Re: Group B Strep in pregnancy
From: Rachael (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Thu, 18 Nov 1999 01:45:13 -0600 (CST)
I can tell you of my experience with this bacteria. My daughter was
infected at birth, pneumonia, sepsis, and meningitis. She had the
works. I know the pediatricians want 2 doses four hours apart of
penicillan to effectively kill the bacteria at the time of birth. With
your fast labors, it may be safe to assume that your baby would not be
exposed enough to become ill. 18+ hours with the membranes ruptured is
the general guideline. I was only in labor 9 hours and my daughter
still became infected. I ran no fever, have never had any vaginal
infections of any kind, barely even yeast.
I know induction is yucky (I was induced) but seeing an infected baby
hooked up to breathing machines, IVs and monitors is by far the worse of
the two evils.
As a side note, just because one carries the bacteria doesn't
necessarily mean one will infect their baby. But with this knowledge, I
can't imagine wanting to chance it. Not when I've seen the risks. I'm
sure this is what your doctor sees, also. Afterall, the goal of
pregnancy and birth is a healthy baby, healthy mother.
I know I'm very passionate about this issue, but when it hits home like
it did for my family, hardly a day goes by when I don't relive that
event to some extent in my mind.
I would STRONGLY encourage you to talk to your pediatrician or local
neonatologist about this issue. They are the ones who take care of the
sick babies. I talked extensively with mine after my daughter was born,
about what we would do differently the next time to avoid another sick
baby.
BTW, my daughter is a happy, healthy, 13 month old who is walking and
learning words!!! You'd never know she was so sick!
At Tue, 16 Nov 1999, AnnMarie wrote:
>
>After my daughter was born in 1994 I was told that my next pregnancy
>should be induced. I developed GBS about a couple of years ago. With
>this added to my birth history, it made my doctor want even more to
>induce me. I haven't discussed this with my new one yet, but I already
>know they want to induce. :(
>
>I would prefer not to be induced IF I can convince the doctor of it. But
>since my daughter came so fast and pain-free at home last time, is it
>possible IYHO to avoid an induction since I have Strep?
>
>AM
>
>At Sun, 14 Nov 1999, Harvey S. Marchbein, M.D. wrote:
>>
>>At Fri, 12 Nov 1999, Nikki wrote:
>>>
>>>I cannot believe that it is not standard practice for the OB/GYN to test
>>>for GBS before term. When is it going to become mandatory to test for
>>>this? My doc does it routinely at 36 weeks to prevent just such an
>>>occurrence. I was GBS positive and had PROM, just a slow trickle -
>>>thank God I noticed it. I had just found out I was GBS positive a half
>>>hour before I started trickling. I called the doctor back and was put
>>>in the hospital on IV penicillin for 5 days before the bag ruptured
>>>completely and I went into labor.
>>>
>>>Anyway, thank God my doc tested for GBS so early or I might have had a
>>>similar experience. I shudder to think of my baby exposed to GBS for
>>>those 5 days in the womb after the bag ruptured but before labor. I
>>>guess that's why PROM is the worst thing that can happen with GBS.
>>>
>>>I am not a doctor, but I would think that oral antibiotics prior to your
>>>scheduled date would be a safe route to take, in addition to the IV
>>>antibiotics before surgery.
>>
>>We went over this on the forum before so this is the short version.
>>
>>There are 3 sets of recommmendations:
>>1)American Academy of Pediatrics - cult GBS 24-28 weeks
>>pro- find a lot of GBS (appproximately 25% of women would have to be
>>treated);
>>con- treat a lot of GBS that would not appear at term and cause a lot of
>>resistant strains which will kill more babies than GBS does now, doesn't
>>guarantee no GBS at delivery just because it was treated once.
>>
>>2)CDC - cult at 35-37 weeks
>>pro - find GBS prior to labor in some
>>con - doesn't help patients delivering before 35 weeks or before results
>>back, doesn't guarantee no GBS at delivery just because it was treated
>>once.
>>
>>3)American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology - treat high risk
>>population - 1)preterm labor; 2)premature rupture of membranes; 3)known
>>past GBS(+) regardless of when; 4)rupture of membranes longer than 18
>>hours; 5)temperature elevation in labor;
>>
>>These 5 criteria have worked better than the recommendations above from
>>the AAP and CDC, saving more babies and injuring less with unnecessary
>>antibiotic therapy that can, as noted above, cause resistant strains
>>that can kill more babies than are now even affected by GBS.
>>
>>Hope this answers your questions.
>>
>>--
>>Harvey S. Marchbein, M.D. FACOG, FACS
>>Great Neck, New York
>>
>>**Note: Opinions expressed here are for educational purposes only
>>and, as such, do not constitute a physician-patient relationship.
>>This information is not intended to supplant the need for you to
>>consult with your physician prior to choosing therapeutic options
>>and/or interventions.
>>
>>**Private emails cannot be entertained due to time constraints,
>>consequently no private emails will receive a response.
>>
>>**Thank you for your understanding ;-)
>>
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