I was just reading a thread about GBS and please excuse me if it's been discussed more recently as I haven't visited the site for a while, but I didn't see this information anywhere and hoped it might be helpful...

When I was pregnant with T, I didn't want to do the GBS test (I hadn't done it with S either) for many reasons, and instead of just the temp monitoring after birth, my birth centre offered an alternative: get a gastric aspirate (sp?) and ear swap from the baby immediately after the birth, which would be then sent to the lab to test for GBS. Temp monitoring was still done as usual in the hours following the birth, but no antibiotics are taken unless the lab results confirm GBS. (This takes 24 hours).

I took this option, and it worked well. T had to wait about 1 minute longer for her first feed (the gastric aspirate must be done before feeding) but I didn't think that was too great an inconvenience; she was feeding straight afterwards, while the ear swab was being done.

This was at King Edward Birth Centre,(a public hospital), and I just thought it might be something women can ask for, instead of just having the antibiotic option.

Hope it helps!