Group B Strep - positive forever?

[BorgLady]

I was found to be positive for Group B Strep while pg with DS and had iv antibiotics etc in labour.

Now 11wks with DC2 and forgot to mention this at booking appointment with mw.

Just wondering if once you are positive, you are a carrier for life, or whether it comes and goes and I will need to be tested again.

I had huge yellow stickers on my notes last time so I probably should have thought of this before!

It indeed does come and go, but the assumpton is that if you have been positive before then you can be positive again. And as the nhs does not routinely test for GBS, they won't be looking to pick it up if you haven't mentioned it... so once they are aware you've had it before they will probably just treat you as if you are positive, even if you are clear (at any given time).

You need to bring it up with your midwife at your next appointment and voila! she'll pop the stickers on your notes.

I had first time round. They tested me at 36 weeks in my second pregnancy and I was clear.

I had it first time and am now PG with second. I was told that they don't automatically give ABs second time unless diagnosed and they don't test "Luckily" I had persistent thrush so when I went for a swab at about 34 weeks (don't think it mattered at which point) I asked them to check for Strep B too and voila! I'll be having the ABs again

Oh and consultant early on told me to come to hospital with a "discharge" after 30 weeks and get tested that way

I was told I had it after the birth of DD1. Was tested again in later pregnancy with DS1, was clear and had a home birth. Not sure if they're test me again in this pregnancy as I'm hoping for another home birth.

Current Royal College of Obstetrics guidelines are not to treat you in subsequent pgs unless you test positive again.

But not every hospital is sticking to this, mine are insisting that I have AB's for 3rd labour even though I was last tested over 4 years ago. I have argued them into testing me again at 36 weeks, and if it is negative I am going to ask not to have AB's.

I am sure if you ask they will be happy to give them to you, as my consultant says if they are aware you have previous GBS they have a responsibility to treat you, as if the baby becomes ill they will be liable if they have chosen to ignore the possibility of GBS being transferred.

I was tested positive 6 years ago, just before a (late) miscarriage. Quickly got pregnant afterwards and did not say anything about Group B strep having been found as did not want to take antibiotics (stupid - I know!!). Anyway DS was diagnosed with CP at 6 months and I have blamed myself ever afterwards - even though I'm told there'd be not connection.

Now I"m pregnant again and have told them about the Group B +ve test 6 years ago. I've just moved hospitals. The first hospital was going to give me ABs regardless and was not interested at all in testing me again at 35/6 weeks etc

The second hospital say they will test me at 35/6 weeks and if +ve give me ABs if not they won't.

I tested positive for Group b Strep during my 2nd pregnancy -at 37 weeks I tested negative so the hospital was aware and it was on my notes but I didn't require anti biotics during labour.
This pregnancy it has been put on my notes that I tested positive during last pregnancy and am a carrier however the consultant has said NHS don't test for it and as I wasn't positive whilst I gave birth last time I won't be treated this time. I am going to do a private test again at 37 weeks and the consultant has agreed if that comes back positive then they will make sure I have anti biotics.
Hopefully of course it will come back negative but I will make sure that when I am in Labour that the midwives are aware and have read the notes and that checks are done on my baby after birth.

I've tested postitive in 3 of my pregnancies that i've been tested in. The other 3 pregnancies i wasn't tested.

I had it with all 3 of my pgs not a problem with first 2 (i had 3 c/s) but with third i was v unwell then when dd2 was born she was whisked off very quickly a few hours after birth to scbu to have iv antibiotics as she had got unwell. They had told me i wouldnt need to have abs as i was having a csetion and that meant that it wouldnt pass on to her.

I had been in hospital at 34 weeks though and they thought my waters had broken but then told me they hadnt and sent me home, turned out they had and thats ob why it had passed to her.