Antibiotics in labour for group B strep

Group B streptococcus can live in the bowel or vagina without causing symptoms. Treatment is timed to labour because medicine circulating before birth helps limit the baby's exposure during delivery. Antibiotics taken earlier in pregnancy do not reliably remove carriage permanently, so a past course does not necessarily replace the labour plan. The maternity team chooses the drug after reviewing allergies and clinical details.

Tell the maternity unit when labour starts or the waters break, following the arrival instructions in your birth plan. Make sure your group B strep result, previous affected pregnancy, and antibiotic allergy history are clearly recorded. Describe the exact reaction to any penicillin or related medicine, including rash, swelling, breathing trouble or faintness, rather than reporting only that you are allergic. Do not take oral antibiotics left at home.

Contact the maternity unit promptly if the waters break, contractions begin, the baby's movements are reduced, you have fever, vaginal bleeding, severe pain or you feel acutely unwell. During an infusion, immediately report breathing difficulty, facial or throat swelling, faintness, or a rapidly spreading rash. After birth, staff should urgently assess a baby with poor feeding, unusual sleepiness, breathing difficulty, temperature changes or abnormal colour.

Ask when to call or arrive, which antibiotic is planned, and what alternative would be used if you have a confirmed allergy. Clarify what happens if labour progresses quickly or treatment begins close to birth, and whether the baby will need additional observation afterward. Discuss any planned induction or caesarean birth with the maternity team because timing and circumstances affect the plan.