Strep B and home birth

[Panda368]

I know it's not normal to get checked for strep b in the UK. But since having baby boy last year I've been swabbed and tested strep B positive. (Had a slightly infected scar from a 2nd degree tear)

I'm not planning no2 anytime soon (if at all) but how likely is it that strep b will still be present in a few years? I think they reccomend iv antibiotics when you go into labour so could this prevent a home or birth centre birth if I still tested positive ?

GBS is a transient bacteria, with a general colonisation period of 4-6weeks, so just because you’ve had it in the past does not mean you will have it now/again.

I can’t comment for every hospital trust, but where I work (unless the guideline has changed whilst I’ve been on mat leave), antibiotics are offered as a choice when previous colonisation is known. Where previous infection is known, antibiotics are recommended.

Obviously all decisions made are made with tour full consent, so do bare in mind that whatever recommendation is made you can’t be made to do anything against your will, equally you can’t be stopped (so they can’t stop you having a home birth).
Each hospital has its own policy on this sort of thing so it is probably best enquiring where you live if it’s something you are worrying about.
Equally the GBS charity is a good source of info.