few weeks ago, OP.

Happy to report that I delivered a healthy baby (at home) last weekend and didn't end up too concerned since I had two rounds of antibiotics and my water didn't break until I started pushing.

Chances are everything will be fine! I agree about limiting cervical checks and contacting your provider as soon as your water does break (if it's at the beginning of labor).

Dealing with this too. This is the second comment about limiting cervical checks. Do you mean in the hospital during labor, or at your weekly (or more in some cases) appointments leading up to labor? Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

I am 11:05, and I meant both in labor and at prenatal appointments. I envision it may be more difficult to decline them in labor though.