Tested for STREP B is this common??????

[tannedangel]

I had +ve strep b, didnt get induced, was told to go to hospital immediately if my waters broke for antibiotics. I didnt need to do that as my waters were broken in hospital while I was in labour.

I believe strep B is fairly common these days, I read somewhere that the bacteria is in everybody but is present in "some" while pregnant

It is VERY common, and it comes and goes, so you can test + at 36w but - at 37w. It comes and goes in every woman, pregnant or not.

[Trillian]

Yep, it is very common but the test results don't mean a thing because all it is, is a snapshot of THAT day - so you could have the test, get either result, but in a day or two you could be retested and get the opposite result. The only danger from it is if you are actually sick from it at the time and they will watch baby to see if they develop any signs of infection, but the chances of it are rare when you have an ab cover. Some women are told that a +ve result means they have to give birth via c/s too which isnt true.

[Indadhanu]

I can't see why they'd need to induce...? My midwife didn't even test for it, said it was a waste of time as the results mean virtually nothing, unless (like Trillian said) you are sick from it. I can see why they'd want to kick start labour if your waters were already broken, but I don't see the reason to induce for the sole reason that you tested positive for strep b.

[Pandora]

I can't see why they'd need to induce...? My midwife didn't even test for it, said it was a waste of time as the results mean virtually nothing, unless (like Trillian said) you are sick from it. I can see why they'd want to kick start labour if your waters were already broken, but I don't see the reason to induce for the sole reason that you tested positive for strep b.

A lot of OBs dont routinely test for it either and take the approach where you look for warning signs when you are in labour. I'm going to be talking it over with my midwife next week to see which we will go for.

TBH I'm more worried about a -ve results at the test but actaully having it on the day.

[DANNIIM]

I was tested the other week at my 36wk checkup and i was told this week i was neg- so i won't need antibiotics in labour, the whole time i discussed it with the Middie and DR it was never suggested that an induction would take place if it were pos+. I don't personally think that is a valid enough reason to induce a person!

[SweetPea]

I tested positive with both pregnancies and it was never used as a reason for induction, my obs it was nothing to worry about and just said it meant that I would need to be given antibiotics during labour through an iv. I would definitely be asking more questions!