Group B Strep: To have the test or not?

[Lolli]

You've got some great info here. I refused the test wiyth dd. i did it with ds (cause I did what I was told) but just the act of swabbing myself in the filthy hospital toilets was enought to turn me off

My mw said it's one of those things thatis on it's way out of fashion again- maternity wards all over Aus are slowly ditching it. i think Westmead was the first in NSW?

[Smoke Jaguar]

No water birth if you're stuck to a drip and monitor
I wasn't tested for my HB. It was offered to me and I declined after having two extensive discussions with my midwives - who both agreed with my stance and the discussions were to ensure I knew why I was declining.
Someone I know tested pos in her last pregnancy and she very much attributes her emerg c-s to the induction that ensued. She recently gave birth in a birth centre and refused the testing because she wanted her VBAC and understands that the cascade of interventions begins before an induction in a lot of cases (i.e. so called 'routine' prenatal testing).
Anyway, I didn't have it for my planned homebirth.

[CinderToriella]

Im googling and i read that there is an oral form u can take? is this true?

i really dont want to be strapped to an IV the whole time, if thats what they do.. i know me i would so rip it out lol

[HollyC]

My doctor prescribes a single dose oral antibiotic. The instruction is to take it once you are in established labour and about to come into the hospital. I think the timing is important though. If your labour is long or short the effect might not be adequate at the time of birth.

The other thing he does is insert a cannula and inject a few doses through that while in hospital. So that is just the bung that goes in your arm, not a full drip. It isn't comfortable, but it doesn't stop you moving around or getting in the water.

It seems to depend on your caregiver, they seem to have preferences. The info I have given is just my experience with my doctor. But the way I see it, having the test and the treatment don't have to be a negative experience. This pregnancy hasn't been easy and we are still facing some uncertainty about out bub's health. I'm just happy that I can take relatively easy steps to reduce this particular risk to my baby (no matter how small it is).

[BellyBelly]

You want to avoid ab's in labour as best you can though, obviously if you need it, you need it...but Pro-biotics are very important in the process for mother and baby and also increase your chance of thrush. Taking ab's will kill the probiotics.

[Tegam]

hey suga how will your doula help you know how dilated you are?

[LadyNoor]

So, after a long & careful consideration I decided not to have the test.

My midwife is fine with it as we have discussed it before and she knows I understand the pros and cons of having/not having GBS test.

I've spoken to our family GP and told her that I chose not to have the swab and she was fine with my decision. I was surprised she didn't even press the matter, I thought she was going to give me a long lecture regarding GBS since she's a kind of doctor who likes to "play it safe" and seeing how she was very relaxed about it made me convinced more that the swab is just something that in & out fashion as some of you have mentioned.

I have also spoken to another GP just to have a second opinion, and she just made sure I understand what the swab means and the risks for not having it. And she was also fine with my decision.

I'm currently taking probiotics 25ml once a day to fill my body with good bacteria and also taking garlic supplements to boost my immunity system.

Thank you for all the great infos & inputs here, what a great forum you have Kelly! And I hope those of you who have more questions or trying to decide regarding the swab will find your answers here or at least by knowing people's experience can give you confidence in making your decision.

xxx

[Tegam]

for making an informed decision! Doesn't matter which way you went as long as its informed, it means its the right decision for you & your family!

[Mummato2]

Im googling and i read that there is an oral form u can take? is this true?

i really dont want to be strapped to an IV the whole time, if thats what they do.. i know me i would so rip it out lol

Nah, you get a cannula put in your hand and they inject the AB via the cannula every couple of hours until birth

[HollyC]

That is how my doctor treats GBS. A single oral dose of amoxycillan (sp?) when labour is established.

[CinderToriella]

That is how my doctor treats GBS. A single oral dose of amoxycillan (sp?) when labour is established.

I had to take amoxycillan recently for a chest infection , lets hope if i did have GBS i dont know

[Tegam]

I had to take amoxycillan recently for a chest infection , lets hope if i did have GBS i dont know

LOL!

[Traveller]

IMHO there is no point in having a swab done in pregnancy. Group B strep is a transient infection which may be there at the test, but gone in pregnancy, or vice versa. This may result in a medicated birth unnecessarily, or a baby with GBS not being monitored for infection because the test was negative.

I believe parents would be better off not having testing, and having a discussion with their midwife or GP about spotting infection in the newborn instead. There is more than just GBS that can cause serious infection / sepsis in a newborn and testing for one then being relaxed just leads to mums (like me) thinking everything is ok and ignoring warning signs, and nearly losing their child as a result.

[CinderToriella]

A good midwife or doula will know when your labour has progressed just by the way you are acting and the sounds you are making. They can tell the difference between early labour and established labour without doing internals.

Is there anyone we ,or our partners could tell this as well?

[Talia*L]

My midwife has suggested having the GBS test, if I want, in the next week or so (I am nearly 38 weeks now). She told me that if I am negative, then we can all relax if the waters break days before labour, whereas if I test positive, we know that we need to keep a check on things once my waters break. She never said anything about needing to go to hospital based on the results though?

I will ask her again this week, but I was leaning towards having the test...