Should I test for Group B Strep? Anyone else had experience of this?

[EffinIneffable]

I've ordered a test, but unsure whether to take it or not.

It's fairly common to be a carrier of Group B Strep, but rare to pass an infection on to your baby (less than 1%), but the consequences can be very serious for a small minority of infected babies. The NHS doesn't routinely test for it, but if you do a private test and it's positive, then they will require you to have intravenous antibiotics during labour, which means consultant led delivery suite and somewhat restricted movement in labour.

My midwife said she wouldn't bother, but it's up to me. Not sure what to do now! I could either just not know, hope for the best, and keep a close eye on the baby, or put my mind at rest but risk a more high-tech and closely monitored labour and birth than I was hoping for.

Whilst I haven't had the baby yet, I have prescribed/given antibiotics to hundreds of people, and the only real problem is the risk of allergic reaction, the same as with any drugs. There are a few other potential side effects but generally they are very safe and well tolerated.

If you've already ordered it then I'd definitely do it! I was found to have GBS during pregnancy through a swab for something else, but no-one told me until after I'd given birth (I think they didn't look at that bit of my notes til after) and I didn't had to have intravenous antibiotics. Just had to stay in over night so the baby could have obs every 3 hours.
But I think it's something that can come and go anyway.

I knew nothing about this until at 10 weeks due to bleeding I had to have a swap and it came up positive for Step B - my husband said it was probably a good thing they did it!

For £35 I would definitely take the test because at least then you will have all the information you need to make any future decisions for your birth plan etc.