Should I get tested for Strep B?

[bohemianbint]

I mentioned it to the midwives last time I was pregnant and they just said "naaaaaaaaaaah, it's really rare."

But Chris Steele said everyone should do it but not the NHS test because it's rubbish, it has a 50% chance of it telling you the right answer?

Has anyone else tested? What symptoms would make you think it was worth it? Is it really just a massive gamble, not testing?

if you test positive, you will be told to have IV antibiotics in labour and you will have to fight for a home birth

the infection is transient and you might test positive and then be negative when you go into labour

there was an interesting thread about this, cannot remember what topic, on signing a petition to make testing for all women on the NHS, some really excellent info on why testing is not always the best thing

it might be in childbirth

Ive just found out that i have strep b i only found out because i had a bleed and the doc done a swab they say its rare but how can they say that if we dont get tested. i dont mind having antibs in labour better to be safe than sorry.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/1365/459211 thread here, have a read .

u can be tested but if it is not active at the time of the swab it will not get picked up. i have it as it was picked up in a routine wee sample. 30% of women carry it and it is only dangerous during labour. that is why NHS does not test it. i happened to mention it last time then coincidentally i had a phone call from my mw saying it was in my urine so i went on antibiotics.
you can voice your concern but nothing will be done unless it is actaully picked up in a routine urine sample.

I am a carrier, found out with a swab for somthing else in my last pregnancy, I had IV antibiotics and all was fine.

This time I would really like a water birth, but won't be able too with an IV in.
I'm going to speak to my consultant and see if I can be swabbed again in late pregnancy, if I'm negative at that point, it might be ok to leave the antibiotics.

izzy - no reason not to have a waterbith just because of an iv cannula. In the hospital where I work, a cannula will make no difference as they are waterproof anyway. Speak to your m/w about this, as it seems like a very poor excuse to keep you out the pool!

i was told when pregnant with dd and again today when i saw mw (this time privately) that the test is absolutely rubbish and therefore useless either way.

i think there's a list of risk factors somewhere- if you meet some of those criteria i would consider, otherwise don't bother. but of course, like everything else, up to you.

It was the midwife who told me that I couldn't
Thanks for that, will def check with consultant.

Thanks for all the feedback, and for linking that other thread Lulumama!

Interesting stuff. I think, from looking at the risk factors it is probably unlikely and I might just cross my fingers and hope for the best. Besides, we are brassic so the less private testing I have to fork out for the better, especially as it's so unreliable!