Group B Strep

[Lolski]

I am 36 weeks with my second DS. I hadn't even heard of this when I had my first DS but a few people have recently asked me if I am going to get tested for it this time so am starting to get a little worried. I have looked back to try and find previous threads on it and I found one that said that one of the best private tests was on www.gbss.org but when I go into this and try and follow the links it just seems to bring up loads of other web-sites so I am a bit confused. Does anyone know much about this and whether I should get tested and if so where is the best place to get it done ?
I would ask my midwife but I last saw her at 33 weeks and she just said 'see you at 37 weeks if you haven't already had it by then' (my DS was born at 36 weeks !) so not due to see her till end of next week and I have got the feeling that she will just say not to worry about it.

Hi Lolski

I'm 20 weeks pg and a first timer but was alerted to Group B Strep a couple of years ago when I tested positive for it after the GP took some swabs to confirm thrush! The nurse informed me that it wasn't necessarily a worry but as I had already had it, if I got pregnant I should defintiely tell the midwife and get a test later on in the pregnancy so they could deal with it before the birth. So far, no-one seems too bothered but I will make sure I get a test even if I have to pay for it! The link to order the test kits/testing privately on the gbss.org site appears to be this:

www.gbss.org.uk/content.php?section_id=3&sub_id=2&content=Testing%20For%20All

Here is some more info at NHS direct www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=2037#

If you've ever had routine swabs for thrush etc then they probably would have picked it up before, but why not call your midwife just to check? You may not need to test but if you are worried and it would set your mind at rest then I guess you should do it. Might be worth just giving the GBSS a call for advice too...

Hope this helps and good luck with the birth!

Hi Jenny

Thanks for your help. I have sent off for the test from the 'Doctors Laboratory' on the link to put my mind at rest. Hopefully it will be negative but if it's positive I will speak to my midwife and take it from there.
It is such a minefield isn't it. I didn't know about half of this when I had my first DS. Sometimes I think that ignorance is bliss

Thanks again for your help and Good Luck !

Unfortunately ignorance isn't always bliss. The first time i'd even heard of GBS was from the paediatrician treating my day old DS1 in NICU.
He was lucky enough to make a full recovery but the night they made the diagnosis they told us he has a 1 in 5 chance of not making at all.

Lolski, There are so many things to consider I don't know where I am some days! Good luck with the test and I hope all is well.

Dragonbutter, that's terrible! Is your son ok now? I do hope all is well and there were no lasting problems. What a scary thing to happen.

I am so glad I found out about this ages ago and am able to do something about it if necessary. So many people here have never heard of it! Apparently, they are much more hot on testing for GBS in the USA and I really think they should do it routinely here.

I hope the government listen to the petition from the GBSS...

Excuse me for just jumping in but I answered another GBS thread a few minutes ago and thought you may be interested in this as well.
There is plenty you can do to prevent a positive test - I only found out I was a GBS carrier last year and if I have any more babies I will definitely be doing all i can in the last weeks of pregnancy to make sure I'm negative when I go into labour.
Good luck!

I completely agree. If it wasn't for a couple of my friends and good old MN I would never have even known that it existed.

Dragonbutter I am really sorry that you had to go through that with your DS and so glad that he made a full recovery.

Thanks for the info vbacqueen! I'm going to read up now and see what to do...

He did make a full recovery but had recurrent chest infections and bronchiolitis throughout his first year or two. He was treated with meningitis strength doses on antibiotics which can affect hearing. He was 2 before we got the all clear on his hearing.
I still can't quite believe he made a full recovery even now (he's 3.5) because he was so ill and I was mentally prepared to lose him.
We were very lucky. But it's not always the case.
The tests are not always useful I get that. But the tests might be able to reduce some of the deaths and i can't understand why the government don't think that's enough to make it routine.

i found out i had it when i lost alot of blood from birth

they didnt tell me until 12 hrs after ds was born major panic went out with nurses check his breathing we'll come every hour had us in blind panic

luckily for me i had severe kidney infection and had only just gone home day before from week in hospital

was put on iv antibiotics and my last lot was just gone 11 pm and my ds was born 2.15 am so within the 4 recommended hrs

we were so lucky but campaigned for other mums to be made aware as if i hadnt had antiobiotics 12 hrs would or could of been fatal

for the cost it takes to get tested i think all mums should be given choice to pay for it themselves if they wont do it

Dragonbutter (that is a great name by the way!) that must have been so stressful a time for you. Glad that everything is fine now and I hope your son is happy and healthy.

bubblagirl, that must have been an awful shock for you too - although at least you were able to get immediate treatment and with no further consequences.

It does make me wonder why they don't test routinely. If nothing else, surely the expense of emergency treatment and costs of continuing treatment are much worse than the cost of routine testing. I agree that they should offer mums the chance to pay for it themselves.

I am definitely getting my test, one way or another!

They found GBS in my urine at 20 weeks and I panicked as a friend of mine went into labour at 36 weeks, had GBS but didn't know it, and her baby died 12 hours after birth. Take GBS seriously. I really wanted a home birth. Really really wanted one, and I am gutted that I have to go into the hospital, have IV antibiotics, etc, but I'm not prepared to risk my baby's health. I am very alternative and in other circumstances would try a natural remedy, but not in a life/death situation.

I requested a test from the Doctors Laboratory which I received the next day. Did the samples and posted them back (managed fine myself so didn't need MW help) and had the results text to me within 24 hours.

All negative thankfully but a very easy and quick process for me.

I requested a test from the Doctors Laboratory which I received the next day. Did the samples and posted them back (managed fine myself so didn't need MW help) and had the results text to me within 24 hours.

All negative thankfully but a very easy and quick process for me.

I requested a test from the Doctors Laboratory which I received the next day. Did the samples and posted them back (managed fine myself so didn't need MW help) and had the results text to me within 24 hours.

All negative thankfully but a very easy and quick process for me.

ooh bollocks sorry about that folks!