Strep b

[Hollz26]

So ive seen you can buy home.tests to test for strep b i didnt really know anything about strep b when i had my first but now i know a bit about it it really scares me i dont know if its worth buying the kit or does anyone know anyone that has done this before i dont know if its actually accurate its quite expensive but i know that midwives just dont test for it and its just something that worries me im 36 weeks and im just so anxious about labour this time around!

[Suzysuz]

I haven't done extensive research just read a few threads on here! but did decide to buy the home swab kit, it wasn't too expensive, about £36 and it doesn't cost to receive the kit, they just send it out and then you pay when returning it. From the little I'd read it did seem that quite a few other countries do test as routine, however part of the issue is that it can come and go so not worth testing until 36 weeks onwards, there was some NICE report online on why they don't do it as routine, likely linked with costs to roll out versus benefit, I've got the home test just so it's one less thing for my head to try and worry about!

[Vida32]

The RCOG summary of research on this can be found here: www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-research-services/guidelines/gtg36/

I'm divided personally on what to do. The reasons RCOG give in favour of not screening are (as I understand it) not just about cost but b/c:

• it comes and goes, so timing screening is difficult
  
• it results in unnecessarily medicalised births in many cases (I.e. Interventions and iv antibiotics that aren't actually needed in a particular case)
  
• more mothers on antibiotics unnecessarily increases the likelihood of antibiotic resistance in the population as a whole and this is bad news for vulnerable people generally, including pregnant women and babies
  

This is just my interpretation and I may have misunderstood what they said but I think this is why they say it's not clear the good outweighs the harm.

The thing that puzzles me is that if they ever detect it by accident (as part of another test) then they always treat it in labour. This happened to a friend of mine. And, as the other poster said, other countries do test for it. And, of course the results can (albeit uncommonly) be devastating if it's not treated.

So basically I have read the guidance and I'm still confused. Having my first in May and still not sure what to do.

[Chickpearocker]

I got the home testing kit, tested positive and consultant gave me an antibiotic during birth via a drip. Having read about potential risks to baby I felt it the right thing to do.

[McBaby]

I tested positive for gbs in first pregnancy in routine urine test so had antibiotics in labour.

Second pregnancy I paid floor the private test, it was negative so no antibiotics.

This time I told the consultant I was going to have it privately again and he said they would test me at 36 weeks.

So if you express your concern maybe they will test you.

[Vicki209]

I paid for this in my first pregnancy 5yrs ago as there was a news article about dangers of group b strep when I was 32 weeks. It came back as a double positive so drs gave me antibiotics in labour (although not the recommended 6hrs as DD was born quickly) and kept us in over night. I did the same this pregnancy and it came back negative. I needed the reassurance tbh, so it was worth the £35.00.

[Essexmum69]

The testing is unfortunately unreliable. My 2nd DC was affected a few days after birth, Kidney infection and meningitis, fortunately made full recovery after 10 days of IV antibiotics. I was tested mid pregnancy with DC3, test results were negative. Tested after birth of DC3 as he was lethargic and not feeding well, both positive for strep B so treated orally.
A negative swab for Strep B does not mean you are not a carrier and can give false reassurance.