Thursday, July 02, 2009

Update #1
*It's a blessing to have friends with connections! My friend Jamie spoke with one of the head nurses at the hospital where I will be delivering (they are neighbors and friends) and was told that the doctor I saw this morning is an idiot (not my words...hers!)! I feel bad saying that, but to be honest, after hearing from the nurse how common Group B Strep is and how much this doctor over dramatized things today makes me want her held accountable. I have literally been tied up in knots all day thinking the worst! Anyways, I'm still waiting for a call back from MY doctor, but at this point, am feeling much much better about things. *

Update #2
I just got off the phone with my doctor (who I LOVE) and his exact words were ..."you have Group B Strep,...no big deal!". I made sure he knew how exxasperated I was with the doctor I saw this morning and I'm hoping that he will speak with her and made sure she is made aware of how she totally freaked me out by her strong wording and her over-dramatization - COMPLETELY uncalled for! He assured me that Lillie Anna is at no risk while in the womb and that treating me with iv antibiotics before she's delivered would ensure her safety and well being. Thank you Lord for good doctors who know what they're doing!

Group B Strep

You can click on the link above to read more about this bacteria. I found out today that I have tested positive for this bacteria 3 times during this pregancy...for some reason, I'm in my 31st week and am just now finding this out (actually, to the doctor's credit, I vaguely remember them telling me when I was around 14 weeks that I tested positive for Strep B but I had no idea what that meant). I also found out today that the bacteria level is very high, which is not good. There is nothing that can be done about this right now...they've already treated me with MEGA antibiotics (due to stomach issues) that they thought would knock the Strep out previously, however, it just keeps coming back with a vengeneance.

From what I understand, there is no risk to me (the mom), but there is a very serious risk to the baby during delivery (whether I do vaginal or cesearean). SO, I was told today that I would most likely need to be induced to ensure that I come in before I'm in active labor...this will give my body time to get a significant dosage of antibiotics to hopefully kill the bacteria before I deliver Lillie Anna. They also said that Lillie Anna would have to stay in the hospital for 48 hours for them to monitor and make sure she is not showing the early stages of having contracted the bacteria. I guess there is an "early phase" and a "late phase"..."early phase" shows itself within the first 48 hours..."late phase" can show itself within the first 7 days-3 months.

What has me most upset is that I think I heard the word -DIE- probably 10x during the course of my conversation with the doctor...she kept using it in reference to Lillie Anna...telling me the risks involved and how serious this is. The doctor I saw today was not my normal doctor, so I have no clue if she is overly-mellow dramatic, or if she's dead on...but I've put a call in to my doctor and am praying that he will put all my worries to rest and assure me that this isn't nearly as serious as she's made it out to be!

I have learned today that 1/3 of the women in the world will at one point or another carry this bacteria...which makes me feel better in knowing I'm definitely not the only person to experience this. BUT,...now I'm sitting here after reading info on the internet (BAD IDEA) and am wondering if Lillie Anna is at risk in the womb (I read in different articles that she is), and wondering if my sweet baby girl is going to be ok.

Have any of you ever been a carrier for this during pregnancy? If so, please let me know what your experience was like!!!!

11 comments:

Sara said...

i had strep B with alivia. The Dr. wasn't really concerned, but just told me I would have to have an antibiotic during delivery. Everything went well and I'll add that to my prayer list for you and baby!

Lindsey Eason said...

Thanks Sara Jo! I knew there were others out there who have had it (if 1/3 of women carry it!). I just heard back from the head nurse and was told to NOT WORRY and that this is soooo very common. I tell you what...a good doctor is worth their weight in gold!...a bad one on the other hand.....

Jenny said...

Lindsey,

I had Strep B with all 3 of my pregnancies and I was told that I will always have it. It isn't a problem until you become pregnant. The only thing they do is give you antibiotics in your IV before you deliver. I was like you and scared to death when I had it with Hannah, but all went well and we have 3 healthy and very active children. You crack me up about reading stuff on the internet because I do that too and Keith gets mad at me because it can really make you worry more. We will be praying as you are coming to the end of your pregnancy, just remember who is in control. God seems to always remind me of that when I'm pregnant for some reason. You look great and I'm glad you are getting the truth about three kids. It is a really challenging and I have had my really hard days, but hopefully since yours are older than mine it will be a lot easier for you. It is all worth it though. If it helps we are still talking about one more maybe. Are you going to be coming to AR before the baby is born I would love to meet your sweet kids. Sorry, I didn't mean to go on forever. Have a blessed day.

Jenny Brooks

Lindsey Eason said...

Hey Jenny!! I'm so glad you left a comment - if you read this, can you let me know what your blog address is? Somehow I lost it and couldn't add it to my blog list, and I'd very much like to keep up with your family! I hope your baby is doing beautifully! We won't be in AR until November, but I'll be at LRC, so hopefully we can have lunch with you guys while we're there! Thank you for the info about the Strep B and for the encouraging words - after having spoken to my doctor and hearing from several friends who have had no complications with the Strep, I'm feeling 100% better!!!

Jamie said...

I'm still fuming mad at that dr!!!

Michael and Hannah said...

Oh Lindsey, I SO wish I had seen this earlier b/c I could have saved you a lot of stress! I tested positive with both Wesley and Anna Kate, and all it means is that they're on the ball and thinking of every "what if" scenerio. It's a good thing! They'll run your antibiotics and it will kill off the bacteria for your delivery. I remember constantly asking the doctor and nurses if my antibiotics had run out or if they needed to change the bag throughout my delivery with Wesley. With Anna Kate, there was no time for antibiotics, and that was the primary reason I was so scared during her delivery (that and thinking I was going to DIE! ha!). The second she came out I literally started screaming, "I HAVE STREP B! I HAVE STREP B!!" because the doctor on call was not my regular doctor and would not have known. The pediatrician kept a careful eye on Anna Kate and evaluated her several times, but she was fine. Even when you do have Strep B, it's only a statistical chance that the baby will even contracat it. I do have to be more careful since I have such quick labors... I had a chat with my doctor yesterday about inducing me BEFORE I go into labor on my own. Anyway, sorry it freaked you out, but as long as you make it to the hospital and they have time to hook you up to an IV, there is NOTHING to worry about. And even without it, there's a good chance that like Anna Kate, the baby will be fine.

Lindsey Eason said...

Thank you Hannah!!! See?!?!?! It's sooo common!! Why in the world did that crazy doctor lead me to believe I was going to have complications?!?! grrrr.... Just out of curiousity, did they treat Anna Kate with antibiotics after she was born, since YOU didn't receive any before delivery or did they just monitor her?

Michael and Hannah said...

They just monitored her... I remember really wishing they'd do something pro-active to make me feel better, but apparently it will be obvious if the baby is sick. Anna Kate was fine. I think the pediatrician made a couple of extra stops in my room just to make me feel better, but Anna Kate was fine. Actually, last night I happened to see an episode of "I didn't know I was pregnant" (that show is HILARIOUS. Have you seen it??) where the mom had Strep B and the baby did contract it during delivery since she had no prenatal care and obviously didn't even know she was pregnant until the baby came out. The baby did get sick but was treated for the infection and made a full recovery. I think the only cases where a baby dies is when a doctor does not even have Strep B on his/her radar and no one thinks to monitor for infection. So WEIRD that your doctor made such a big deal over this! I kept trying to make a big deal over it with my doctor with Wesley, and he just kept assuring me, "It's REALLY no big deal. Really."

Lindsey Eason said...

Well, that's good to know too...

OH - and it was definitely not MY doctor who made a big deal out of it...it was some wacko doctor in the same practice who I will NEVER see again!

Page said...

Oh, I wish I had read this earlier as well to put you at ease. I haven't yet tested for it but my sister had Step B and she was induced and they just gave her an antibiotic drip during labor and everything was fine! How awful of that doctor to make such a big deal out of it!! As pregnant women, we're stress out enough to begin with! Sheesh!

Kristin said...

I hate that you had such a scare but am glad that you are now at ease. We are keeping you and Lillie Anna in our thoughts and prayers.