MSE Pregnancy Club 28

ema_o

Hi VickyVics, I don't have experience but I was going to suggest giving a call to the midwife led unit and asking them, they probably get similar scenarios so could advise for certain.
Otherwise maybe try and get hold of your MW over the phone & ask?

RobotsinDisguse

VickyVics wrote: »

Hello all, Hope everyone is feeling well.

I have a bit of a question to ask. I had a letter through the post this morning about the tests for infection I had at the hospital last week. Apparently, when they did the swab they found Group B Strep. They did send a leaflet with the letter and that was great in informing me about how it relates to baby, but it didn't mention anywhere about how this would effect my plans for labour. For example, as I will have to have antibiotics given to me through an antibiotic iv at various stages of labour will I still be able to have a water birth in the midwife led care unit. Has anyone got any experience of this? I will be able to ask the midwife at my next appointment but unfortunately that isn't until the 8th xxx

cllola wrote: »

Hi

Yes i had a positive test for GBS in my last pregnancy 5 years ago. The policies vary from trust to trust but here a positive group b strep colonisation immediately makes you high risk which means no water birth and no midwife led unit and lots of monitoring during labour particularly around the times of the antibiotic giving.

I know this probably isnt want you want to hear (or should i say read...) Please discuss with your midwife though as the policy in your area may be different and you may be able to negotiate some terms.

This is controversial (and by no means medical advice!!!) but bear in mind that ANY intervention is your choice and you have the right to negotiate as long as you are making an informed decision.

I hope this helps.

Hi Vicki,

I found I have this also. Well, technically HAD this, when I was unwell in hospital a few weeks ago.

I totally freaked out, I can't say I didn't. As whilst it IS better to know there's a bug there that might harm baby, and it's better to know beforehand so You can have IV antibiotics to save baby from having them, it still means more intervention than I'd hoped for.

It's also freaked me out that the leaflet said I had to go to hospital as soon as labour started or as soon as the waters broke... which I do not plan on doing unless we can find a solution to the draconian visiting hours meaning husband couldnt stay with me!

But aparently you don't have to have an IV drip, the antibiotics can be Pushed via IV cannula, so you only have to be still for a few minutes every 4 hours. And that being so, I don't see why a water birth shouldn't be possible. But it looks like that is dependent on the NHS Trust in question. It seems with GBS there is no set standard of care across the country.

I've had a quick chat with my midwife to let her know how I'm feeling (high anxiety etc), which was started by the visiting hours rule and added to by the GBS... And I'll have a follow up with my midwife on Wednesday. They can't legally deny you a home birth, but it'd be so much hassle for them to sort out IV etc, but I told her that if that was the Only way to keep my family together I'd have to explore it... which encouraged my midwife to explore the options at her end... we shall see what she says..

* I say HAD as its the sort of infection that comes and goes, so there is no gurantee that because it was aparent then, that it will still be there at the time of birth. Aparently it has a 5 week cycle and 1/4 of the female population have it at any one time. As it comes & goes the NHS see no reason to test every pregnant woman, unlike some other countries (eg I think Australia). You can request a re-test nearer the time of birth, but you'd probably have to pay for that privately.

I'm sorry if i've gone a bit millitant on you Vicki! I don't mean it that way... I just have read quite a lot now and am even more disapointed in how the NHS approaches the subject.

THANK YOU Clolla for reminding us that any (esp preventative) intervention is our choice... it's not said enough in this country sadly.

Regards GBS, most women don't know in advance if they are carrying it, so ALL midwives/consultants etc look for the signs of infection post-birth anyway (grunting being a main one), and it's why a lot of babies are kept in for monitoring, but either the mother isn't told the exact reason or she choses not to mention it later on... due to stigma perhaps?

skintchick

Here are some resources on GRoup B Strep

http://www.homebirth.org.uk/gbs.htm

http://www.gbss.org.uk/content.php?sub_id=15&section_id=3#20

Read up on it and make your own decision. The doctors can;t force you into anything, but you need to ensure any decision you make is properly informed.

RobotsinDisguse

I'd read the home birth page before, I liked how it presented the pros & cons... The idea that giving baby post birth antibiotics might actually be Contra-indicated isn't mentioned often.

neverdespairgirl

marywooyeah wrote: »

NDG your comment "I do quite like Isaac" made me laugh! of course you like him, he's your little boy! Me and Dylan are like best friends, I love him to pieces and particularly when he was a baby we were inseparable, I rarely put him down even when he was asleep!

I worry that when the new baby comes we won't spend as much time together, even at eight months gone we still crawl round soft play centres and go swimming together and a few weeks ago he challenged me to an obstacle course at a local park (I let him win, honestly!)

I love that bond with him and I think that's partly why I wanted another boy, so that a new boy could just slot straight in with us. He is so excited about having a sister though, he keeps rubbing my belly and talking to her, saying how much he loves her, it brings tears to my eyes

sorry I've just realised that I've gone totally off track! but it was in response to your comment about Isaac, he really does seem like a lovely boy, and with you for his mummy it's no surprise why

I don't want to be one of those parents who watch a little terror in a playgroup or at the playground, charging round, knocking smaller ones flying, bashing other infants over the head, causing chaos, and saying, "ah, bless, isn't the lovely and energetic?" or similar. I'm sure we've all met the parents who are blind as to their holy terrors!

My Mama did the genders the other way round, Mary - first three girls, then Bruv at the end. And I don't think it's in any way a worse or ever that different relationship between her and one gender and the other. We all have different relationships with her now, as we're all different adults, but we're all close to both her and my Dad and there's no boys-are-better or girls-are-better either way round.

Admittedly, my sisters and I never try to pick our mother up to tease her, and Bruv does occasionally, but as he's 6 ft 3 and we're all a lot shorter.....

I'm sure your love and attention and care will be just as good with your daughter as your son; different because she'll be a whole different person, but not inferior in any gender-related way.

RobotsinDisguse wrote: »

Mary & NDG - it's so lovely to hear you chat so happily about your sons. I've been having wobbles about how a baby will change our lives and reading that / seeing those pics makes me smile

It is different, in every way, robots. But you are still you, you don't become a totally different, non-robots person, you add something wonderful to your life, you don't take anything away from yourself.

I'm not an earth mother type, I work full-time (well, until last week) and I went back to work after Isaac was born, and I will this time, too. I enjoy my work, I'm good at it, it's important to me. But that doesn't mean I don't also love being Mummy, and do my best at that, too

Not every moment is wonderful. There are times with a screaming newborn baby where you can't tell what's wrong, a toddler who has decided that putting shoes on Just Won't Happen, a stroppy 6 year old who is being a royal pain in the neck for no apparent reason, and then teenage years to come....:(

But it's worth it.

neverdespairgirl

samtoby wrote: »

neverdespairgirl - Lovely pictures, good action shot! Is he excited?

He is! He's impatient, too, thinks it's about time that things happened. I couldn't agree more (-:

Your boy's lovely, he looks so efficient wielding that thing!

sexki11en wrote: »

I'm pretty huge but I have a really short torso so have looked bigger all the way along. Still looking high, although she has dropped - there's no room for her to drop any further!

Lovely bump pic!

I hate to break it to you, but there's definitely room for her to drop further - via the exit.....

Preggosaurus wrote: »

For those with older boys, I totally understand, my 2 boys are the most exciting (and mischievous) little things ever.

Have to have another scan at 36 weeks for a growth estimate and to check the low lying placenta. I think I remember that a few people on this thread have had low lying placentas too?

Welcome to you and pink bump!

I had a low-lying placenta at 20 weeks, and a high placenta when they checked at 34 weeks, and was told that was really common, that they get out of the way. Hope yours goes well, too.

samtoby

Due date list

1. Debs0778 - 17th April 2014 ?
2. McRach - 20th April 2014 ?
3. mancbird - 20th April 2014 ?
4. Icey77 - 21st April 2014 ?
5. Sexki11en - 5th May 2014 :female:
6. jen_1985_04 - 8th May 2014 ?
7. marywooyeah - 14th May 2014 :female:
8. neverdespairgirl - 14th May 2014 :male:
9. VickyVics - 14th May 2014 :female:
10. Samtoby -18th May 2014 :female:
11. chelseablue - 21st May 2014 :male:
12. becsxxx - 25th May 2014 ?
13. mysecretalias - 25th May 2014 :female:
14. stsarina - 25th May 2014 :female:
15. vseviour - 26th May 2014 :male:
16. clare1angel - 27th May 2014 ?
17. Willow13 - 28th May 2014 ?
18. cllola - 29th May 2014 :female:
19. mrshappy - 30th May 2014 :female:
20. sophiasmum - 30th May 2014 ?
21. carmilla - 2nd June 2014 :male:
22. amythebigvoice - 11th June 2014 ?
23. sunshine81 - 15th June 2014 :male:
24. moonbabe58 - 20th June 2014 ?
25. Faith2009uk - 23rd June 2014 ?
26. Lara44 - 24th June 2014 ?
27. fireyfirenze - 25th June 2014 :female:
28. Preggosaurus - 28th June 2014 :female:
29. RobotsinDisguse - 30th June 2014 ?
30. glimmerofhope - 30th June 2014 :male:
31. AquamarineMonkey - 11th July 2014:female:
32. MrsMuffin - 16th July 2014 ?
33. PommeVerte - 16th July 2014 ?
34. wangdoodle - 19th July 2014 :female:
35. TigerLilley1980 - 21st July 2014 ?
36. ema-o - 25th July 2014 :female:
37. skintchick - End of July 2014 ?
38. purcy81 - 16th August 2014 :female:
39. lilmissmup - 19th August 2014 :female:

Hospital Bag List here
Supplement List and Dosage here

BIRTH LIST - Within the last month

:male: :female: Luella-14 - 29th March 2014 - Arrived by 12:40 6lb 9oz and 4lb 12oz
:female: Sjlou - 30th March 2014 - Pheobe
:male: blondy24 - 29th March 2014 - Henry
:female:ABetterLife - 2nd April 2014 - 02:45am 6lbs 0z
:male: Eiteews - 7th April 2014 -Ezio - 6lbs 13oz
:male: Lulu75 - 7th April 2014 - Joseph
:female: laurabllue - 8th April April 2014 - Sophia
:male: polka_dots - 10th April 2014
:male: DayATT - 17th April 2014 - Finlay Joseph 9:41am 5lbs 11oz

PROBABLY GIVEN BIRTH BUT TOO WORN OUT TO LOG ON LIST

Allow 2 weeks after EDD before transferring to this list (Max 6 weeks)

CupofTea - 17th March 2014 ?
Hannah27 - 29th March 2014 :female:
playtime8978 - 9th April 2014 :female:
Twigpig - 14th April 2014 ?

CONTRACTION MASTER TIMER

Please post your birth stories here when you have time/energy

samtoby

neverdespairgirl - unfortunatly our crab fishing that day was not that sucessful but hey. The net makes you look professional, right?

Preggosaurus - Welcome! I have added you to the list.

sexki11en - Definatly some dropping room left there but what a lovely bump - your nearly there! I offically started maternity leave now that was yesterday which is strange as I feel like I have been off ages already....well its been two weeks but you know what I mean.

VickyVics - Bless you, I hope you get this strep b thing made clear.

AFM - I thought something was happening last night. I had really low down period pain, didn't sleep properly because of it but that was wishful thinking. Nothing this morning.

wangdoodle

Morning ladies. Hope you're all doing well.

Welcome preggosaurus

Sorry you have step VickyVics. I hope it doesn't interfere with your birth plans too much. Hope you get through to the midwife, who will hopefully clear things up for you.

Sorry you had a false alarm samtoby hopefully it's a sign of things to come and baby will be with you shortly.

AFM I'm seeing the midwife this morning. Should get the results from my glucose screening test. I'm a bit scared as my diet hasn't exactly been perfect

sunshine81

Sorry to hear about the Strep B VickyVics, hope you get all the answers you need prior to birth.

Hope the midwife goes well wangdoodle!

Ooh samtoby why do I have the feeling you won't get to 40 weeks before your little one puts in an appearance!

AFM am having a quiet day, my all day shopping has really taken it's toll on my pelvis and everything associated with it! Has anyone else got a dodgy tummy? I seem to have breakfast every morning and then 2 hours later get stomach cramp and end up in the bathroom (sure you know what I mean!) it's doing my head in!

x