Strep B in Pregnancy

I asked my midwife that very same question after I tested positive with my third pregnancy (I had tested negative my first two pregnancies and positive for my 3rd and 4th pregnancies). She told me that I could have it one pregnancy and then not the next. So it's possible to not have it next time.

Just because you test pos for strep b in one pregnancy, doesn't mean that you will again in another pregnancy.

It is my understanding that you are either a carrier or not. I had strep B with my first pregnancy, and I have it now with my second.

Like a few others mentioned, the colonization within your body can fluctuate, so you can test negative after having been positive. I wasn't tested with my 1st, was - with my 2nd, + with my 3rd and 4th, - with my fifth (tried what I mention below), + with my 6th (didn't do the C and Acidophilus to see if I would come back + w/out it), and then - with my 7th (again used the vit C and Acidophilus).

There are actually things you can do decrease your colonization, although you may not have enough time to make a difference at this point. If you take 1000-1500mg Vitamin C a day as well as acidophilus (capsules, and it doesn't hurt to eat a bunch of yogurt), it will help decrease your levels enough that you get a negative reading. Of course if you test negative you will want to keep taking the Vit C and Acidophilus until delivery to keep the levels down so that it is not an issue. If you test positive, you can also go that route and help lower the levels so that the antibiotics they give you can be more effective (they'll have less to fight), or it's a nice safeguard in case your labor goes too quickly for you to get two full rounds of antibiotics into your system. Also Grapefruit Seed Extract will help decrease levels, although it is a little harder to find and must be taken at least one week prior to your test as well as until delivery to make sure levels stay down.

Good Luck!

Hi L.,

Yes you will most likely test positive again and you will need antibiotics to make sure you don't pass it on to your second baby.

I'm not sure where to get info. on it, but you OB should be able to get you info. on the virus.

I hope your pregnancy ends well!

Yours tuly,
M. F.

My miwife told me it can change week to week. A woman can be positive one week, do nothing about it, & then be negative a week later. They just come & go. My guess is that it depends on what you eat, which creates a chemical environment for the bacteria.

Hi L.,

Congratulations. I tested negative with my first, but positve with my second. I asked the doctor at the time if it meant that I would always test positive going forward, and he assured me that it didn't mean that at all. Each pregnancy is different, and it was no indicator of any future preganancies. Good luck and congratulations.

Hi L.,
My OB (Dr. Kirkman) said studies are now showing because you had strep B once doesn't mean you will have it a second time. I had it with my second not my first. I am not sure if I remember correctly, but I think he said it has to do with something in our food.
Hope you have a nice day,
K.

I'm not sure what the likelihood is, all I know is that I tested positive with both of my kids...so to me it seems likely. Good luck!

I tested positive with my first and negative with my second, so I think it's random. Good-luck

Hi, I was told that it can be pos. one time and neg. another, but I've had 3 kiddos and tested pos. for all. We'll see what happens with my little #4 here-due Jan.10,2009.

Blessings for a healthy and wondrous delivery!

I tested positive with my first pregnancy and then negative with my 2nd and third. They test with every pregnancy regardless if you tested positive previuosly or not. Congratulations on your new soon to be arrival.

From what I've been told by my m/w and other's in my birthing community, it's pretty random. You could even get tested, have a - or + result, go back two weeks later and get the opposite result. One thing that I've heard a bunch is that having sex with your husband/partner the night before gives you a greater chance of a - result! Hope you get your -!!

K.

It's totally random and can be there for one pregnancy and not the other. I had it with my first. As long as you are tested which they pretty much do 100% at a certain stage of your pregnancy, it is no big deal. Just make sure you inform the delivery staff, I did this in my birth plan and they will get you started on IV antibiotics right away. Oh, this almost guarantees you a two day stay in the hospital because they watch the baby closely.

Like I mentioned, I was positive, I disclosed it in my birth plan, as soon as I showed up and they got me into the delivery room they started me on the drip IV. They will keep you on the IV for 2-3 bags or thru the whole delivery. Once born, they keep a watch over the little one for 48 hours. My now 23 month old had no issues at all.

Good luck and congrats!

I tested Strep B positive during my first pregnancy, but negative during the second. They ended up giving me the medicine anyway during my second delivery just to be safe. Good luck!

Hi L., In my first pregnancy, I tested positive for Strep B. I had three pregnancies afterwards that I never tested positive for. SO to answer your questions, I believe it can be a random thing. I also had a friend that tested negative her first two pregnancies and her third tested positive. Hope this helps. Don't stress to much about it.

K.

I just had my baby and I tested positive for strep B. It's no big deal so try not to worry. Strep B is a bacteria that 80% of women have it's just a bacteria that lives in your body and is harmless to you, but can cause infections for your baby. During labor you'll have an IV that gives you penecillin and the doctor will give you two rounds of prnecillin, and if you test positive this time you would more than likely test positive for any of your other pregnancies as well. Hope this helps.

I didn't have strep B with my first child but I did with my second. He almost died because 9 and a half years ago, they didn't automatically test for it. I'd get tested no matter what. Congratulations.

Hi, L.! I tested positive with my first baby, and negative with my second. According to my doc, it's random--Strep B comes and goes, so it's present sometimes and sometimes not.
Hope this helps! Good luck with your delivery--woo hoo!
S.

pretty sure once you are positive - that's it, you are always positive.

I was positive with my second but negative with my 1st and 3rd. I think it's pretty random.

I tested positive with my first and wasn't tested again on the other 2. My doctor said it is just better to assume a positive and take the precautions than to chance it when the baby actually comes.

You can definitely test negative the second time around. I just did. In fact, if you were to test at the beginning of a pregnancy, it could be positive, but be negative closer to your due date.

I was positive with my first and negative with the second and third. GL and congratulations!

It's random - I didn't go through it personally, but my best friend didn't have it w/ #1, had it w/ #2 (she had no issues - just IV antibiotics during labor/delivery), and didn't have it again with #3!

I had it with my first and not with the next 6 pregnancies so I think it might be pretty random but you can ask your doctor at your next visit if you should worry about it happening again.

I'm working off my memory here, but I think that there is a good chance you will test positive again. I tested positive with my first, and I can't remember if I did with my second or third. But, I do remember that they gave me IV antibiotics anyways since I had tested positive with the first, as a preventative thing. So, either I tested positive with all three, or there is a possible false negative that made them decided to not take the risk. Either way, it's really not a big deal for mom, and thankfully there is a really easy way to prevent harming your baby!

go to askdrsears.com and search Strep B. There is a question just like yours!
Good luck and congratulations!

I was never tested because I had a scheduled c-section, however, my baby got it when he was 8 weeks old and was hospitalized for 10 days (very scary, he could have died). So my OB said with my next child they will automatically treat me like I have it and give me the antibiotics at delivery. He said if you've had it before, you may still have it in your system and it will sometimes show up on a test and sometimes not. Probably doesn't hurt to take a cautious approach--trust me, you do not want want your baby to get it. So there's one opinion for what it's worth. I think it's always best to talk with your own doc and make the decision that's right for you. Best of luck and many blessings to you!

You will probably test positive for strep b. I tested positive with my first and my doc said I will probably test positive with this one, I am a carrier. In fact, at my 12 week appointment I tested for it, I was put on antibiotics to clear it up. They told me I am just a carrier for the strep bacteria. It is not uncommon. I am expecting to be postive when it comes to the actual test for the pregnancy.
Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy and all that follows.

I'm pretty sure it's random from pregnancy to pregnancy. I was Strep B positive for my first pregnancy and negative for my second. Good luck!

I tested positive with my first 2 and negative with the last one. I was shocked. My dr said your first test doesn't matter.

If you tested posititve for GBS once you will be treated as if you are colonized with GBS bacteria during each of your subsequent deliveries. Whether you are positive now or not you should still recieve antibiotics during labor. I had GBS with both of my babies, my first daughter became sick while in the womb from it, the bacteria can cross intact membranes but it is rare. My baby was born very seriously ill but she recieved excellent medical care and she made a complete recovery and is a healthy, normal child now. When I was PG with my second baby I asked my midwife to prescribe oral antibiotics to me for the last 2 weeks of my pregnancy. My second baby was born perfectly healthy. If you are concerned talk to your Dr. about it.

Once you test positive, it is more likely that you will test positive on subsequent pregnancies, but not a certainty. I have three children and I was positive only on my second pregnancy.

I tested positive with my first pregnancy and negative with my second, so I think it is totally random. I thought it might be more likely with my second one since I had it with the first, but I guess not.

I could be wrong, but my understanding is that if you tested positive for it then you are a carrier. I would say that your chances are a lot higher than someone who tested negative in the first pregnancy.

Not sure if this helps. But I have 4 kids- My first pregnacy I didnt have Strep B but my second (my only girl) I did have it and then the last two pregnacies I didnt have it. SO our of the 4 I only had one pregnacy with it and it was in the middle. So in my case it didnt matter that I had it with a previous pregnacy.
J.

You will most likely be positive again, but it could be negative. I was positive both of two times, but I have a friend who was negative her middle pregnancy and positive the other two times.

More than likely you will test positive again. However, I tested positive with pregnancy #1 and anegative on pregnancy #2. The midwife feared that it might have beena false negative on the second pregnancy. So, I was still give the Penicillin G. So, you will more than likely still get the dose of Penicillin G while in labor this second time.

I did not have strep b with either of my first children and then I did with my third. Which I was shocked about. Not that it's a big deal or anything. So it is definitely random. But I think there is a small chance that you'll have again if you are positive this time. However it's really not that big of a deal as long as you have the medicine in time. Good luck with your pregnancy!

I was positive with my first, but negative with my second.
Good luck!

Its totally random. You can catch the virus at any time. GL with your delivery!!

I had it with my first and since she was five weeks early. Since my water broke and I had Strep B, I had to deliver her within 12 hours. She was induced.

My second came 15 months later and I did not have the Strep B and he was only two weeks early.

so it doesn't necessarily mean you have it all the time and it only means you need to deliver in a certain time frame so you don't infect the baby.

It's random and can be there for one pregnancy and not the other. I had it for all 3 of mine and it was no big deal. Just needed IV antibiotics. I hope yours is neg, but either way, don't fret. Congrats and good luck!

A.

I was positive with my first and negative with my second. But sometimes your caregiver will treat you with antibiotics if you've ever been positive before, because it can come and go. HTH!

I was positive with my first 3 and negative with my last one. My labors were so fast I only got the "correct" dose of antibiotics once and all my babies were healthy.

YOu get tested with each pregnancy because Group B Strep is a transient infection. So you may have it with one baby, but not with the next. You may not have it at the beginning of the pregnancy and have it at the end or vice versa. That's why you get tested at the end of every pregnancy. Now, if it's in your urine, then you're considered a more long-term carrier and you get treated in labor with that pregnancy, regardless of when the urine tested positive.

Hope this helps! I'm an OB/GYN in Brighton.