GBS+ and sex

[littlemia]

I'll ask my midwife about this but did anyone's dr. tell them whether or not sex was okay if you test positive for group b strep? I know you're advised to avoid vaginal exams and it seems like sex also has the potential to push the bacteria further up into the vagina or into the cervix but I haven't read anything about abstaining.

[Chelsea524]

I had it with my last pregnancy and was never told to avoid sex.

[whitlockan]

never told to avoid anything, she still does internals. My only strict instructions: be at the hospital within 4 hours of my water breaking if I join that minority of women.

[mamax2]

I had GBS out the wazoo during my last pregnancy (and by that I mean, via a urine culture in my first trimester and during 2 separate vag cultures in my 3rd trimester). It was never suggested to avoid sex. Sex isn't really as invasive as an internal exam at the end of your pregnancy, kwim?

[littlemia]

Thanks. I asked my midwife and she okayed it, actually encouraged it. This GBS+ thing has gotten me so nervous, though, that I'm trying to do what I can to lessen the chances that I pass it on to the baby.

[MMHinCA]

I had it was not told to avoid sex.

[mamax2]

This GBS+ thing has gotten me so nervous, though, that I'm trying to do what I can to lessen the chances that I pass it on to the baby.

You have less than 1% chance of passing it on to your baby, even if you do NO treatments whatsoever. I didn't have enough time to receive antibiotics at the hospital (and only planned to get them if I met the risk criteria) and I was highly colonized. Everything was fine. We stayed an extra day (48 vs. 24 hours) for 'observation'. Don't worry much - I did plenty of that ;) - it's really most likely a non-issue. Good luck!

[BTB]

I'm trying to do what I can to lessen the chances that I pass it on to the baby

If you receive antibiotics during labor, you'll have done all you can to reduce the odds of your baby being infected. No sense worrying in the meantime about something you have no additional control over than that. :)