I had it done once at 37wks with my first three pg and this time I've had it done 3 times LOL. It showed up in my urine sample in the 9wk bloods/urine tests and I was diagnosed as a carrier. When I changed Dr's halfway through he ordered all the 9wk tests again so he had something to start with and it showed up neg, and last week I had the swab done again. For me it doesn't matter either way as I have to have ab's for my heart murmur, but GroupB strep is a bacteria that can live in the vaginal area at any time so the results you get one week may be different from results you'd get if you took the test another time.

it can have some serious repercussions for the baby and yes, sadly babies have died from it. But it is only an optional test and it is up to you to have it. In the case of a home birth I suppose if you did test +ve for it you could get a script for some abs to take at home.