Group Strep B

Good morning ladies! I have a questions about the blood test for Group Strep B. Do any of you know if they tested you early on for that? I know that they test around 35/36 wks, but my OB tested me when I went last week. And I came back positive. So now I'm having to take antibiotics until it's cleared up. I didn't know if anyone else had been through this or not. Please feel free to use as an open forum as well.

[who_is_this]

1. It isn't a blood test, its a vaginal/rectal culture and/or a urine culture.
2. Treating during pregnancy has no value.  You need to be treated in labor.

Hope it all goes well!

[Southernmom]

I tested positive for group b strep during my pregnancy, and was given something in my iv during labor for it.

[asia1]

I tested positive for it at 35 weeks, and was told that I will be given penicillin during labor.
B Strep has a tendency of reoccuring that is why most dr. don't treat it until labor as that is when it can pose a problem.

[jgirl34]

I would really question your Dr. about this. Group B strep does nothing to you or the baby while pregnancy. It gets passed at birth. They give you an antibiotic through IV. ALso they swab the vaginal/rectum area, this is not a test they do through blood. Are you sure there isn't something else you may have? I've had it and that's everything they have done with me! Good luck to you and I would ask for antibiotics at the time of delivery!

[Emma1]

Well this is what I was told........It can be found in your urine and in your colon, so when I went in for my blood work/urinalisys(guess I should have clearly said that I had that done as well) the urine culture came back positive for Group Strep B. She said she has seen it before this early and has had to treat women for several months. I've just never heard of them checking you this early. She told me that if it gets passed to the baby while giving birth, then the baby could get pneumonia. So I'll have to be tested every time I go in now. I did not have this with any of my other pregnancies!

[keets]

was wondering if anyone could put my mind at eze,yesterday i had my routine 16 week check up,i heard the baby's heartbeat and the doc said that it wasent beating as fast but as it gets bigger it should be faster,he didnt seem worried it just made me worried.the heart sounded fine to me,it's probably nothing....this is my third baby,its just i m/c 3 months before this one and everything worrys me....anyone that responds thank you

[cutiemama]

I too have never heard of being tested for group B strep so early on since they only treat you before labour. However, I'm in Canada and our healthcare system and prenatal routines/procedures may just be different. Here they give us a swab at about 36 weeks that we wipe along rectum/vagina and it's sent off for testing. If we're postive then we're given an IV of antibiotics during labour.

[CP in BR]

This is a crazy coincidence - I just got off the phone with my OB's nurse and she told me that I had a bladder infection. My first thought was "wouldn't i know that?" Apparently not. Then she said that I tested + for Group B Strep. I guess it's something that they are testing earlier for (i'm 8w3d). Is the strep and the bladder infection one in the same? Oh, and she's calling in a prescription to the pharmacy, so i guess they're attempting to treat me now and will do an IV during delivery. Didn't want you to feel all by yourself, i'm right there with ya' girlie!

[CP in BR]

was doing some digging based on my new group b strep status and found this when i googled it...

Would a cesarean prevent transmission to the baby?

No. There is not even a need to treat with antibiotics unless your water has broken in this case, or unless you need antibiotics for another reason. There have even been documented cases of babies born by cesarean who have developed infection through the amniotic sac, which was not ruptured until the surgery under way and birth occurred within seconds of rupture.

[Emma1]

Oh, not that I'm glad you have it, but it's good to know that some other Dr's are testing for that as well. I was thinking I had a weirdo there for a while! Glad to hear you're doing good otherwise!!!!! I'm off tomorrow, so I'll have to check back in with you guys on Monday!

Froggies/Steph - I hope you guys get some answers this weekend!I'll be thinking of you!!! (((((HUGS)))))

[MandaJo111]

I was Strep B + with my son, but I did not find out until after I had him.  He was born early via emergency c-section.  

When I got pregnant with my daughter, I questioned the doctor as to why they were testing since I knew that I was in fact Srep B +.  The doctor went on to explain to me that the presence of Strep B comes and goes.  That is why they wait until around the 35th week to test.  It is very possible fot a test to come back positive at the beginning of the pregnancy, and then negative at the end..or visa versa.  

As for why they were still testing even though it was a planned c-section, I was given this answer.  Since transmission is possible if the bag of waters ruptures, it is necessary to know ahead of time in case you need to be treated for Group B Strep.  Group B is tested with a culture that takes over a week to grow.  I have never heard of a blood test.  I do not know that it would be very reliable as it has more to do with the presence of it in the vaginal area.  And the fact remains taht you will still need to be treated at the time of labor.  i don't see the necessity of antibiotics now.    

With my daughter, I tested negative, but I would have possibly had complicaitons had I tested positive this time because my water did rupture.  

I made it all the way to the operating room just as planned on my planned c-section date, and lo and behold just before they transfered me to the operating table, my water broke.  I knew I had been having contractions, but I was not worried as I was set to have my c-section anyway.  I guess we had the date right on when we picked Feb. 3rd for her birthday.  :)

I hope that helps some.