Group B Streptococcus

What is GBS?

Group B Streptococcus, or GBS, is a form of bacteria that can be found in the intestines, vagina and/or rectum. Approximately 20-40% of all healthy women have the bacteria, but do not know.

Approximately 1 out of every 2000 babies will become infected with Group B Strep during the birthing process, although not all will exhibit symptoms of the infection. While the infection may not cause any symptoms for the mother, severe outcomes are possible when the infection is transmitted to the baby. If the mother does show symptoms, they are most commonly bladder infections and uterine infections. Common symptoms of the infection in a newborn include respiratory problems, blood pressure instability, kidney complications, sepsis, pneumonia and meningitis. GBS can also lead to stillbirth.

Because Group B Strep can be passed to the baby during delivery, all women will be routinely tested for the infection during pregnancy. Generally, healthcare providers will screen their pregnant patients for the infection between week 35 and 37. Women that are at experiencing symptoms of preterm labor should be given antibiotics to prevent the infection from being passed to their baby in the event that the infection is present. For the test, a swab is taken of the vagina and rectum. The test should not hurt and is quick. The swab is examined in a lab and results should be available within 48 hours.

If your GBS test comes back positive for the infection, IV antibiotics will be given throughout your birthing process to prevent the baby from acquiring the infection. Because the infection is capable of quickly regrowing, antibiotics can not be taken before labor begins to prevent the baby from acquiring the infection. The most common drug for the treatment of GBS is penicillin, but other medications are available if penicillin is not an option.

Comments: Group B Streptococcus

Comments 1 to 20 of about 20.
1

WhatCouldBe2 - 613 days ago.
*36 weeks, 48 hours

WhatCouldBe2 - 613 days ago.
I tested negative at #^ weeks for GBS, but my son was born infected with it. By miracle it was caught withing $* hours and they began treatment. He is, thank God, a healthy 2 year old today. The bacteria can materialize in hours... mere hours... demand retesting before birth to avoid the possible loss of your child... I knowmany others' who's story did not end as well as mine. Just a cheap, simple swab test. there's just nno reason not to.

mammak - 769 days ago.
I had with my last pregnancy, but never my first two pregnancies. I am 33 weeks and haven't been tested for it although my OB said test at 36 weeks. I am worried and want to be tested now.

kerriann - 816 days ago.
All you ladies in the uk please be aware that you can get tested for group b strep if you pay £32 or around that price at a private clinic, that's if your midwife won't test you on the nhs. I was not aware of this and was not aware that I had group b strep and I passed it onto my son at birth, he was very poorly and this turned into meningitis! Bearing in mind it was picked up at 12 hours old I can't imagine the damage this would've done if I'd have noticed any later!! I will not know till my son grows up what damage this had done if any. We need to make this a standard test and get every pregnant lady to have it done to prevent this happening. It was the worst experience of my life and I just hope and pray that there is no lasting damage.

camrynsmommy - 845 days ago.
That's good to hear you only need one dose 30 min before baby is born! I had it with my daughter and she came out 2 hours after we got to the hospital (3.5 hour labor total), so she only got one dose. They just kept us an extra day at the hospital to monitor her. I'm due in three weeks with my second and they want to induce to make sure I get to the hospital in time, but if I only need to be there for 30 minutes I should make it! Just hope the baby doesn't come in the car!

SunnyMom - 1052 days ago.
i tested positive with my first pregnancy and now with my 2nd pregnancy ..mine has apparently colonized so i will always have it but that is not always the case..you may have it for one pregnancy and not another. i got the iv with antibiotics and my baby was just fine..the iv just stopped me from as much walking as i would have liked to do during my first hrs of contractions..i had to pace in little circles around the bed. but my water had broken too so i couldnt exactly pace the haallways. i just asked the question of my ob..what if i labor really quickly and there isnt time for 2 doses..she said as long as i get one dose a half hour before the first baby is born i will be ok...they only give subsequent doses if your labor goes longer. i am 35wks with twins and the boy looks set to pop outt! try not to worry too much mommies...just let l&d know as soon as you get there that you are strep b positive. best of luck to you all! hugs sunny

sherri79 - 1081 days ago.
Thanks Megs, I have a list of ever growing questions for my first appt. on june 23, I am going to keep my fingers crossed though that it is complete noon the tests results

sherri79 - 1082 days ago.
i was just wondering about this, I had this when I was pregnant the first time they gave me an IV and everything was fine. Now that I am pregnant again the fear is that i may still have it, and not know. I guess this will have to be a question for my obgyn

tannersmommy - 1135 days ago.
So I am about 11 or 12 weeks and my doctor called me to tell me today to tell me they found strep B in my urine, which is apparently not a good thing. They put me on ammox. Has anyone else had this turn up in their urine and what happened with it. I also had it during my previous two pregnancies, but not in my urine, they just gave me antiboitics when I was induced and it took care of everything. Thanks!

melliewald - 1166 days ago.
I just tested positive at the end of week 37 and I am now at the end of week 38. I was pretty upset mostly because I had been planning on a water birth since this will be my 3rd and last delivery and I've had both of my sons w/o pain medication. My mid-wife said I can still do waterbirth, but I don't think I'll have time -- the IV needs to be in for four hours and neither of my previous labors have lasted very long since I tend to arrive at the hospital at about 6cm (3 hours hospital labor w/1st, 2 hours hospital labor w/2nd). There's a lot of research also showing that giving IV antibiotics to so many women in the U.S. has caused some controversy and difference of opinion.

lora030185 - 1183 days ago.
they dont test us in the UK :(

*Precious.Moments* - 1216 days ago.
Im surprised they tested you at 12 weeks.. They didnt test me until 35 weeks when I was preggers.. Why did it cause your birth plan to change?.. As far as I know its a simple antibiotic that is given to allow you to proceed with a natural birth..

jaychay - 1216 days ago.
i had ~GBS with my son and i got told at 12 weeks i haver it again. bang goes my birth plan

HollyV - 1281 days ago.
im 36 weeks i was just diagnosed with group B today.......my dr said its not a big deal but he will probably induce me to make sure there is time for the antibiotics as my mom had very short deliveries.....................good thing about that is i will be sure to have him and not some stranger dr that i dont know!

sherrybabydean - 1326 days ago.
The amniotic fluid will usually protect the baby.It is when the water breaks that the baby is left more vulnerable.Occasionally the group B strep will actually cause the water to break prematurely,like in my case.My water broke at 6 months with one of my sons and I delivered him almost a month later.My daughter's water broke at 25 weeks and she was delivered at 28 weeks.They said that the GBS might of been why.A lot of antibiotics and bedrest made everything turn out o.k I was positive on all the pregnancies that they tested me for.One month you may be negative and the next you may be positive.I tested negative a few times but subsequent tests were positive.All 6 were born preemies and they are all fine.

kayandrysmom - 1327 days ago.
I tested positive with my first daughter and negative with my second :)

Brita4now - 1328 days ago.
I tested positive for this bacteria with my second and everything went well. My question is if you test positive once, will you test positive in subsequent pregnancies (I was not tested with my first!)

KylaRaquel - 1342 days ago.
I was just diagnosed with group B strep today. I would think that if you went through a quick labor, and they didn't have the chance to get the antibiotics into your system yet they knew you are a carrier of the bacteria, they would obviously check over the baby and do what needs to be done to make sure the baby doesn't have it, I think?

HappyForest - 1654 days ago.
i was also worried about labor coming too fast. i asked my doctor about it and he said that if i had a really fast labor then it wouldnt matter as much if i got the antibiotics in because the baby wouldnt be exposed for very long, and wouldnt be likely to get it! the time they worry the most is in long labors, because the bacteria has a lot more time to get to the baby.

amiyahsmommy - 1654 days ago.
I also have Group-B Strep My doctor says its nothing to worry about....that when im admitted to the hospital they will treat me with antibiotics But...you always wonder in the back of your mind....WHAT IF? What if the labor comes fast & I dialate fast & theres no time for antibiotics...guess im just a concerned mother...my baby is due in 2 weeks I wish you all the best of luck!!!