What should happen if I am a carrier of Group B Strep?
If you have tested positive for carrying group B Strep during a pregnancy then the following should happen:-
Treatment in Labour
You should be offered antibiotics and if you decide to take it, you should be given the first dose of intravenous antibiotics as soon as possible once labour has started and then at regular intervals until delivery to prevent group B Strep infection in your new born baby.
Current guidelines recommend that antibiotics should be given for a minimum of two hours before delivery.
Care after birth
Babies born at an increased risk to mums who have received antibiotics for more than 2 hours before delivery should be carefully assessed by an appropriately trained Paediatrician, advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner or Midwife. If your baby is completely healthy then no antibiotics are required but a period of monitoring, usually 12 to 24 hours may be appropriate for those at a higher risk of infection.
Babies who are born at an increased risk to mums who have not received antibiotics for more than 2 hours before delivery should be examined thoroughly and investigated by an appropriately trained Paediatrician, advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner or Midwife. If your baby is completely healthy no antibiotics are required but your baby should be observed for a minimum of 12 hours and ideally 24 hours.
For well babies at the highest risk of infection, 12 – 24 hour monitoring may be appropriate and should be undertaken as a minimum if the baby is not screened and treated for infection.
If there is any doubt as to whether an infection is present, the baby should be started on intravenous antibiotics until it is known that they are not infected.
Parents should be made aware of the earliest sign of infection and given literature about group B strep infection.
If your baby develops group B Strep infection and you subsequently have a later pregnancy, you don’t need to be tested because you should always be offered intravenous antibiotics from the start of labour in subsequent pregnancies.
If you and your baby have experienced medical errors during your pregnancy, labour or shortly after your baby’s birth which may have resulted in serious injuries and you would like to discuss this with no obligation, then please contact Elizabeth Smith at Wolferstans, Solicitors on 01752 292309 or esmith@wolferstans.com