GBS concerns

dexterwolf

Has anyone had GBS before pregnancy. My partner is due in 5 weeks and just been told she has this. I am a worrier at the best of times but just wondered if any advice.

EmilyBeee

Hi, I had this during my last pregnancy and worried all the way through that something awful was going to happen It didn't however and we were very lucky to take home our beautiful new baby boy after just 48 hours. As the staff in hospital/midwife should have told your partner she will be given antibiotics through a drip as soon as she is in established labour (that was our hospital policy) and you are well within your rights to ask what your hospital's guidelines are so that you know what should be happening when you actually go in and reming them if they are not following procedure! Look up as much information as you can about the condition, the best site we found was gbss.org.uk It has loads of information and a great section on what the signs of possible infection are and how to look out for them after the baby is born.

I think it's normal to worry about something like this but the treatment with antibiotics during labour is very effective and if you know how to spot if something is not quite right after the baby is born then I think you are doing all you can. After the birth you stay in at least 24 hours I think so that they can motor baby's temperature etc. (Again ask what the policy is in your own hospital, we are in Lancaster). We stayed in hospital an extra day as I wasn't happy that William was feeding properly (one sign of possible infection) but he was fine after that. If the baby does show signs of infection as long as it is spotted I think antibiotics are used to treat the baby too.

Hope that has helped a little, I totally understand how worried you are and if you want to ask anything else about our experience then feel free.
Best of luck and let me know how you and your partner get on xx

butterflymum

All good advice from Emily above, especially about visiting the https://gbss.org.uk/ website.

It is great that you are such a thoughtful partner. Try not to worry (it's like paying interest on a debt you don't owe). Make sure her birth plan includes a reminder that she has GBS and, as Emily has said, find out in advance the hospital's set up for dealing with GBS during and after the birth and don't be afraid to question any aspect you feel unsure about or think is not following best practice.

barbiedoll

Hi Dexterwolf. Has your wife been given antibiotics for her current GBS infection? Was it picked up in a urine sample? If not, she needs to see her GP to get treated, a simple course of antibiotics will clear it for now.

Have a look at her pregnancy notes. Is there anything marked on the front cover/page to note that she has (had) GBS? At my hospital, we put a brightly coloured "GBS" sticker on the front to ensure that everyone is aware when the woman attends the labour suite. If there isn't, get a marker pen and write "GBS" at the top of the cover, or somewhere where it will be seen easily. Of course, you can tell the staff when you both get there, but at the time, you may be a bit flustered and forget completely!

Our policy is that GBS women are given IV antibiotics at least 4 hours before the birth. Is this her first baby? During a "normal" labour, a woman will call the midwives at the hospital to tell them that she is in labour and they will almost always tell her to stay at home for as long as possible (unless the waters have broken, or if there are any other risk factors, e.g. breech presentation etc.) We have recently had an instance where a woman stayed at home until the last possible minute and therefore was unable to have the IV drugs in time. So do be aware of this and tell the hospital when she/you call them. If it's a second or subsequent baby, the labour is often much shorter so it may be best to go in earlier rather than later, again, tell the staff and if you're worried, go in anyway.

Having an IV line may impact on any decision regarding a water birth if that was what she was planning, again, she should speak to the midwives about her birth plan.

And try not to worry too much, GBS is easily treated and it shouldn't have any impact on the birth now that it has been picked up. Try not to read too many scare stories on the internet, all babies born to mothers who have had GBS are monitored for 24 hours after the birth now, so if the baby does have any infection (unlikely), it will be picked up on and treated immediately.

Good luck with the birth, do come back and let us know how it went! :rotfl:

dexterwolf

Thanks for the replies, my partner had it picked up from a swab taken. She is on antibiotic Cream and will be on a iv when in labour. I spoke to consultant and he said to come in early to get on the antibiotics. So when we call in early labour I am to tell midwifes this. Not long now so will keep you posted. Thanks again all