Tested positive for Group B Strep

Hello, I went to the doctors yesterday and they told me I had tested positive for GBS. The doctor made it sound like no big deal so I didn't ask much questions. Later I went home and googled about it (which was probably a bad idea). Google said all these horrible things that could happen to a baby and how GBS is not very common and even said that the baby could be exposed to it in the womb. After googling it I am more worried and confused now. So I was hoping some of you ladies could help answer my questions and share your experience.
Questions:
1. Can the baby be exposed to GBS before going into the birth canal?
2. Do the antibiotics always work?
3. How common is GBS?
4. How did I get GBS?
5. Why did my doctor say if I was given antibiotics now the GBS would just come back again?
6. Will I always have GBS?
7. Is baby at a serious health risk now?

Well I think that is all my questions. Sorry there are so many, I am just very confused about all of this.
Thanks for the help mama's!

I didn't have it in my first pregnancy, but did with my second. I was given antibiotics while I was in labor, now my daughter is 16 months, happy and healthy.

Watching*
Good Luck mama

I tested positive with my 3rd and didn't know until I got to the hospital to deliver and they started my Iv with the antibiotic and they want you to have it at least an hour before you deliver, but I only had it for 1/2 an hour before my LO was born and she was fine.

1. Can the baby be exposed to GBS before going into the birth canal?
No, your mucus plug keeps any kind of bacteria in the vagina from getting into your uterus. Even if you lose your plug weeks before you go into labor, it starts to grow back automatically.
2. Do the antibiotics always work?
Usually, GBS actually causing a problem is pretty rare. Only 1 in 2000 women have a problem as long as they have antibiotics.
3. How common is GBS?
Extremely common. 25% of all healthy women have it.
4. How did I get GBS?
It's just there really, like I said a lot of women have it in their system.
5. Why did my doctor say if I was given antibiotics now the GBS would just come back again? Because it's colonized, they give you antibiotics during labor so it will kill off the bacteria right then, it doesn't kill every single cell though. If you had antibiotics now, since it's naturally in your system already the bacteria will just multiply again.
6. Will I always have GBS?
Probably, but it's not a big deal.
7. Is baby at a serious health risk now?

No, as long as you have antibiotics during labor baby will be just fine.

Quoting Christin&Matt+1:" Hello, I went to the doctors yesterday and they told me I had tested positive for GBS. The doctor made ... [snip!] ... think that is all my questions. Sorry there are so many, I am just very confused about all of this. Thanks for the help mama's!"

They already did your Group B Strep test? Weird, most doctor's don't do it till at least 35 weeks of pregnancy due to the fact that it might not be accurate. I had it with my daughter and she is fine. It's very common in pregnancy and the baby should be healthy if you receive the antibiotics. Just remind them when you go in and have your LO  

I did not have it with my first, but I did with my second son. It really wasn't a big deal. I did the same as you....went home and googled it...it freaked me out too. When it came down to it though...it wasn't a problem. As long as you get the antibiotics LO will be just fine.

My LO is completely fine, no complications at birth or later on. My mom had 5 kids...she had GBS with three of the five and it was all spread out, not in a row. So I do not *think* that once you have it you will always have it.

Good luck momma! And try not to worry. I honestly worried for nothing  

Quoting Derpy the Duck:" 1. Can the baby be exposed to GBS before going into the birth canal? No, your mucus plug keeps any kind ... [snip!] ... big deal. 7. Is baby at a serious health risk now? No, as long as you have antibiotics during labor baby will be just fine. "

This!! although I was told by my dr that your chances of getting it again are about 50/50 its just something that happens.

I tested positive with my first, who is now almost 13. Like the other ladies I got antibiotics and there were no complications. I never tested positive with my other pregnancies. We'll see if that holds true for this one as well.

Thank you all! You have calmed my nerves and made me feel much better  

I had it with my first but not with my second. Both were very healthy babies. I googled it just like you did at first and became extremely worried. I found out that it is nothing to stress about.

I didn't have it with my first, but I tested positive for this one. She just said if my water breaks and I go into labor, I need to go to the hospital asap so I can get antibiotics. It seems to be quite common, actually, and there is on rhyme or reason as to why some of us have it sometimes, and others of us don't.

Also, my mom said she had it and actually gave it to me when I was born (they didn't test back then so they didn't know she had it). And I survived just fine even while contracting it when born. I think I was sick a little but nothing serious.

Quoting MamaWells253:" I tested positive with my first, who is now almost 13. Like the other ladies I got antibiotics and there ... [snip!] ... were no complications. I never tested positive with my other pregnancies. We'll see if that holds true for this one as well."

totally off topic but....my first son was born on July 21st   fantastic day to have a baby!

GBS is really not that big of a deal mama..

1. Can the baby be exposed to GBS before going into the birth canal?
NO GBS is only passed during a vaginal delivery.

2. Do the antibiotics always work?
As far as I've been told, yes.

3. How common is GBS?
Very common. Most women don't even know they have it until pregnancy.

4. How did I get GBS?
It is a body-born thing. It is not an STD and you cannot pass it to your partner.

5. Why did my doctor say if I was given antibiotics now the GBS would just come back again?
I wondered the same thing..

6. Will I always have GBS?
Not sure.. I've heard of women who had it in one pregnancy but not another.

7. Is baby at risk now?
Nope.


Basically your body created this 'disease' or infection. If baby breathes it in during delivery, they can get a lung infection or pneumonia. Other than that, its no big deal. Not an STD or anything nasty. You don't have any symptoms or side effects...its just a bacteria down there that some women have.

Quoting Kim Myron:" They already did your Group B Strep test? Weird, most doctor's don't do it till at least 35 weeks of ... [snip!] ... in pregnancy and the baby should be healthy if you receive the antibiotics. Just remind them when you go in and have your LO  "

I was technically tested at like 10 weeks.. It showed up in my urine! I thought that was weird too!