Declining GBS test, thoughts??

[chocolatecatty]

I declined mine last week. As AE said, it's a cyclic thing and just because you might have it at 36 or so weeks doesn't mean you'll have it at birth.

My midwife actually got the wrong file out for my last appt. and when I declined the test she said I should take it as my 'file' said I had quite a bad case of it when I did my wee test all those months ago..I think the term 'colony of it' was used and I nearly died when I heard that. She went on to say since it was such a strong case early in preg then I should take the test again as it would be silly not to - luckily I then looked at the file she was using and discovered it wasn't mine! Pity the file name is burned into my memory now...hope I don't meet her, I'd feel like I have secret info on her! Anyway, my point is - if you have a bad case of it adn it shows up in your urine test at the start of preg then I'd recommend taking the test in the last trimester - but otherwise, don't feel you have to.

I think it is becoming less routine nowadays as some people have stated - it's not expected you take it which is good. But if you take the test, and it comes back positive, they should be able to stick a bung in your hand and just give you the injection every 4 or so hours - you shouldn't be hooked up immobile to a drip or anything I think (at least this is what my midwife said). Different hosp. will have different policies I guess.

[Beautitude]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Arimeh I didn't know that some obs and midwives dont even offer it. I thought it was a routine test. That puts my mind at ease.

Mama Spice thanks for the tip about bubs temp. That will keep my mind at ease.

Chocolatecatty I dont think my urine came up with anything sinister but ill check with my midwife. Its true that all they do is put a thing in your hand and then they give you antibiotics every 4 hours but just the fact that i had to be in the hospital from when my waters broke made me feel like i was on the clock and didn't help me get a natural birth. If i was at home i could have relaxed and dealt with it better i feel. Plus when i was induced i was hooked up to every machine possible so that certainly didn't help me.

I spoke to a friend of mine about this the other day and she said it was in my best interest to have the test as her ob had told her that the reason they test at 36 weeks is if you have it then there is a very high chance that you will have it at birth as it wont go away after that time. I find that difficult to believe.

[*LittleMissSummer*]

I was actually thinking about this test and what happens if you have your baby before 36 weeks, how would they know if your testing positive to it?

[~mamaspice~]

I was actually thinking about this test and what happens if you have your baby before 36 weeks, how would they know if your testing positive to it?

They wouldn't know. It would just be a case of them keeping an eye on bubs temp and if it went up I guess GBS infection would be one of the first things they think of. As far as I'm aware, it's pretty rare as only quite a small %age of bubs born to GBS mums actually aquire the infection themselves during the birth process.

[Arimeh]

Arimeh I didn't know that some obs and midwives dont even offer it. I thought it was a routine test. That puts my mind at ease.

Definitely routine with "some" midwives and OB's - but not all of them

[~mamaspice~]

I just read these stats on another website:

It is thought that around 12 to 15 per cent of Australian pregnant women carry GBS in their vagina. About one or two per cent of babies born to these carriers will develop GBS disease. The risk of GBS infection is higher among premature babies.

Kinda puts it into perspective I guess.

Also I think that some homebirth midwives use some kind of natural douche before labour or in early labour to kill off any bacteria. YOu could look more into finding out what that's all about if it interrests you

[HotI]

At the hospital i went to, it was definately routine- and you would definately have a hard time declining the test.

[Jellyfish]

My OB (gave birth in a private hospital) never mentioned testing for this so it is definitely not routine for all practitioners.

[jaspen]

3 children and certainly not tested for the last two - can't remember whether they did for the first but don't think so. (all different doctors, hospitals and even state health systems)