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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

anyone had GBS/thrush swab in pg? Feeling quite [shock] at my experience with nurse

21 replies

snowangels1 · 02/02/2011 15:03

Had a swab this afternoon for GBS (tested +ve earlier in pg so they are seeing if it's still there. Was found routinely with a thrush swab).

The last swab the GP gave to me to do at home and just told me to rub it a bit in the general area of my fanjo where the thrush itching etc was and pop it back to surgrey to be sent off. Have had GP do it in the past a few years ago and think she just stuck it in a tiny bit to get the sample.

This time I had to see nurse for it. This nurse is lovely but I've had a smear with her before and she was quite rough handed and it was quite painful compared to other smears I've had.

Today the nurse started talking about not using a speculum (sp?) as she didn't want to 'accidently start things off' which I was a bit Shock at as never had one of those used to get a swab before (aside from smear obv).

When she took the swab she pressed what felt like quite high up inside my bits and it REALLY hurt Shock

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BranchingOut · 02/02/2011 15:08

I did have a swab taken in pregnancy (32 ish weeks) and it was done internally as you describe. Not comfortable by any means.

The tightening - may be a Braxton Hicks?

I don't think it would send you into labour unless she actually swept and loosened your membranes.

Original poster
snowangels1 · 02/02/2011 15:15

Maybe it's just uncomfy as I'm pg then (??) as when GP has done it before I barely flinched/wasn't painful at all.

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sh77 · 02/02/2011 15:29

Hi

I think there are two kinds of swabs - high vaginal and low vaginal. I think former is a better reflection of what is going on. I am guessing nurse gave you a high one.

Original poster
snowangels1 · 02/02/2011 15:41

OK. 'Twas more painful though . Wonder why GP has never used that one on me before then Hmm.

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louisesh · 02/02/2011 17:44

For a HVS [high vaginal swab] you do need a speculum to acess the correct area!!! [I m a specialist sister taking these swabs daily] So , the nurse was correct in telling you she would have normally used one.

snowcake · 02/02/2011 18:04

Poor you, I had a swab in labour and OMG I kept inching higher when she came closer with that cotton bud (I am a total wuss and went on to have another CS...)

I just hate swabs, I tense and squirm. I really feel for you. I think the baby could feel your tensing. Bubba should be okay, just make sure you rest well and be good to your body.

Wishing you good luck for the last few weeks.

Original poster
snowangels1 · 02/02/2011 18:08

Thanks both.

louise is it usual to have a swab for GBS as a high vaginal one? I can't work out why before it was ok to have a lower one and now suddenly they stick it in high Confused

snow ouch at having one during labour

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SlightlyMadSpook · 02/02/2011 18:14

Your lucky...

When I had my GBS swab I had 4, A high vaginal with a speculum, a low vaginal swish it around the bottom bit, a urethral and an anal.

sh77 · 02/02/2011 18:48

I wish there was an emoticon for cripes slightly I am going to order a private test - do I do a low swab or push it higher?

Original poster
snowangels1 · 02/02/2011 19:14

Shock at slightly

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SlightlyMadSpook · 02/02/2011 20:23

Tbh there were specific medical reasons for them to go above and beyond (pardon the pun) and I was having other invasive procedures at the time.

I think vaginal is/are the important ones.

louisesh · 02/02/2011 21:22

Yes a high vaginal swab would actually be more use when swabbing for gbs.The "lower" vaginal swabs normally only test for bv,candida and tv.

sh77 not sure about the private swabs see what the literature that comes with the swab specifys.

Next time i m pg i ll be having hvs every week under my consultant and at work as my dd was stillborn in Oct 10 due to E-coli infection infiltrated the placenta from my vagina via 2 sweeps.My dd then died of hypoxia due to the same.Sad.

We thought it would be gbs but was E-coli.No clue where from and i was asymtonmatic so no clue anyhthing was wrong to Georgie had stopped moving.

Original poster
snowangels1 · 03/02/2011 07:33

louisesh so sorry that happened to you :( I had no idea sweeps could pass these things over to placenta Shock. Feel really :( for you.

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clarabella18 · 03/02/2011 08:01

i had a swab a couple of weeks ago but not a high one thank goodness!

Did they say why they tested you again if you've already shown a +ve for GBS during this pregnancy?

I've had a positive test too at 23 weeks and my midwife has said that i will have precautionary IV antibiotics during labour. She said that the reason they won't do another test (and the reason why they don't routinely screen for GBS in the UK) is because you can test +ve one day and -ve the next. and that anyone who has had a +ve at any point in their pregnancy should be offered the IV abti-b's as a matter of routine.

Original poster
snowangels1 · 03/02/2011 08:06

clara that's interesting. I've been told GBS is transient and comes and goes all the time in many people, so, even if you treated it at 23 weeks, it could come back by labour. They told me I could test again when I was 37 weeks to see if it had gone as this would then lower any risk that it would be around when in birth and a good indicator as to whether it would be around at the point of labour. I don't want to have anti bs (unless they are needed of course) in labour as I get horrible tummy reactions to them. Also, my hospital only gives IV anti bs routinely if you have more than one risk factor to GBS - ie testing positive alone doesn't mean they automatically give IV.

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louisesh · 03/02/2011 09:33

Thanks snowangels1 Good luck XX

sh77 · 03/02/2011 09:44

louise same thing happened with my daughter. she passed away from septacemia and pneumonia. docs couldn't identify the bacteria. gbs most likeley cause but e.coli was also mentioned. like your case, it entered the placenta. not sure if i had a small rupture (didn't notice any fluid leakage) but i reckon induction and associated internals probably was to blame. was never swabbed.

interestingly, i haven't been swabbed yet and haven't been told about HVS even though i am under risk care (and no mention of the detailed swabs you had). i am having a c-sec at 38+4.

snow sorry for the hijack.

louisesh · 03/02/2011 10:06

Oh sh77 sorry Sad its the worst experience ever isn t it? I think I 'd lost my mucus plug 6 hours before the 2nd sweep and although my waters were intact thats the only way we can deduce the E-coli had the opportunity to infiltrate the placenta.E-coli was detected on the 2 placenta swabs all other tests were nad.

The swabs i ll be having next time from 12 weeks on are as i work in an environment where i perform vag swabs so plenty of my colleagues have offered to swab me regularly.They all loved Georgie and have been devastated for us.I demanded my consultant will swab me regularly and c section at 37 weeks.No way i m going that long next time as the fact i was 41 weeks didn t help as i don t think the placenta was as healthy as could have been.

Has this pregnancy been hard? I expect you re worn out aren t you? I had extra monitoring at epu with pregnanyl injections twice weekly up to 13 weeks as before Georgie i 'd had 3 MCs .

All the luck in the world to you XXXX

tomhardyismydh · 03/02/2011 10:17

my dd contracted sgb from me during labour and I was told I would probably be tested at 36 weeks with next pg or I may find I wont bet swabbed but just given precationary anti biotics, I dont know the reason for re testing during pg as it can come and go, surely best just to give anti biotics.

I was also told by hv, that when dd has children as she contracted it, it would most probably be active when she has her own pg. and so she should recive antibiotics, not sure how true this is.

sh77 · 03/02/2011 11:41

lou seems you are being well looked after with all the offers of swabs Smile. I hate being fiddled with after what happened.

Today is my last day at work and I starting to feel really down as have to face up to how I am feeling. Anxiety and sadness is kicking in. Work is good for pushing that under the carpet. Physically, I feel good but exhaustion is kicking in. 5 weeks to c-sec. The care has been absolutely amazing - can't fault it. All the v best. x

louisesh · 03/02/2011 15:00

Good luck sh77 Hope you get what you deserveXXXX

I know this month is my month to concieve Georgie's brother or sister Smile.As you finish work i m returning in 4 weeks [but, hopefully not for long!!!]

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