Group B Strep Bacteria

Hi,
This is my 1st post and I am seeking some help. I will TRY to be brief!
I am almost 21 weeks preg w/ fraternal twins. I am 29 yrs old. I have never had any UTIs or yeast infections in my life. At about 9 weeks preg one of my urine samples came back saying I had Group B Strep. I know this is somewaht common in pregnancy's and they usually test again for it around 30+ weeks and if someone has it they just give you IV of antibiotics during delivery etc.

The problem is they have done a urine sensitivty test on me a few times to see what antibiotic will kill this bacteria now...I have been on 3 different types so far and NOTHING, I still have it. I am on a 4th kind now and will find out in a few days what the urine comes out as...MY OB said that if I STILL have it, then I am to go on a low dose antibitic called prophylactic.

The idea of taking antibiotics chronically does not sit well with me, but I guess if the infection never quite went away it would spread to kidneys.

Does anyone have a similiar experience? I know this group b can cause PRETERM labor which I AM TERRIFIED ABOUT!!!!
THANK YOU
Carla

 

I tested positive for Group B with my son only, but not for my girls or the twins. When I delivered, they gave me Penicilin before I delivered, by IV every 4 hours and one dose after, and they gave him a shot after he was born and tested to make sure it didnt transfer to him. I can remember them starting the IV, then leaving the room. My arm was on fire, then my shoulder, then my chest, I thought i was having an allergic reaction. when the nurse came back in , i asked why it hurt and burned so much, she said it was normal, they dont tell you its going to do that so you dont fight having it. I said thanks. Im sure you'll be pre-occupied with the twin delivery, so just remember its supposed to burn in the IV. Hang in there.

 

I cant be of much help but I want to say I tested positive for GBS at 34w5d and gave birth at 34w6d and just had iv drugs while I gave birth. It caused no problems what so ever. I have never heard of a Dr. giving med during the pg to knock out GBS. Im not saying its never been done I just have never heard of it. Hopefully someone has a better answer for you

 

Welcome to TS!! Congratulations on your twin pregnancy!

I have also tested positive for GBS, and was given IV antibiotics while in labor. My understanding is that it would keep coming back, so there was no point of giving antibiotics beforehand.

I encourage you to join our Big Sister Program here at TS. We will match you with a mom of twins that will be able to answer some of your questions and provide you with some extra support through your twin journey! Click on the link in my signature for details!

 

I tested possitive for it with my second dd and my ds but not with my first dd. I was just given the two doses of IV antibiotics at delivery.
Congrats on the twin pregnancy!!!

Tiffaney

 

Thanks ladies but is there anyone out there that caught this SO early on like my place did at like 9 weeks?
or did you all just catch it when they tested u around 30+ weeks.

 

QUOTE(Carla Marie @ Jun 12 2007, 10:01 AM) [snapback]289075[/snapback]
Thanks ladies but is there anyone out there that caught this SO early on like my place did at like 9 weeks?
or did you all just catch it when they tested u around 30+ weeks.


They told me I didnt need to be tested for it until I was like 34 weeks along. The only time it causes any problems is when you are delivering.

Tiffaney

 

Did they say if there was a reason they were worried about it now?

Tiffaney

 

Have you tried this website?

[post="here"]http://www.groupbstrep.org/[/post]

Tiffaney

OK I think I did that wrong. I wanted it to hid the website so you just click on it. I need to get better at this forum talk code stuff :wacko:

 

QUOTE(Carla Marie @ Jun 12 2007, 07:02 AM) [snapback]288950[/snapback]
I know this group b can cause PRETERM labor which I AM TERRIFIED ABOUT!!!!


I've never heard that. I've had it will all my kids and first 2 were very late. WIsh it helped start labor a bit early!

It's reallynothing to worry about. A little antibiotics.

Welcome to TS!

 

QUOTE(twoplustwo @ Jun 12 2007, 10:12 AM) [snapback]289093[/snapback]
It's reallynothing to worry about. A little antibiotics.


Yeah it really isnt any big deal. When my dh first heard about it he thought I had an STD. He thought that maybe I had some explaining to do. :blush:

I never said welcome and congratulations on expecting twins!!! So CONGRATS!!!

:sign0016:

Tiffaney

 

thanks my ob said that if I had it say from the 9 weeks until say 30weeks without TRYING to treat it then I would be a severe risk for kidney problems....

 

There is no risk for kidney problems. I have tests done every 4 weeks on my kidneys while pregnant b/c of diabetes and the Group B strep is no big deal. THey just give you a shot in your IV while in labor. You wont even notice it.

 

Studies show that it is not beneficial to give antibiotics during pregnancy, as in more than 65% of cases, the bacteria have time to re-grow before labor begins.

I would be concerned about all the antibiotics. They can mess up your system and lead to resistant bacteria. I'm sure you can dig up some research on the Internet and maybe get a second opinion. That's what I'd do.

 

I agree with all the prior posts... Lots of time people have it all their life and never even know unless they have children. Its not going to cause you any problems other then delivery time if they dont treat you. If you get you antiobitcs at the time of delivery your babies will be fine...

Also I would be concerned with becoming resistent to antibiotics in general. I dont take them and I dont give them to my children unless I absolutly have to.

 

I've always thought that some women just "carried" it and that it was no big deal to us, but only caused a problem if transferred to a newborn during delivery. I've also never heard of it being found through a urine test, I've always been tested by a vaginal swab. I think I would get a second opinion before I took all the antibiotics.

 

I have had one yeast infection in my life because I was allergic to the soap and I had Group B Strep. I was given an IV of antibiotic at the time of delivery which is very common and had them vag at 39w 2d, no biggie...I wouldn't of even known if they didn't tell me. I have never heard of taking an antibiotic for so long before delivery...it is my understanding that it is the culture in your system and isn't something they can 'get rid of' just treat at the time of delivery. LOL..DH thought it was an STD too! Gee Thanks!

 

QUOTE
I've always thought that some women just "carried" it and that it was no big deal to us, but only caused a problem if transferred to a newborn during delivery


That is how it was explained to me as well.

 

ditto on the pp. I've had it in both my pgs..only tested late in pg...no one was ever concerned about it... It was my understanding that group B strep is found in the vaginal canal...therefore it has nothing to do with your kidneys... perhaps if it is found in your urine that means it's present in your bladder and maybe that's a different case??.. It is very, very difficult to get a really clean urine sample. They do "clean catch" but my doctors have told me it's almost impossible to get a sample that is not contaminated by skin cells, etc... to really see what is coming from your bladder I think they'd have to use a catheter. Could it be that the strep is not in your urine, just that your urine is contaminated?? Sorry tmi, but I would seriously question your doctor about this.... if it's not coming from your bladder then it's not going to migrate to your kidneys!! I just think it's ridiculous that they've had you on antibiotics for so long...are you feeling like you have a bladder infection??...

 

Congratulations!!

They tested me after i had my babies and told me i had group b strep. They never had time to do it before i went into labour as it came on so quickly. What i got told was that a lot of woman do carry it and it doesnt do any harm to us but can affect the baby if passed on during labour. x

 

It sounds like the reason that they are treating you is not because you are GBBS positive, but because you have it in your urine which is an active infection vs. just bacterial colonization in the vagi** which over 30% of all women have. Most of us who are GBBS positive just show that we grow the bacteria vaginally -- our bodies are covered in bacteria at all times and most of the time it is NOT a problem. It is just when the bacteria gets into a place it is not supposed to be (i.e., bladder, blood, etc.) that it needs to be treated. I would continue on the dose of medication prophylactically --- one of the common causes of preterm labor is a urinary tract infection, so keeping this under control is imperative. Don't worry about the misconception that antibiotics can mess up your system or lead to the development of resistant bacteria -- that is only when antibiotics are taken when they are NOT indicated or necessary, which in your case they are. The risk of NOT taking the antibiotics outweighs the risk of taking them by about a million-fold. I would talk to your doctor more thoroughly, or contact a nurse to discuss just exactly what is happening for clarification (I'm an RN myself and would be happy to explain to you exactly why YOUR case mandates treatment whereas many others wouldn't). I think your doctor is being VERY smart in treating you in this way and would not hesitate to do myself what he is telling you to do!! Plus, you should be treated by IV antibiotics immediately prior to delivery. Just remember that is a HUGE difference between testing GBBS positive and having an active infection -- what would be sufficient for a "carrier" is NOT going to work for you.

 

QUOTE(moontwins @ Jun 12 2007, 01:00 PM) [snapback]289365[/snapback]
There is no risk for kidney problems. I have tests done every 4 weeks on my kidneys while pregnant b/c of diabetes and the Group B strep is no big deal. THey just give you a shot in your IV while in labor. You wont even notice it.


If it is in her urine, then yes, it DOES put her at risk for kidney problems. If it is just colonization vaginally, then it is no problem, but hers is very different than most of us.