Spinoff to Strep B: Those of you having DC#2 or more that were POSITIVE

My Strep B culture came back positive with my first pregnancy.

I have to have my culture next week with this baby.

Once you have Strep B, doesn't it not go away? So I keep wondering why a culture is necessary...

I'm just a big baby, and the size of that "q-tip" freaked me out enough the first time

Re: Spinoff to Strep B: Those of you having DC#2 or more that were POSITIVE

I just had this conversation with my Dr on Friday. I tested + with DS #1 and will be tested again at my next appt at 36 weeks with DS #2. I was also under the impression that once you're positive you're always positive, but the Dr said that studies have been done and show that if a woman tested + one pregnancy and received antibiotics during labor, then tested - during a subsequent pregnancy and did not receive antibiotics, there was no increase in passing the strep to the baby during the second delivery. The reason why they don't want to give antibiotics if you test - the second time is because they don't want the strep to become resistant to the antibiotics if they are used too frequently. Plus without teh antibiotics there is only a 2% chance of passing it to the baby, and I think the antibiotics bring it to 1% or maybe a little less.

I am secretly hoping that I test + again just so I can get the antibiotics. It will make me feel so much better. Is that terrible??

Re: Spinoff to Strep B: Those of you having DC#2 or more that were POSITIVE

Sorry to hijack but I was positive with my 1st pregnancy, but not with my 2nd, so its possible

Re: Spinoff to Strep B: Those of you having DC#2 or more that were POSITIVE

Strep B is a naturally occurring bacteria that is present in the bodies of approx 30% of the population. It can be treated with antibiotics. For that reason it is possible to test positive the first time and negative after if you had the antibiotics during your first labor. They test the second time because hospitals do not want to give antibiotics unless needed. There is a very real fear of creating antibiotic resistant bacteria strains this way.

Re: Spinoff to Strep B: Those of you having DC#2 or more that were POSITIVE

Weird...I had no idea you could be positive with one pregnancy and negative with another! Thanks for enlightening me!!!

Re: Spinoff to Strep B: Those of you having DC#2 or more that were POSITIVE

I was negative the second time.

Re: Spinoff to Strep B: Those of you having DC#2 or more that were POSITIVE

i didnt have it with baby # 1
tested + with baby # 2
Tested - with baby # 3 but they gave me antibiodics anyway.