Group B Strep test

[festive]

So has anyone done one of these? Have just received my test in the post and it says optimum time for doing the swabs is 35-37 weeks. I am 38+4, do you think it will still be useful? Advice gratefully received!

[moregranny]

I would still do it, my daughter has just tested positive at 37 weeks, it isn,t worth the risk not too, :)

[RumNoRaisinsPlease]

Worth doing, the closer the test to the due date the more likely it is to predict carriage at time of labour. Results come back pretty quickly, within 3 days I think.

[jasmine51]

Yup do it for a bit of peace of mind....if it comes back positive its not too late to treat since they give IV abs during labour

[Spagbolagain]

I wondered about this when I had DS. Do people do these because they have a reason to suspect there is an issue, or just do it as a precaution. Ie should everybody do one? Is there anything that would make you think you had it?

[moregranny]

They can only treat GBS when you are in labour, the antibiotics must be given intravenously, 4 hourly as soon as your waters start to leak or when your contractions start, fingers crossed that you test negative, x

[festive]

thanks everyone for replies, i did it and posted the test back yesterday so just waiting for results now. Just hope i did it right!
no, no specific reason to suspect i have it, its my first baby so just a bit anxious and want to be as prepared as poss. also a couple friends recommended doing it for peace of mind as they both know ladies whose babies were very poorly and nearly died so thought why not its only 30 quid so well worth it imo. cant understand why midwives dont offer it - i would be happier if she'd explained and told me about it, did the test for me and would have happily have paid for it, i realise the nhs cant pay for everything but would have been nice to be given the option from a professional rather than via google and fiddling about with it myself not really knowing if i was doing it right! hey ho.

[moregranny]

Good luck :)

[moregranny]

spagbol, you would'nt know you had it that is why it is dangerous, myself and a friend are raising money for a little boy who now has cerebral palsey because his mummy was a carrier, the annoying thing is the test costs very little, the antibiotics to treat it cost very little........this little boy will need 24 hr a day care for the rest of his life, I thank god my daughter tested as she is 37 weeks and tested positive, it may well be ok but no-one wants to be the person that it went wrong for, you can read about it on GBSS website or on This Mornings website, Dr Chris Steel discussed it a few months ago, x

[LDNlady]

Sorry to sound really naive and hijack but I've received mine and there's no instructions as such, so 'how' do you do it?! Sorry sorry, I know it should be obvious. Is it as simple as, swab your vagina with one swab and swab your bum with the other?! :-/ Thanks.

[moregranny]

Yes, just a little way in tho, :)

[jasmine51]

LDN about 2-4cm inside vagina (all way round) and put swab in tube properly labelled with your name and which swab it is. Same with rectum - about 2-4 cm wiped all way round, put in tube and mark it as rectal.

[LDNlady]

Thank you very much! Will get it done and in the post tomorrow.

[edwinbear]

I think the only reason they say 35-37 weeks is because they want to get the results to you before you go into labour. I also know someone whose baby got GB strep infection and was very, very ill, thankfully fine now, I wouldn't have known anything about it otherwise. I did the test when I was pregnant with DS and it came back +ve so I was very relieved that I did. When I told my midwife I'd had the private test and it was +ve she told me most midwives feel that the test should be included in the routine NHS tests and that if I'd mentioned I wanted it done, she would have made up a reason to swab me, (suspected thrush or similar) and had the result tested for strep at the same time. It's such a potentially serious complication and so easily tested and treated but yet so little publicised.

[moregranny]

The problem is with the NHS test is that it is not as sensitive as the private ones, therefore it can give false negative.David Cameron was so say doing something about this disease in 2003

[Thornykate]

I was a bit at a couple of the responses I had from the CMW team.
I got +ve result text so called CMW office to ask them what else I needed to do.

I was transferred to the senior CMW who was helpful in explaining I would need IV ab's but then said they needed the original paper copy lab results immediately otherwise I wouldn't receive treatment if I went into labour.

I explained that I had to put my HC address on the lab forms as I had never been given an address for the CMW office & I never chased it up. As it happens the results arrived & I am still pg.

I went along to see the drop in CMW as per instructions to get yellow sticker on my notes & she was a bit cats bum faced & said "well now by testing you have started a cascade of medical interventions, your baby will have to have IV ab's if you don't get enough during labour & you might have to stay in longer". Cue another cats bum face. And more questions about why I decided to test.

Luckily I have worked in Healthcare long enough to not be bothered by the odd individuals reaction but I am wondering if it is a location thing as every MW I came across seemed surprised that I had chosen to test & none of them seemed to be familiar with the private testing system of text msg etc?

[moregranny]

Strangley it was the only thing my daughters FUMW knew about and agreed that the private test was more accurate, her GP on the other hand gave her an NHS test, which was also positive and then tried to give her oral ABs now at 36/37 weeks which would have been as FU as the midwife has been until now !

[moregranny]

Strangely even !

[Thornykate]

Took me a while do work out what sort of special qualifications your DDs MW has to earn the prefix FU!

Ironically the waiting room at the HC has loads of GBSS posters up so I mistakenly took that as encouragement for pg women to get swabbed. TBH I would rather have cats bum faced HCP now than a poorly baby later so I hope my post doesn't deter anyone from testing as it is so very worth the money & only takes a few minutes.

[LITTLEGEEK]

I had Group Strep B and only found out because I had felt no movement and went in for a scan. Luckily everything was fine but they took a swab at the same time. I'm so glad they did as I would never have known otherwise. My waters broke with no contractions so I had to go in straight away. If I have another baby I will def be asking for the test again.

[festive]

Hi all
Just to update that I sent my swabs off on Friday and got a text today saying I have tested positive. Am so glad I did this now, I called my MW and she just said to tell the labour ward when I get admitted. At least I feel prepared, thanks all for your advice, esp moregranny!
xx

[moregranny]

No problem my dear, glad to have been of help, x x

[sarahbeth2]

Just wanted to say snap, i got one done after umming and arhhing (if thats a word lol) and tested positve. Am having a c section so they not giving me drugs which makes me feel uneasy still so will insist on monitoring baby when out...

[moregranny]

Hope all goes well for you, x