Will I be tested for Group B Strep with DC2?

[Moonladyx]

Morning ladies!

My next midwife isn’t for another few weeks and I’ve had a slight panic after reading online a lady who had GBS in her first pregnancy wasn’t offered a test during her second pregnancy?!

Has anybody here been offered a test as routine after having it in a previous pregnancy?

Really hope my hospital offer me a test as this sends my anxiety through the roof after having it during my first pregnancy which was picked up when I thought I was leaking fluid.

Thanks all x

No idea if they will offer one, but if not just ask for one?

No, I wasn't tested

No it's not routinely tested for on it's own. If a swab or urine sample is sent to check for infection then it may be found during that.

No I don't think it is. It should be though.

I paid for it privately with DS, thankfully didn't have it but will pay again to test this time around. This it was around £40.

The test*

I tested privately in my first pregnancy (positive) by my second pregnancy (7 years ago) the hospital was testing everyone as standard but this might just have been a local decision. I was positive again. It didn’t matter because I had c-sections anyway but better to know just in case.

I was very conscious of GBS because my colleague’s baby daughter had been very I’ll after birth and she was evangelical about raising awareness which I was grateful for.

if your hospital doesn’t test I would really suggest paying for a private test.

Same circumstances as you- I asked my midwife for a test and did it at 36 weeks.

Thanks for all your replies xx

@PinkButtercups I’m going to do it privately if they say no When I next see my midwife, I feel this will settle my nerves haha.

This should really be routine for pregnancies after having GBS! I wasn’t sure if they would or not, as it is now on my notes I thought they might rest x

*thought my might test x

I'm surprised so many are not offered it. When I had it with my first I was then tested with my next 2 and positive both times. They put me on a drip of antibiotics during labour then. They took it very seriously. I usually don't have much faith in my hospital but it sounds like they are on the ball with this.

I think the reasoning is is because it's transient, so just because it is picked up at say 22 weeks of pregnancy, or 37 for that matter, doesn't mean it will be present when you go into labour.

Sara Wickham (research midwife) has written a lot about it, looking at all the evidence. It's worth a look!

Hi OP congratulations on your pregnancy, I’m going to disagree with you and PP because I don’t think it should be routinely tested for, it’s very common but very rarely causes any issues. This is evidence based.

Dr Sara Wickham has some really useful information on it, I’m sure there’s a statistic that says if group B strep was routinely screened for and every mother with it was given antibiotics then it would lead to an over treatment of 99.75% of women in labour. A 2019 study concluded that universal screening would cause more harm than good. Hence the reasoning behind why it it’s the routinely screened for.

Maybe reading some more balanced information about would help with your anxiety?

I had it last time, and the consultant told me they just assume positive this time around. So will be given antibiotics in labour.

I was also offered the option of a test towards the end of pregnancy to see if I’m still positive.

Must vary according to local trust

I had it with my daughter and asked the midwife would I get a test this time she said no but they will keep a extra eye on things this time round! I know how u feel coz that was the first thing I asked her at my first appointment x

I had it with my second pregnancy. With my third I was told I wouldn't be tested again but they'd just treat me as though I was still positive

I had it was first DS and he was poorly because of it. Luckily not serious outcome

with ds2 I was tested because I’d had it was DS1 and with DD my consultant said they wouldn’t test I’d just be given antibiotics anyway as that was the new guidelines for women who had previously had GBS

I had it in first pregnancy and wasn't offered it in second one. I asked for it in second one and was refused. My DC2 got infection thankfully he was ok