Would you get tested for strep b?

[Sweetpeabec]

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

Yes please do get tested my waters broke with my first baby and i went to a birthing unit that was not the one i had planned to go to and they did a swab. While i was at that birthing unit i was transferred to my original choice birthing unit and had my baby there. My son was 3 days old when i received a letter informing me i had it. Luckily my son and me were fine but it could have been so so different. I was tested in my subsequent peegnancies and showed as negative so yes it can come and go and as pp said one week you could be negative next week positive.

The thing is, I have a history of very fast labours (first one as well, which was planned home delivery anyway in uK with no gbs test)) and I don't think I put her point forward very well- they don't think I will make it to the hospital, and secondly she is advising that everyone involved is well informed about proper post natal newborn monitoring either way - the likelihood I will have time for properly administered anti biotics is so slim that we need to know how to monitor the baby either way. Obviously with a Homebirth I would still daily midwife visits for a week, twice daily for the first 3 days. There really is not much point in having the drugs if there is not 4 hours from removal of the drip to delivery. Last time, I got the the hospital, waited while they faffed around examining me (8cm), waited for the drugs to be prescribed, then drawn up then delivered - it just isn't a speedy process that works with a fast labour!

That all said I probably will have the test, but if it's positive I will just be super anxious and there isn't a lot I can do about it. When I say they routinely test here, they do but lots of people do opt out. It's not forced on you! Lots of people for reasons upthread make informed decision about the actual risks and the dislike of unnecessary anti biotics. And because there is no evidence that the antibiotics actually reduces infant mortality. I am certainly not burying my head in the sand, I just want to be very prepared for the fact that my baby will probably need monitoring. There is also the option to deliver at home then transfer for postnatal48 hrs on ward but seems a bit convoluted to me. Strep b is so transient it's worth knowing what signs to look out for in a new born anyway, it's impossible at 36 weeks to know if you will still be negative at 40+10 for example (when my ds decided to arrive)

Thanks for this information everyone. I have symptoms in second trimester, slightly Green discharge. Should I just wait 3rd trimester before testing?