Please Please Please take the GBS test seriously!!
I have noticed a lot questions lately as to what the GBS test is and whether or not it's really necessary. Basically it is a simple swab of the vaginal/rectal area that is preformed between 35 and 38 weeks. The bacteria does not affect mom but baby can become very sick if not treated during labor. I know I have posted the following comment before but I just wanted to repost not to scare anyone but only to bring awarness to the seriousness of the Group B Strep bacteria.
I tested negative for GBS when I was pregnant with my son. I was induced 5/15/07 and after almost 12 hours of unsucessful labor my son was born via c-section. My husband and I spent the evening with our son but around midnight we sent him to the nursery so I could get some rest and try to recover from the surgery. At 4 in the morning we got a call saying they were rushing my son to the nicu because he devoloped a very high fever. We were flipping out but seeing as I hadn't gotten out of bed since the surgery (I devoloped an infection had a fever myself and was on 3 antibiotics) I sent my husband to the nicu to be with our son. Later that day, after hours of agonizing uncertainty, we were visited by the worst neonatalogist (well in my opinion anyway) who said my son most likely had menegitis and would have irreversable brain damage then left the room. I couldn't stop crying I was a mess for days. They ran additional tests and it was later discovered that did not have menegitis instead he had been born with group b strep sepsis and should be fine after a 10 day dose of iv penicilin. He seemed to be improving but then devoloped high blood pressure which took them several days to get under control. As it turns out the iv medication which saved his life also destroyed one of his kidneys. They released my beautiful son wyatt on may 30 2007 after 15 days of absolute hell. Looking at my son 4 years later I'm greatful he has suffered no brain injury or devolopmental delays which is quite common with babies born with GBS. He still has high blood pressure from his damaged kidney that he has taken medication for everyday since he was 3 days old. If I hadn't personally gone through this terrible ordeal I would never know wyatt had once been so ill. He is so wonderful, smart and incredibly funny. At the same time I feel incredibly resentful that something more wasn't done to find out that I was a carrier of something that was so harmful to my baby and has left permanent damage.
Again, it is not my intention to scare anyone with this post. I know what happened to my son is a very rare occurance. I just really hope it has brought to light what happens if it's not caught or treated before baby is born. I wish all of you the very healthiest of pregnancies and babies! Thanks for reading
I tested negative for GBS when I was pregnant with my son. I was induced 5/15/07 and after almost 12 hours of unsucessful labor my son was born via c-section. My husband and I spent the evening with our son but around midnight we sent him to the nursery so I could get some rest and try to recover from the surgery. At 4 in the morning we got a call saying they were rushing my son to the nicu because he devoloped a very high fever. We were flipping out but seeing as I hadn't gotten out of bed since the surgery (I devoloped an infection had a fever myself and was on 3 antibiotics) I sent my husband to the nicu to be with our son. Later that day, after hours of agonizing uncertainty, we were visited by the worst neonatalogist (well in my opinion anyway) who said my son most likely had menegitis and would have irreversable brain damage then left the room. I couldn't stop crying I was a mess for days. They ran additional tests and it was later discovered that did not have menegitis instead he had been born with group b strep sepsis and should be fine after a 10 day dose of iv penicilin. He seemed to be improving but then devoloped high blood pressure which took them several days to get under control. As it turns out the iv medication which saved his life also destroyed one of his kidneys. They released my beautiful son wyatt on may 30 2007 after 15 days of absolute hell. Looking at my son 4 years later I'm greatful he has suffered no brain injury or devolopmental delays which is quite common with babies born with GBS. He still has high blood pressure from his damaged kidney that he has taken medication for everyday since he was 3 days old. If I hadn't personally gone through this terrible ordeal I would never know wyatt had once been so ill. He is so wonderful, smart and incredibly funny. At the same time I feel incredibly resentful that something more wasn't done to find out that I was a carrier of something that was so harmful to my baby and has left permanent damage.
Again, it is not my intention to scare anyone with this post. I know what happened to my son is a very rare occurance. I just really hope it has brought to light what happens if it's not caught or treated before baby is born. I wish all of you the very healthiest of pregnancies and babies! Thanks for reading
Comments
@ahendricks09 don't quote me on this, definitely talk to your dr first, but I believe as soon as you go into labor and or break your water is when you would ask for the penicillin drip used to treat GBS. If they ask why you can just tell them you're not willing to take the risk of GBS infection. Hope that helps. Good luck to you!
@survivormommie3 good to hear you haven't had any complications thus far. I'm sure baby # 3 will be just fine also.
@bke913 wonderful! She's precious! Enjoy your little princess
@ahendricks09 you're welcome dear
@maymommy11 it is my understanding that as long as the bag of water hasn't been ruptured the baby should not be exposed to the bacteria. In my case I had been in labor with ruptured membranes for nearly 12 hours before the c-section so he was exposed to it for quite awhile. I know with a scheduled c-section my daughter shouldn't be exposed to it but I'm just not willing to take that chance this time.
@mommy_of_3 you're welcome
@NewMomInSept if you have an allergy to penicillin you may be able to take ammoxicillin although some people with penicillin allergies may also have adverse reactions to ammoxicillin as well. Other alteratives are cipro, levaquin, tetracycline, erythromycin, and zithromax. Ask your doctor if any of those medications could be substituted as the website I looked at did not mention whether or not they are safe to take during pregnancy and/or delivery.
@momof22be I'm so glad he's doing ok now! That must have been so scary for you
@1stTime_Mommy it is very possible to test negative for it and still have the bacteria. Unfortunately it is something that comes and goes. In my case when they tested me for it it had gone away which is why I got the negative result. At some point before delivery it came back which is how my son was exposed to the bacteria after they broke my water. I'm not 100% sure but I think they will let you have the antibiotics during labor since there isn't any adverse effects to baby after delivery. Ask your dr to be sure.
@rckprincess2 stripping of the membranes is a procedure in which the dr will use his/her finger to seperate the bag of water from the uterine wall near the cervix during a cervical exam to help induce labor. Generally the dr will ask before performing the procedure. Since they know you're GBS positive and being induced I would think they definitely wouldn't do anything like that. Hope that helps! Good luck