GBS & Anemia Test Results
I forgot to call for my test results Friday, and so I just received them today. It turns out that they did test me for anemia while I was at the hospital, along with all the other tests for PIH (Pregnancy Induced Hypertension). I am pleased to announce that that test came back negative. I am not anemic.
However, my Group B Strep test results were positive. I am considered a carrier. For those of you who are unfamiliar with what this means, you can visit these websites:
http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/681_1205.asp
http://www.cdc.gov/groupbstrep/gbs/gen_public_faq.htm
However, to summarize a few key points:
*Doctors believe that babies who become sick with GBS infection take the bacterium into their bodies by ingesting GBS-containing amniotic or vaginal fluids during labor and delivery.
*The risk of infection rises if a pregnant woman carries the bacterium and develops certain risk factors. These risk factors include: preterm delivery (before 37 weeks gestation); prolonged rupture of the membranes (longer than 18 hours without delivering the baby); or fever (100.4° F or higher) during labor.
*Babies with an infection develop symptoms within seven days of birth, most commonly within the first day of life.
*Babies with infection suffer from one or more of the following conditions: pneumonia, sepsis (blood infection) and, less commonly, meningitis (infection of the membranes surrounding the brain).
*In spite of treatment with antibiotics, about 5 percent of babies with GBS die. Preterm babies are more likely to die from the illness than are full-term babies.
*Most babies who survive GBS go on to develop normally. However, among those who develop meningitis, up to 50 percent suffer lasting neurologic damage that can include cerebral palsy, sight and hearing loss, mental retardation, learning disabilities and seizures.
*Women with GBS are at greater risk for preterm labor (Thankfully I have just reached 37weeks and would no longer be considered "preterm").
*GBS can cause uterine infection before or after delivery. Infection before delivery is called chorioamnionitis and causes fever, uterine tenderness and increased heart rate in the baby. Before delivery, such an infection may be symptomless and, therefore, not detected. The infection may increase the risk of premature rupture of the membranes (before 37 weeks gestation) and preterm labor.
*GBS can cause a urinary tract infection.
*If a pregnant woman is found to carry GBS, she should be treated with intravenous antibiotics during labor and delivery. A recent CDC study suggests that this approach may prevent nearly 90 percent of early-onset GBS infections.
*A pregnant woman who is a group B strep carrier (tested positive) at full-term delivery who gets antibiotics can feel confident knowing that she has only a 1 in 4000 chance of delivering a baby with group B strep disease. If a pregnant woman who is a group B strep carrier does not get antibiotics at the time of delivery, her baby has a 1 in 200 chance of developing group B strep disease.
*Penicillin is the preferred drug. (I am allergic to Penicillin.)
*Women who are allergic to penicillin usually should be treated with a cephalosporin drug called cefazolin. However, a small number of individuals who are allergic to penicillin are also allergic to cephalosporins. If the health care provider believes the woman is at high risk of a serious allergic reaction, he should treat her with erythromycin or clindamycin, as long as lab tests show that her GBS bacterium is not resistant to these drugs. If her infection cannot be treated with these drugs (a minority of cases are resistant), she should be treated with vancomycin.
*If the mother is diagnosed with a uterine infection (chorioamnionitis) during labor and delivery, her baby should be tested for GBS, and often is treated with antibiotics while waiting for the results of the test.
* The baby of a GBS-positive mother needs no evaluation or antbiotic therapy provided the baby shows no signs of infection, is at least 35 weeks of gestational age, and the mother began antibiotic treatment at least four hours before birth. If the baby is younger than 35 weeks or was born less than four hours after antibiotic treatment, the baby should have blood cultures. If the mother received antibiotics because of suspected uterine infection or if the doctors suspect that a baby has group B strep infection, they should take a sample of the baby’s sterile body fluids, such as blood or spinal fluid. Group B strep disease is diagnosed when the bacteria are grown from cultures of those fluids. Cultures take a few days to grow. Group B strep infections in both newborns and adults are usually treated with antibiotics (e.g., penicillin or ampicillin) given through a vein (IV).
"Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure." -Psalm 16:5 ;"
"He replied, 'You are speaking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?'" -Job 2:10
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, presents your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." -Philippians 4: 6-7
Please be praying.
However, my Group B Strep test results were positive. I am considered a carrier. For those of you who are unfamiliar with what this means, you can visit these websites:
http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/681_1205.asp
http://www.cdc.gov/groupbstrep/gbs/gen_public_faq.htm
However, to summarize a few key points:
*Doctors believe that babies who become sick with GBS infection take the bacterium into their bodies by ingesting GBS-containing amniotic or vaginal fluids during labor and delivery.
*The risk of infection rises if a pregnant woman carries the bacterium and develops certain risk factors. These risk factors include: preterm delivery (before 37 weeks gestation); prolonged rupture of the membranes (longer than 18 hours without delivering the baby); or fever (100.4° F or higher) during labor.
*Babies with an infection develop symptoms within seven days of birth, most commonly within the first day of life.
*Babies with infection suffer from one or more of the following conditions: pneumonia, sepsis (blood infection) and, less commonly, meningitis (infection of the membranes surrounding the brain).
*In spite of treatment with antibiotics, about 5 percent of babies with GBS die. Preterm babies are more likely to die from the illness than are full-term babies.
*Most babies who survive GBS go on to develop normally. However, among those who develop meningitis, up to 50 percent suffer lasting neurologic damage that can include cerebral palsy, sight and hearing loss, mental retardation, learning disabilities and seizures.
*Women with GBS are at greater risk for preterm labor (Thankfully I have just reached 37weeks and would no longer be considered "preterm").
*GBS can cause uterine infection before or after delivery. Infection before delivery is called chorioamnionitis and causes fever, uterine tenderness and increased heart rate in the baby. Before delivery, such an infection may be symptomless and, therefore, not detected. The infection may increase the risk of premature rupture of the membranes (before 37 weeks gestation) and preterm labor.
*GBS can cause a urinary tract infection.
*If a pregnant woman is found to carry GBS, she should be treated with intravenous antibiotics during labor and delivery. A recent CDC study suggests that this approach may prevent nearly 90 percent of early-onset GBS infections.
*A pregnant woman who is a group B strep carrier (tested positive) at full-term delivery who gets antibiotics can feel confident knowing that she has only a 1 in 4000 chance of delivering a baby with group B strep disease. If a pregnant woman who is a group B strep carrier does not get antibiotics at the time of delivery, her baby has a 1 in 200 chance of developing group B strep disease.
*Penicillin is the preferred drug. (I am allergic to Penicillin.)
*Women who are allergic to penicillin usually should be treated with a cephalosporin drug called cefazolin. However, a small number of individuals who are allergic to penicillin are also allergic to cephalosporins. If the health care provider believes the woman is at high risk of a serious allergic reaction, he should treat her with erythromycin or clindamycin, as long as lab tests show that her GBS bacterium is not resistant to these drugs. If her infection cannot be treated with these drugs (a minority of cases are resistant), she should be treated with vancomycin.
*If the mother is diagnosed with a uterine infection (chorioamnionitis) during labor and delivery, her baby should be tested for GBS, and often is treated with antibiotics while waiting for the results of the test.
* The baby of a GBS-positive mother needs no evaluation or antbiotic therapy provided the baby shows no signs of infection, is at least 35 weeks of gestational age, and the mother began antibiotic treatment at least four hours before birth. If the baby is younger than 35 weeks or was born less than four hours after antibiotic treatment, the baby should have blood cultures. If the mother received antibiotics because of suspected uterine infection or if the doctors suspect that a baby has group B strep infection, they should take a sample of the baby’s sterile body fluids, such as blood or spinal fluid. Group B strep disease is diagnosed when the bacteria are grown from cultures of those fluids. Cultures take a few days to grow. Group B strep infections in both newborns and adults are usually treated with antibiotics (e.g., penicillin or ampicillin) given through a vein (IV).
"Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure." -Psalm 16:5 ;"
"He replied, 'You are speaking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?'" -Job 2:10
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, presents your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." -Philippians 4: 6-7
Please be praying.
posted by KMD | 6:23 PM
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