Group B strep??

Question

Anyone test positive for group b strep?? It’s been a huge worry for concern since I received a email stating I tested positive a hour ago. There is no nurse I can get ahold of to explain this to me due to the holidays.. does anyone have any experience with this? Could I pass it to my husband? How did I get it? Could he have passed it to me? How would this affect me? Will I hurt the baby by carrying this? Will my baby suffer from this? Will my baby carry this his whole life cause of me? I’ve been reading online but it just says Iv antibiotics at labor and 1 in 4 women carry it. But for how long? I’ve never tested positive for this before in my past pregnancies... someone help me understand this please I appreciate y’all so much.

Answer

Group B Strep is NOT and STD. It's actually bacteria normally found in the digestive tract that sometimes finds its way into the reproductive tract. It normally doesn't cause any issues for the woman, altbough it can cause a UTI if it makes its way into the urinary tract (often witnout any symptoms of an infection, but easily treated with antibiotics). It also tends to come and go, so having it during one pregnancy or even at one point during pregnancy does not guarantee you'll have it the next time. Group B Strep does not affect the baby during pregnancy either. The baby is protected as long as the amniotic sac is still intact. Once your water breaks and during vaginal delivery is when the risk occurs for the baby catching it. They can prevent this by giving the mom high dose IV antibiotics during labor. They'll want to start the antibiotics early enough during labor to get at least 2 doses in (they give the doses 4 hours apart). Keep in mind, even without antibiotic treatment, a baby is not guaranteed to catch it. The risk of a baby getting Group B Strep from mom is actually pretty low.  Giving antibiotics during labor is just standard practice due to how serious the effects can be for baby if they do catch it. The baby will be monitored for any signs of infection after birth. If they show any symptoms, they'll be treated with antibiotics.

Answer

It’s nothing to worry about. I didn’t have it with my first and I did with my second. You just get antibiotics during labor. It’s not an std and no you didn’t get it from him nor will you pass it to him.

Answer

It’s concerning to me that your doctor didn’t explain what you were being tested for and what the response would be if you were positive BEFORE getting your results. Every test I had while pregnant my OB told me what it was and what would happen if I tested positive/something wrong showed up before it was done.

Answer

I tested positive just a few days ago, no reason to be worried. Antibiotics through an IV and everything will be fine. xx

Answer

It is not sexually transmitted, if you were to birth without the iv antibiotics that could potentially cause issues for baby but since the bacteria lives in the intestine, vagina, and rectum just carrying baby to term will not expose baby. If your water breaks but you are not having contractions you should go to l&d right away instead of waiting for contractions and if your contractions are 5 minutes apart you need to go to l&d this way they will have enough time for you to receive the antibiotics.

Answer

It's completely fine. You can fluctuate between having it and not having it. It does not harm adults and most people never know they have it. It can be passed to baby during vaginal birth, but that's what the IV antibiotics during labour are for. Since they know you tested positive, they can give you the antibiotics and baby will be completely safe.

Answer

It’s a naturally occurring bacteria, so not much to worry about, but discuss the procedure with your doctor. When my daughter was born I didn’t have my results back yet, and didn’t labor long enough to have meds anyways; I ended up tearing positive and my daughter was fine.

Group B strep??

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