Group B Strep

[JennyMummyto2]

Hi, i live in Scotland so it is not routine to have a group b strep test. Is anyone going private? Im curious what to do and nervous just incase im one of the unlucky ones and dont even know i have it in order to take the antibiotics. Thank you.

After I’d delivered DS they told me I had group B strep, I don’t recall them doing anything about it other than observations. I didn’t have antibiotics. I remember being 😰 because you’re meant to be aware before going in but c’est la vie.

I paid to have the test privately with my first pregnancy. It was positive and I was on IV antibiotics when I got to the hospital in labour.

I would do the test. I'm being routinely swabbed at the hospital due to a previous late term loss and it's shown I'm positive for it so will be getting antibiotics in labour. I would never have known otherwise, no symptoms at all

I'm in England, where we don't test for this routinely. I had Strep B and the only reason i found out is because i was swabbed for a seperate issue (i bled a lot during the first trimester). Most people who have Streb B never know, and that is thought to be as many as 40% of us!
Fast forward to the birth. I should have had antibiotics during labour. My labour was 4 hours from start to finish. I only got to the hospital a couple of hours before delivery. I had no time for the antibiotics, so we never received any. My son was born and we stayed in for 24 hours to be monitored. He was fine. If having the test will give you peace of mind, go ahead and get it done, but even having Streb B does not mean baby will contract it. In fact, most don't.
I'm now pregnant again and been warned that my next birth will likely be even faster. I again won't have time for antibiotics!

Get tested!

Whilst it’s not common for it to pass during birth (even though so many carry it), it is a very serious issue if it does. A simple test will let you know if you need antibiotics in labour.

I had never heard of group b strep until my daughter was admitted to hospital at two weeks old, seriously ill from group b strep. She developed sepsis and possibly meningitis (they couldn’t rule it out as they didn’t do the lumbar puncture immediately).

We were very fortunate and she made a full recovery with no lasting side effects. She was very much a lucky one.

I’m still frustrated many years later that this still isn’t routinely tested for in England when so many other countries (eg Australia) test all pregnant ladies for it.

I paid for a private test in both my pregnancies. I’ve popped a link to the company I used below - they were recommended to me and were good. The test was easy to do, and the results were quick. Think it cost around £50 but was worth it for the peace of mind.

gbss.org.uk/info-support/group-b-strep-testing/ecm-test-where-how/

I asked my midwife at my 36 week appointment about this and she said they treat everyone as if they have strep B. I'm not sure what that means re. Antibiotics though. She said the test isn't that useful as it could be negative one day and positive the next. It's only a snapshot of that moment in time. Those who have had the private test done does your midwife or hospital accept the results?

I'm not sure it is a snapshot in time to be honest, I've been testing positive consistently for more than half of the pregnancy as I am routinely swabbed due to a previous late loss. So I'm definitely considered positive and will be recieving antibiotics in labour. I understand negative tests can be less accurate but I think if you've tested positive at any point it's best to get the antibiotics to be safe even if it does turn negative again