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Pregnancy

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

Group B Strep

4 replies

andallthatjazz · 18/12/2007 10:17

After reading about Group B Strep in Pregnancy & Birth Mag and how it takes effect, I decided to send away for a self testing kit...am now 25WP and have to test 35/37WP...What are anyone else's thoughts on this? Has anyone self tested before? Results?
I did ask MW about it but she was soo wishy washy, may aswell asked my Cat for her opinion...(oh a rant about MW could have progressed then)!!

Like to think I am still in charge of my senses and taking the "better to be safe than sorry" approach rather than the "OHMIGOD panic cause just its written in black and white so must be true" approach.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
slim22 · 18/12/2007 11:49

Hi, nothing to worry about if hospital know about it when you go in.
Basically you will be offered a antibiotic course during labour and baby checked after birth. It's serious but treatment common.
Testing should be made compulsory. One of these oddities....

For more info, I refer you to a very informative thread just a few days ago.

Do a search with key words groupe B strep sweeping from 01/12/07 and you should find it.

madChristmasmouse · 18/12/2007 14:50

I am doing my best not to get tested. 700 babies a year are affected in one form or another out of the 700.000 born in the UK. I believe that the risk of labour complications caused by having my movements restricted by a drip in hospital (instead of birthing at home or at least naturally)are higher than the risk of the baby possibly having a GBS infection. 2/3 of women carry GBS and it is rarely a problem. I believe that Pregnancy and Birth mag are using this whole thing as a massive publicity thing.

But that is just my humble opinion.

peanutbutterkid · 18/12/2007 15:35

I'm getting self-tested at about 35 weeks; I will keep the results to myself and only mention a positive to MW/professionals if another risk factor arises.
My previous labours were so fast (2 hours from established to baby) that it would be impossible anyway to get the only effective treatment (minimum 4 hrs IV antibiotics), but I suppose I'm getting the GBS test in case things go very differently this time.
The thread slim22 mentions is here.
I think it's very difficult to get a decent grasp on all aspects of the possible risks posed by GB-Strep. Good luck.

Mintpurple · 19/12/2007 04:47

madmouse

the antibiotics are normally given as a first dose through a drip over about 15 mins, then subsequent 4 hourly doses given as a squirt into the cannula. It does not have to restrict movement etc.

If there is not 4 hours of cover, baby can have a small IM injection of penicillin which provides adequate cover.

However, being tested is a double edged sword, as some women using birth centres and homebirthers etc seem to have problems in getting the antibiotics and I have read on mn recently of women being refused the use of the birth centre if GBS+ or the m/w using it as an excuse to prevent homebirths.

In the hospital in London that I work in, the BC will give antibiotics, so its not a problem, but it will probably keep you in hospital for 24-48 hours for monitoring of baby.

Personally, and although I swab many women in delivery suite when I do speculum exams, I would not have testing done for the above reasons, also that the vast majority of women who are GBS+ are never picked up and go on to have healthy babies.
I know that there is a small risk, but it is tiny compared to other (admittedly tiny)risks in pregnancy (eg amnio / cvs, scar rupture, very post dates etc,) and people are willing to take these risks.

I think, as in many things in pregnancy, it all depends on the level of risk you are willing to take.

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