Group B Strep

[irrelevance]

Okay.. I know I shouldn't dwell over every little thing and worry myself, but it almost seems as a pregnant woman that's my job! Hahah. Anyways, I was reading a story a couple days ago that I accidentally happened upon.. A still-born baby girl, who had contracted GBS... And I read somewhere on here just earlier that someone found out they had it, and now it's on Discovery Health, a woman found out that she has it and is recieving antibiotics during delivery.. My question is, how common is it to actually get GBS? And also, I was not tested for this.. It was slightly concerning to me considering my delivery date is fast approaching, and I read that somewhere usually around weeks 35+ the doctors test for GBS and I was never tested for it??

[crabscanfly]

If your positive for it they give you something to help the baby to try/make sure they dont get anything harmful from it,, all the test is, is a swab of the rectum and vagina, it takes 30 seconds to do, i no the doctors here do it at 36 weeks. its not bad, and is nothing like a pap test either..

[Jackie117]

I had it I think with all of my children and they just gave me antibotics when they induced me and all my kids are fine. You should mention it to your Dr tomorrow during you app and see whe s/he says....

[irrelevance]

They can test in your urine?.. well, I give a urine sample every week.. Hmm

[hopes777]

My OB said that I had GBS supposely when I had my first urine test-they said that was the type of bacteria I had and that I would need antiabiotic when I give birth and also I took a weeks worth of antibiotic after I found out..  I thought that the testing doesn't get done until your in later weeks and I didn't hear it wrong because my dh was also there with me.  

[CYW]

i had GBS.. was given antibiotics was induced my DS was fine try not to worry too too much

[connorethansmom]

Some hospitals treat everyone for this too.  From what I remember the test is only good for a certain number of weeks, so if you get tested too early, then you may need to get tested again (if the baby is late).  As I understand it, you can be negative one time and positive another time.  I was negative with my son, but they will test me again at 36 weeks.

[irrelevance]

Okay I will do that, thanks... The stillborn's mother had actually said she thinks it is because they had stripped her membranes a few days before she went into labor, and she had no idea she had GBS and was never tested for it before, either.

[kjbutcher]

GBS is very common.  It is like a PAP test.  You should be tested for it, but I think they can do it at the hospital and if you go to the hospital in labor and tell them that you were not tested they will give you the antibiotics there just in case.  Most likely the still born was not treated properly.  The mother probably told the hospital she was negative.  To be honest, if you have GBS and you go to the hospital in labor, you will not get sent home if you are not dilated enough because they need to start you on the meds.  That is one positive of having it.  I have known a ton of people who had it and never once heard a horror story.  It is really nothing to worry about.  As I said before, if you go into labor, make sure you tell them at the hospital that you were never tested for it and you will get the meds to make sure everything is ok.  Good Luck.

[irrelevance]

No I read that they do a swab or whatever of either the vagina or rectum (?) I think. I can't remember right now, and I'm pretty positive he didn't do it. And I haven't had any blood work done in months. He never mentioned it once..
I won't stress about it though, there's no point in that.. but I am worried. It's one of the many complications that could arise.. Just like so many other things, it's a scary thought.
:(
all I want is for my baby to be healthy and have no problems. And to think that the doctor didn't take all of the neccessary precautions and possibly, preventative measures possible..

[casandbaby]

I wouldn't stress about it, maybe they did the test and you weren't aware of it. 1 or 2 of 200 chance your baby will get it

[irrelevance]

:( Great another thing to worry about. Arghh. Not much I can do at this point, I didn't really know about it any sooner.. Or enough to think it's a real concern..

[irrelevance]

This concerns me because I am now 39 weeks (on sunday, anyway) and they were talking about possibly inducing me on Tuesday if I don't go on my own, and he gave no indication that they were going to test me for it at all before-hand!

[casandbaby]

here's what i found An estimated 12,000 infants in the United States will become infected with GBS each year. This bacteria will result in the death of an estimated 2,000 infants yearly, while leaving many others mentally and/or physically handicapped. Not trying to scare you! i was tested for it about 35 weeks, it's something your doctor should of had you get tested on.

[MIMI1980]

Hey there, I too have the same worry now. I spent yesterday afternoon reading about it and the causes etc. Im thinking of asking my midwife to do a check for it just to be on the safe side as so far i have not been tested for it either.