Strep B

[vickielisabeth]

Has anyone else read this article?

Group B Strep: ‘A common bug could have killed my baby’ www.bbc.co.uk/news/stories-50546463

I'm currently pregnant, and was fairly sure before reading this article that I would have the private test and have antibiotic drip during labour if positive. Now not so sure...

Interested what others think.

I had GBS in my first pregnancy. My midwife sent off a swab for suspected thrush at about 40 weeks (DD was born at 41+5), which they also tested for GBS at the same time. I was given the antibiotics during labour, and DD was given extra monitoring for 12 hours. I'm now pregnant with DC2, and will automatically be given the antibiotics in labour this time.

There tends to be a big campaign about it every year, I remember one last winter as well .. back in 2013, I had a swap before having a coil inserted and it showed I had Strep B. My doctor gave me a letter to give to any midwife in future.

Strep B comes & goes. You don’t always have it. Sometimes it’s dormant. The NHS don’t routinely test for it. Back in 2016 when I had my first, I dutifully told my midwife & she pointed me in the direction of a private company to test myself. Which I did and it came back negative. I had a totally fine labour & delivery from a Strep B perspective.

This pregnancy, I told my midwife again and she said as I have tested positive in the past, they will now offer a screen on the NHS. So that’s a plus. They do it about 4/5 weeks before labour.

If you test positive, you need antibiotics during labour. And potentially baby might afterwards depending on the labour.

The private, do it yourself tests aren’t too expensive, so if it’ll worry you then I’d do one!

An interesting article, and I do agree with Dr Brocklehurst that further study is needed into the effects of antibiotics on a newborn’s gut biome. With that said I strongly believe that every woman should be tested in pregnancy for GBS, either on the NHS or as it stands currently, by paying for a private test. The chances of a baby contracting GBS from its mother are vanishingly small, but the consequences can be truly horrific when they do. Having cared for these babies and seen the devastating effects both short and long term, there was no question in my mind that I would get tested in my own pregnancies. As it turned out I was GBS positive, and had the appropriate antibiotics in labour. I would do the same again, and would recommend the test to any pregnant friend.

@vickielisabeth they tend to give you antibiotics during labour if tested positive any time in pregnancy or other pregnancy, because GBS survives inactively inside you and can become active when you're in labour without anyone knowing.

I tested as having GBS in my body last pregnancy, had a drip during labour. This time was told they won't test me anymore and I'll have the drip like the other time. It's for the safety of baby.

I requested the test from my midwife at my 39 week check. It was free (in England, 2017). It came back positive and I had antibiotics during labour. I didn't think it was worth the risk of not being tested. Breastfeeding is good for building up baby's digestion and immunity so I strove to bf my dd as long as possible.

Thanks all this is really helpful.

Please please get tested! Even if it's not offered demand it or get it done privately.

I had no idea about it with my first pregnancy. And after I had my son and took him home a day later is when I called 111 up at almost midnight. They said to take him straight to the hospital and there was no wait in the A&E, because he was a newborn he was seen right away. They couldn't figure out what it was and tested him for everything and discussed a lumbar puncture. The results came back from the discharge on his umbilical cord which showed group b strep and he was on antibiotics for a week. He was in ICU and then after he was getting better was moved to a different room. He made a full recovery and I thank God. He's now 4. But those were the worst days ever and I don't wish it on anyone! We were very lucky, even the doctor said he was shocked but didn't wanna say anything at the time that they were worried. I've read about babies that didn't make it. So please get tested!

I paid £30 for the post diagnostics kit at 36 weeks and tested positive. Will absolutely do it again. I was on IV antibiotics through the birth.

I tested positive for group b strep during a test for thrush half way through my pregnancy, I didn’t want to be hooked onto a drip through labour and don’t like using antibiotics if I can help it, so started doing routine apple cider vinegar sitz baths twice a week, I asked to be tested again 2 weeks before birth and it had gone, I tested negative. Could be a coincidence but I’ve heard it can come and go.