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Pregnancy

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

Original poster

Would you get tested for strep b?

53 replies

Sweetpeabec · 22/01/2017 21:02

I have a friend who recently pushed to be tested for strep b while pregnant as she said it causes meningitis and can be fatal to the baby if passed on through child birth. I've spoken to my midwife and was told that everyone may unknowingly carry it and it won't harm the baby if you do. If the test comes back positive then antibiotic tablets and/or a drip while giving birth will be used to minimize transference. Has anyone requested the test? Or would you want to request the test? Opinions please x

OP posts:
CheerfulYank · 23/01/2017 06:51

It's routine here in the States. I've had it done with every pregnancy and would definitely continue.

Luckystar1 · 23/01/2017 06:55

I paid privately too, £35, a complete no brainier for me.

I was +ve, I had antibiotics during labour, but I had a very straightforward water birth and then we stayed in the birthing unit for observations for 12 hours. It was bloody glorious and such a wonderful bonding time.

Definitely get tested. Who gives a toss what the midwife thinks.

Celen · 23/01/2017 08:22

"I've spoken to my midwife and was told that everyone may unknowingly carry it and it won't harm the baby if you do" Shock

It may not harm the baby if you do but it could also kill them - am I not correct in thinking that? Hmm

Celen · 23/01/2017 08:24

Those who have been tested privately, please can you share links/info on who to contact to get it done please?

Original poster
Sweetpeabec · 23/01/2017 08:49

List of companies that you can get the test from: gbss.org.uk/information-and-support/testing-for-gbs/ecm-test-where-how/

I've requested a free test from the group b strep test. I then pay £35 when send it off. Takes 3-4 days to get the results via sms and letter.

OP posts:
Sparklyuggs · 23/01/2017 08:56

I know Fiona Paddon who is mentioned in the thread, so I always knew I'd pay to get it done. I now live in the Channel Islands where they test for free. Like another poster, I have general concerns about antibiotic misuse (looking at my relatives who take antibiotics for viruses) but this is one I'd get if I needed it.

Do check out her campaign if you have a chance.

EverythingEverywhere1234 · 23/01/2017 09:03

I absolutely would get tested. I went to a funeral late last year for a baby girl who only made it to 10 hours because her poor mother wasn't tested and the little girl died due to group B strep. Awful.

I am so sorry for your loss, HopeJacob

McBaby · 23/01/2017 09:11

I'm not sure how they can monitor the baby closely when you are on a 6 hour discharge after birth. After noving back to the antenatal ward I had one check by the doctor and the midwife didn't look at or touch the baby once.

The pack you gets gives the recommended time for for resting I think it's around 36/38 weeks.

I tested positive randomly in my first pregnancy and just got the antibiotics in labour in time. Second pregnancy I paid for the test and it was negative.

zambean · 23/01/2017 11:13

Really conflicted too - the fact that all the midwives and healthcare professionals I've spoken to about it are against routine testing makes me reluctant to get tested privately, even though I obviously have all the same concerns as any pregnant woman does about the risks.

scaredofthecity · 23/01/2017 12:11

I chose not to, strep b is transient and like pp have stated it quite often completely changes the care given.
I looked at the stats of passing strep b to baby and I can't remember the odds but i decided it was a small risk, vs the chance of unnecessary antibiotics etc.
That said streb b is a very serious infection and must not be underestimated.

Cloeycat · 23/01/2017 12:21

I have tested positive in the past (not during pregnancy) so my midwife has decided to do a swab at 36 week appt. If positive at that point i'll get antibiotics and a hospital birth, if negative I will have birth centre birth with minimal intervention. Fingers crossed it's negative.

If I hadn't been positive in the past then I wouldn't even have been aware of it which is what concerns me, it wasn't brought up with me at all during my pregnancy, I had to mention it to my midwife.

EpoxyResin · 23/01/2017 12:41

I ordered a free test through the post. You can then decide whether or not you want to use it, and if you do just post it back and pay £35 for processing.

Here's the link to the one I ordered Read the FAQ as they advise you want until the final weeks of pregnancy so you have the best chance of the results being accurate at the time of baby's delivery.

I didn't use mine in the end as I had ds at 37 weeks by cs, so I wasn't out of pocket and if I'd had a bit more time I would have done!

Luckystar1 · 23/01/2017 15:10

Sorry but I think if there is a time for misuse of antibiotics, this is it! Protecting a newborn, surely there is no doubt!

2 of my friends children have had serious illnesses (pneumonia & meningitis) at hours/days old due to gbs!

teainbed · 23/01/2017 15:52

Nobody is going to deny antibiotics to an unwell baby. But the evidence shows currently that by routinely screening pregnant women and therefore giving strong IV antibiotics to huge numbers of pregnant women, many of whom wouldn't ever need them, you would cause more harm than good. It's resistance to bacteria which is a major problem worldwide. This is evidence based medicine, not something that has been dreamt up to save money or anything.

DontWannaBeObamasElf · 23/01/2017 16:32

I wasn't tested in my last pregnancy, daughter was born with sepsis. Neither of us were tested then either. Tested positive this time so will be getting antibiotics during labour. I hope they work!

Mummyme87 · 23/01/2017 21:20

No because there is no evidence to say that the mortality rate of babies who contract GBS is any lower afternhaving antibiotics in labour

EpoxyResin · 23/01/2017 22:02

Mummyme I could have the wrong end of the stick, but isn't the idea that having the antibiotics in labor lowers the risk of the baby contracting GBS in the first place, not that it would make it more survivable?

MangosteenSoda · 23/01/2017 22:20

Testing at 36 weeks where I live. Antibiotics given as a MASSIVE injection every few hours during early labour, so it didn't affect mobility.

The antibiotics significantly reduce the risk of passing gbs to the baby during birth. Worth it IMO.

Laura2507 · 24/01/2017 20:04

They were talking about this on This Morning today. There was a woman who lost her baby at 9 days old because of group b strep. She had never even heard of it, let alone given any option for testing even privately. Whilst the risk is fairly low (not all babies get ill if mother has GBS) when you hear that a 9 day old baby died when a £35 test and antibiotics could have prevented it, its very sad and seems a no brainier to me.

teainbed · 24/01/2017 21:39

Laura this is a lengthy article but scroll down to the box that defines the criteria for a screening test. It's not as simple as a swab and some antibiotics.

www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/86/4/07-050112/en/

MinnieNoush · 27/01/2017 08:42

I will definitely be paying to test privately. In most countries they routinely test for strep B.
Do note that if you are going to be tested it needs to be after 36 weeks. If you test positively at 36 weeks you will definitely still have it when you give birth as it stays in you for at least 5 weeks. If you do have it then it can be fatal and it can be too late monitoring for it afterwards. Why would you not take preventative precautions!

SquitMcJit · 27/01/2017 08:53

I came up as being positive for GroupB Strep during a routine test for something else in pregnancy. When they told me, I knew what it was because I had seen Dr Chris talking about it on Good Morning.

I had an antibiotic drip during labour. Of course, that wasn't what I had planned - meant I needed inducing in my case ( resulting in an epidural and a forceps birth) but it was amazing that they knew I was a carrier and took steps to protect my baby. I would do the same again. All women should be tested on the NHS.

I am very sorry for your loss Hopejacob

ilovetosleep · 27/01/2017 09:41

I'mreally struggling with this decision. Am also in a country that routinely tests. With DS2 I laboured very quickly - 4 hours from waking up at home with first contraction to delivery at hospital. The antibiotics need to be in your system for 4 hrs minimum before delivery. My drip wasn't administered until 1hr before. I was literally holding back the urge to push because everyone was wanting me to get the anti biotics in before delivery despite the 4 hr reccomendation, and I desperately wanted to get in the pool. I did, and I had less than 2 mins in the water before DS was born. So of course I still needed to stay in for 48hrs observations. All in all a very pressurised and stressful way to give birth. This time round I have been recommended a home birth due to the speed of labour, but I can't have anti biotics at home. So the midwives have actually advised against testing for GBS as it would cause me anxiety if positive, because th anti biotics are useless in a fast labour anyway. They think a decent amount of post natal observation would be more beneficial, but I hate the idea of being at home alone with a newborn and having to monitor his temperature myself for 2 days (although in an ideal world I definitely do want a Homebirth- just with the reassurance of a negative gbs test!)

sycamore54321 · 27/01/2017 12:21

Gosh @ilovetosleep I think your midwives sound dangerously negligent. Advising you to go against the standard of care in your country? Don't test in case you get the wrong result? If you have GBS, your baby will still come in contact with it whether you have tested or not. And suggesting a new parent can in any way perform the intense monitoring required on a newborn? It's not just taking a temperature. Honestly they sound downright negligent and if I were you I wouldn't know how to trust any of their advice if this is what they think acceptable.

I personally would not dream of a home birth with a GBS history - why not test and make your decision with all the information, not by sticking your head in the sand as the miswives advised. Your next labour could be very different to your last, having the antibiotics gives your baby the best possible chance. Nobody has a crystal ball and can say how your labour will be.