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Hi,
im looking to hear about mums who had group strep b?
i was found that i had it in my first pregnancy and treated at birth. im pregnant again and ive been refused homebirth becuase of the strep which i understand. my first birth was quick 8 hours induced with back labor, constant contractions and i was made to stay on my back all the way through it was awful to say the least.
i’ve been told your second child is so much quicker that im concerned that even if i do go in and have the antibiotics would it be enough time and worth all the worrying im doing about the horrifc experience i had last time.plus the awful after care i recieved in hospital. my son was sick and managed to wee as i took off his nappy and they wouldn’t change the sheet. that was just the start of it.
joanne
Hi Joanne,
Firstly, its great that you know you carry the virus – many places dont test mums – im assuming you were either routinely tested last time or because your waters broke. Either way, you had to endure a pretty grotty labour and regular antibiotics by IV drip, yes? I cant quite understand why you had to stay on your back though. There is no reason the drip cannot be discontinued between doses allowing you to labour in any position unless of course, there was concern about the baby’s heartrate or movements and the midwives or doctors felt you needed to be continually monitored. Sometimes as midwives, we are very aware that mums really dont have the greatest labours due to having to use a lot of technology to monitor baby and safety will always have to be the first priority, but if all goes well and you are both low risk, then there is nothing to stop you having a low key birth with regular listens to the heart beat and your antibiotics IV.
In answer to the question about knowing when to come in labour – while it is true that labours are often shorter with subsequent babies, almost all mums still come in with enough time to get a dose of antibiotics in their babies system. If you have an ultra quick, ultra easy birth and there is no time to get antibiotic treatment, then the probability is that the baby will be fine and will require a close eye for a couple of days with regular checks on his or her temp, resps, skin and general wellbeing. What you have to remember is that if your waters break, even if you are not sure, there is a chance that the infection could reach your baby who is no longer protected by his bag of membranes – so dont take a chance, if you feel they may have gone, phone your labour ward who will do a thorough check on you to find out for sure – even if you have no other signs of labour.
Most babies born vaginally to mums with strep b who are not treated are closely monitored and, in the main, are well. Obviously, if you can keep your baby protected throughout your labour, then it is much better to do so. Not so nice having to have a cannula popped in your arm, but it should not mean you cant have a much more mobile delivery if everything else is normal.
Sorry you had poor after care – it is becoming more and more common for mums to feel unsupported with Midwives so thinly spread. Hopefully, more websites like this will at least give you someone to talk to, if your Midwives cannot give you the time you need and deserve. Its a horrible state of affairs and very frustrating to be a Midwife and a new mum!
My best wishes to you, let me know how you get on. It would be nice to hear from other mums who had IV antibiotics but were still in control of their deliveries.
Sally.
Could you recommend any specific resources, books, or other blogs on this topic?
Isobel, most maternity units have good literature on Gp B Strep. If yours doesnt, let me know and I will see if i have one from my recent unit that I can send you. Also try http://www.choicesforbirth.org/newsarticle.php?id=127 which will take you to MIDIRS resources. They are predominently a resource for Midwives and critique and analyse all data from current research. Im sure they will be able to provide very up to date information.
Sally
how do you know if you are preagant? what signs?
hi Brooke. Now that IS a question! Firstly there are many signs of pregnancy that are similar to other problems or ailments which is why there are so many false alarms. Simply missing periods certainly isnt a factor as many other conditions including drastically dieting or stress can cause that. If you have had penetrative sex, even using birth control and have missed a period, perhaps noticed tenderness around the breasts and feel nauseous when you havent eaten for a few hours then a home pregnancy test will usually give you a result – and they are all pretty accurate, in fact we use the same stick pregnancy tests in the hospitals as you buy over the counter. Your GP can gently feel to see if your womb is enlarged but once again, a urine test would be used to confirm pregnancy. Some women do say they ‘knew’ as soon as they became pregnant – but I have yet to find any proven evidence that such ESP exists as opposed to either worrying about the what ifs, or wishful thinking because they are trying. All the common symptoms of pregnancy are also symptoms of other conditions and also there are many pregnant women who only experience a few. I really have delivered babies of women who didnt know they were pregnant and these were not tiny or unhealthy infants – it always amazed me that the mums could possibly be oblivious!
To be sure, you do need to pop along to the chemist. It doesnt have to be expensive – you can get tests from as little as a pound or free from the doctor if you have a few days to wait. If the result is positive then you can be pretty sure you are pregnant. There are occasionally false negatives but these are rare, especially if you are past missing a period. You can have positive results for pregnancies which are not going so well, so it is important that if you are in any pain, or bleeding, you immediately seek medical help. If your test is positive then depending on where you live you will be offered a scan to see the little being and find out exactly how far along you are, this is usually done at the hospital.
If you do a test and it is negative but you continue to experience any symptoms as below then pop along to the GP who will run any tests required.
Common Symptoms of early pregnancy include: Tenderness of muscles particularly breasts, tiredness, increased need to pass urine, aching low in the pelvis, thirst, nausea, lack of periods. As I have said above, some people only experience one or two symptoms and some none at all. Other mums have reported everything from craving coal to eat and forgetfulness – symptoms are as diverse as people are different.
Let me know what you find out. I hope the result is what you want it to be.
Sally
Hi, I have chronic kidney pain that was initally caused by my 1st pregnancy. I have a bi-cornate uterus and my 1st baby got stuck on the right side, causing my kidney to dilate and create a huge stone. After 4 stays in hospital, this was eventually diagnosed and treated. I am 22 weeks pregnant now, and have already been re-admitted with another round of the same agony pain. (To be honest, its worse that actually having a baby and I’m not joking!) I’m concerned about this continuing and coping with the pain again (through labour etc). My labour was also very fast last time, and I’ve also been diagnosed with Strep B. I’m considering speaking to my midwife about a c-section as I’m struggling with the pain and also the strep b issue/fast labour/impact of the antibiotics on my baby (2 friends babies have had the antibiotics and have on going stomach issues – though I appreciate this is not as serious as the potential infections caused by Strep B). I just wanted to talk to someone for some advice!thanks
Hi H.
Well, you have rather answered your own thoughts here. Various problems in pregnancy can impact on your kidneys – usually from a blood pressure or eclampsia point of view. I have never encountered a bicornate uterus causing damage to a kidney – how horrid for you! It is good that you said you had a speedy labour before because sometimes the nature of a bicornate uterus causes difficulties with contractions being even and effective – there are also many other problems which I am sure you have read about and you managed to get one I have not encountered at all. At 22 weeks, of course you realise that there is a long way to go before you can think about delivery, but sometimes, when the pain is extreme, obstetricians will consider bringing things forward. A normal delivery would still be your safest option but I really understand why you are considering C Section. Also, it might be worthwhile to discuss with the obstetrician if you feel going through this again is something you could not cope with physically because that would be another option after this pregnancy.
I certainly would not encourage anybody to consider sterilization, but it sounds as if pregnancy for you is pretty miserable so if that was on your mind, during a CS could be a choice.
Make sure that you are referred to an obstetrician who specialises in kidney conditions – there will be one at your hospital. If you are not coping, then get together with him/her and make sure a plan is put in place for all your care up to and after delivery.
Be very careful of your damaged kidney – you are likely to be more prone to infections – so perhaps your MW could let you have a pot of urine sticks and show you how to read them to check your kidneys are filtering proteins properly and if you see any blood on your pads or when you pass urine – go straight along to see the GP.
Im sure you have been told that there is a higher chance of premature labour with your heart shaped uterus but the fact it worked well before is great news!
There are drugs you can take for the pain, but its a matter of trying to keep them to a minimum because they do invariably cross the placenta into the baby. However, trying to cope with continuous pain and the stress of that also can affect things – so let the obstetrician make that care plan with you as soon as possible.
With regard to the Strep B – a CS would obviously be safer for the baby which would not pass through the infected areas but I would still always opt for a vaginal birth especially as you had a successful birth before. On balance, it is usually safer for both of you. With another fast labour you might not have the chance to get a good dose of antibiotics into yours (and therefore the babys) system. However, knowing about your Strep B does mean they will be keeping a very close eye on baby for 48 hours and will be on to the first signs of transmission. For what its worth, most babies are absolutely fine. Have a look at the question on here about Strep B.
Good luck x
I am 21 weeks pregnant and worried about labour. Therefore I am worried that will be in one room with other mothers after birth. I would love to be in private room. Can you give me advice on how to deal with current worries?
Hi Sam.
I dont know where you are living and planning to give birth but most hospitals do offer private rooms although they tend to be anything from £70 to several hundred. At my last hospital which was not in UK so not NHS, it cost £600 per night – which I thought people must be mad to pay. To be honest, when I had my first baby I was really glad of the company of other new mums. We made friends and looked out for each other. Its not like you are not all girls together – the worst part of an open ward is that sometimes Mums snore very loudly – but there are usually places to get a nice cup of tea and sit and cuddle your new baby and, for the most part, everyone is shattered and sleep whenever the baby gives them an opportunity. You can pull your curtains round for some privacy but it is better to keep this to a minimum because otherwise the baby is kept in the dark and that doesnt help keep jaundice levels down. Also, the staff like to see you smiling and well and having to keep peeping around closed curtains to check all is well is a bit of a pain.
Almost everyone is worried about labour – sometimes because they dont have enough information and sometimes because they have watched too many, quite terrifying, fly on the wall documentaries. Believe me, when its your turn – you will be so fed up with lumping around your big belly and having sleepless nights and back ache and getting kicked and head butted that you will be quite resigned to it. Keep reminding yourself that big scaredy wusses (me included) go through it again and again. It is so horrible having a baby that some people do it 10 times or more! The fact is, that it does hurt, it is a bit scary and you will rely on your birth partners and your midwife to help you but when the baby is born (they ALL come out eventually) it will be the most wonderful thing in the World and you would do it all again for that little bundle if you had to.
Now for the practical stuff: Read what the hospital give you. Ask for literature about the wards and the various methods of delivery. Sign yourself up for some antenatal classes and if your hospital doesn’t offer them, ring the local NCT classes in your telephone book or online. Then ask the hospital about a tour of the Unit. Dont do it too early – about 28 weeks is plenty early enough. If you have any other worries about specific aspects of giving birth or being in hospital, then ask me again and I will try to help you. I have delivered hundreds of babies and lots of mums have come to me almost hysterical about their phobia of hospitals, being away from their partners or having the baby and all of them have made it through and most have come back again to repeat the experience.
best of luck, Sally x
We should be painstaking and fussy in all the par‘nesis we give. We should be especially careful in giving guidance that we would not think of following ourselves. Most of all, we ought to evade giving recommendation which we don’t follow when it damages those who transport us at our word.
bosch
http://bosch-15.webs.com/apps/blog/ – bosch
We should be meticulous and perceptive in all the par‘nesis we give. We should be especially prudent in giving information that we would not think of following ourselves. Most of all, we ought to avoid giving advisor which we don’t imitate when it damages those who depreciate us at our word.
petzl
http://petzl-93.webs.com/apps/blog/ – petzl
i received a whole batch of these comments with slightly differing wording – and i have to say that Im not entirely sure what they are saying. If you mean I should be careful what information I give. I am – and although I do try to keep updated and broad minded – I would certainly never give out any advice which I did not believe had been well researched or was not in the best interest of safety. I do not seek to undermine other health professionals and would urge anyone to seek a second opinion if they were unhappy with any advice given by myself or anybody professing to have studied in this field. I understand the last oddly worded sentence to mean DO NO HARM – the ethical code of medical professionals and this is why I always emphasise that if you feel unwell, in pain, have bleeding or just believe there to be a problem that you cannot identify – then go to see your GP, midwife or Consultant who will actively check you over and run any tests necessary.
If anyone out there understands the wording of these last two comments and believes Ive missed an important point – please feel free to let me know.
It was interesting. You seem very knowledgeable in your field.
all Midwives are knowledgable Hollis – its a very exciting field with new research being performed all the time. Midwives keep learning throughout their practice and we learn most from our mums and babies and their experiences.
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Hi,
i am pregnant but not sure how far gone i am, i think i am about 1o weeks. I am wondering when do i need to visit the hospital or a midwife.
Hi fyi
I am assuming you have done a pregnancy test and that is how you know you are pregnant. Oh, and congratulations by the way.
First thing that you need to do is to make an appointment to see your GP who will then run some important blood tests, check your blood pressure, a specimen of your urine and explain to you a little about pregnancy. He/She will then arrange your care at the local hospital which is often shared, so that you can sometimes go there for scans etc and sometimes go to the GP (where you will probably see your community midwife who will also be around after the birth).
If you have a preference, through friends recommendations, for a particular Consultant at the hospital, then mention this when you go to your GP. Similarly, if you really dont want a particular Consultant – also mention that.
Its important you go to the GP nice and quickly because, even at 10 weeks, you may be invited for a scan shortly to give you an accurate due date for your baby and to ensure that all is well with the pregnancy. The next scan is often done in the middle of the pregnancy to check the various organs and bones and to make sure the placenta is out of the way of the birth canal and doing its job nicely. There are a lot of things the scan can check but for mum, just seeing your growing baby is magical. This is the scan where the sex can often be determined so tell the radiographer if you DONT want to know – and they will warn you to look away when they check the genitalia.
Check ups at this stage are generally only monthly, unless you have any problems and only become frequent towards the end of your pregnancy – so at this stage just pop and get that GP appointment.
Sometimes you find out from the early scan that you are not as far into your pregnancy as you thought, or even further along as some people experience a little blood when the egg implants in the wall of the uterus and they assume they have had a period, albeit very light.
Good luck – let me know how it goes.
Sally
Wow, being a single parent I have a lot of time on my hands in the late evening. So I love to fly through so many of these different blogs on line and just see what new things I can find. I just wanted to thank you for yours and I do look forward to reading more.
I agree with your Blog and I will be back to check it more in the future so please keep up your work. I love your content & the way that you write. It looks like you’ve been doing this for a while now, how long have you been blogging for?
many thanks for your nice comment – I trained in 1989 but have only had this site for a short while. I hope that with the failure of the NHS to provide enough staff to support women, that more sites will crop up. At the moment the site is still quiet enough for me to run it on my own. Im sure that, in the current climate, that wont always be the case.
Oh..wonderfull post and great information …will have a try all the tips..thanks…
quick question, i am 8/9 weeks pregnate and still awaiting my midwife appointment, my symptoms a very different which i understand is normal, i am always tired i feel sick non stop from about 7pm till i go to sleep but have not yet been sick, i am concerned though with my stomach aches, they are usually in my left side and can get that serve that i cant sleep like a stabbing ain and i can pin point them, my lastest one was walking to work but on the oppersite side which i found confusing as assumed it would be growing pains, is this normal or am i worring over nothing i would like some advice as i dont want to nag the midwife if its normal but i dont want to be too stubborn, thank you for any replies
x
hi Leigh Anne
Firstly – congratulations on your pregnancy. Tiredness is very common and people feel sick in any number of different ways (mine was round the clock). However, you must go to see your doctor and rule out anything untoward. Im fairly sure the appendix is located on your right but it is never wise to ignore pain. It almost certainly is just all the ligaments moving and stretching to accomodate your growing womb but you have to get checked to make sure. Your GP will be pleased to see you and share care of your pregnancy with the Midwives and hospital. There are other possible conditions which could cause pain, but these would likely be constant and worsening so the fact that it is not is quite reassuring. As I said earlier, the ligaments around your womb do have to take a battering, as does the one holding your pelvis together at the front and some mums do suffer quite markedly with discomfort but you must NEVER ignore either pain or bleeding in pregnancy and no caring professional will make you feel silly for getting a medical opinion.
Most Midwives I have worked with are great teachers and love explaining the whys and wherefors of pregnany so you wont nag them. You probably wont get much time to ask as many questions as you would like, so if you have some – write them down so you dont forget to ask. You can happily ask me too.
Hope this helps, let me know what the doctor says xx
hi, im 36 weeks pregnant, i was around my friends little boy the other day, and he came down with a headache, loss of appitite and a raised temperature. Later that day when i had gone, he ws sick. My friend phoned nhs direct as it was all symptoms of meningitis, they said they thought he was fine and it wasnt that. he has had no spots. Im just cvoncerned, if it was to be that, am i at any risk or contracting meningitis, or passing it on to the baby. As im close to the birth, is there a risk to the new born.
many thanks .
hi Sammy
When you are pregnant or have a small baby, its always worrying when somebody goes down with an illness. Whatever this little one had, if it is contageous, then of course there is a chance you could pick up this or any other virus. Make sure you find out if the baby has been diagnosed or is well now – if there is a diagnosis of a virus then its worth just alerting your midwife or GP. Children do seem to pick up things and then shake them off quite often so you might find, on talking to your friend, that he was right as rain by the next day.
Being in contact with illness is far less of a concern at this stage of your pregnancy as the baby is now fully developed and quite well protected from the outside world in the womb. DUring the first trimester (12 weeks) while the baby is developing it’s nervous system and organs, it is much more of a concern. Obviously if you become unwell at this uncomfortable and sleepless (for most) stage of your pregnancy it can be rather miserable, especially as Paracetamol is usually the only option for relief. You should be having weekly checks with a Midwife now, so just find out what the GPs diagnosis was for your friend’s child and mention it to her if it was a virus. If you are feeling well in yourself then try not to worry.
I would however strongly advice anyone who has definitely been in contact with a diagnosed meningitis case, contact your GP immediately and advice and testing will be given.