I was tested at 37 weeks with my DS and have just had my swab done last week with this pregnancy. Both came back +ve. I hated having the IV ab in labour and am very dissapointed to have to have it again this time. But I'm going to go with what my OB recommends and have them.

I have a girl friend who chose not have the ab, her baby became very sick 1 day after he was born and ended up requiring massive doses of ab himself. As a result his sight and hearing have been affected and it was touch and go for him actually pulling through. He is the only one who I've ever heard of having problems though and my Mum says they didn't do the swabs when she had the 4 of us. So I don't know how necessary it is.