The butt swab (GBS test)

Don't Hassle the Hoff

For those of you who already had it, how long was your turn around to get results? I was in a rush today and completely forgot to ask. I got my results from my glucose the following morning. Is this about the same turn around time?

Britt1406

LOL, lovely title. Mine is this week, I figure at my appt next week is when I will find out. I don't really think it is urgent since if you are positive all they do is give you a shot when you have the baby and nothing before that. At least that is what the paper my nurse gave me said they do.

NerdHerder29

Britt1406:

LOL, lovely title. Mine is this week, I figure at my appt next week is when I will find out. I don't really think it is urgent since if you are positive all they do is give you a shot when you have the baby and nothing before that. At least that is what the paper my nurse gave me said they do.

I was GBS positive when I had DD, and I had to be on IV antibiotics every 4 hours during labor with her. I don't think it's as simple as a shot, unfortunately.

To OP, I think I can find out within a couple of days.  

blp0118

UM???! No one ever told me anything about a butt-swab-type-test... Now I have seen it in 2 posts.

What in the heck is the GBS test!? And are they sticking something UP my butt?!

Don't Hassle the Hoff

Britt1406:

LOL, lovely title. Mine is this week, I figure at my appt next week is when I will find out. I don't really think it is urgent since if you are positive all they do is give you a shot when you have the baby and nothing before that. At least that is what the paper my nurse gave me said they do.

I think you're confusing this with the Rhogam shot. If you're positive for the Group B Strep test you have to get (ideally) 2 rounds of antibiotics before the baby is born via IV. If you're positive they encourage you to get to the hospital quicker than you would if you were negative when you go into labor.

danienross

It's definitely more than just a shot. It's supposed to be at least two doses of IV antibiotics while in labor.

I don't remember how fast I got the results with DD though and I'm declining the test this time. Oh and here are things you can do to change your status between testing and delivery if you test positive.

Don't Hassle the Hoff

blp0118:

UM???! No one ever told me anything about a butt-swab-type-test... Now I have seen it in 2 posts.

What in the heck is the GBS test!? And are they sticking something UP my butt?!

It's to test if you're a carrier for a certain type of bacteria. If you're positive you can contract said bacteria to the baby during childbirth. Other than birth, being positive doesn't mean jackshit and it won't cause any harm to you.

They say it's a vaginal and rectal swab. He put it first in my vag and then swabbed it around my butthole...just enough to make the experience memorable. It's really no big deal at all.

blp0118

Don't Hassle the Hoff:

blp0118:

UM???! No one ever told me anything about a butt-swab-type-test... Now I have seen it in 2 posts.

What in the heck is the GBS test!? And are they sticking something UP my butt?!

It's to test if you're a carrier for a certain type of bacteria. If you're positive you can contract said bacteria to the baby during childbirth. Other than birth, being positive doesn't mean jackshit and it won't cause any harm to you.

They say it's a vaginal and rectal swab. He put it first in my vag and then swabbed it around my butthole...just enough to make the experience memorable. It's really no big deal at all.

Okay, whew, thank you..

aprilchristine90

blp0118:

UM???! No one ever told me anything about a butt-swab-type-test... Now I have seen it in 2 posts.

What in the heck is the GBS test!? And are they sticking something UP my butt?!

 

Haha. My exact reaction last night when I read on another board about butt swabbing. "Glad I was made aware of this before Thursday" was my reaction. Not the worst thing in the world, we are already giving birth in a few weeks( not that giving birth is the worst, just obviously messy)..but still, what a surprise that could have been...From what I understand its just an exterior swab. Really I have no idea...but I hope lol

Britt1406

Don't Hassle the Hoff:

Britt1406:

LOL, lovely title. Mine is this week, I figure at my appt next week is when I will find out. I don't really think it is urgent since if you are positive all they do is give you a shot when you have the baby and nothing before that. At least that is what the paper my nurse gave me said they do.

I think you're confusing this with the Rhogam shot. If you're positive for the Group B Strep test you have to get (ideally) 2 rounds of antibiotics before the baby is born via IV. If you're positive they encourage you to get to the hospital quicker than you would if you were negative when you go into labor.

Ohh, maybe I was combining the two. Whoops. But, I do think I will find out at my next appt the following week.

doggylovr

i had it with DS and they just told me at my next appt because it was nothing to take immediate action over.  i had a few rounds of antibiotics in my IV during labor but thats it

mdsharr

I had mine done last week and they never called, when I asked about it today she said they usually just tell you at your next appointment because they see you so frequently. I am not sure if this is normal for most practices or not. I have always been neg., so it didn't matter one way or the other.

ChrisG83

For those who have had the antibiotics before do you know if you are able to request a Diflucan after the baby is born? Antibiotics always give me a yeast infection :-(

mrsmklynch

Huh. This is my third pregnancy and I've never had my butt swabbed.

Don't Hassle the Hoff

ChrisG83:

For those who have had the antibiotics before do you know if you are able to request a Diflucan after the baby is born? Antibiotics always give me a yeast infection :-(

That's my first question any time a doc recommeds antibiotics to me. It's never been a problem (then again, I've never been pregnant before).

RoxanneA

Mine have always been vaginal swabs, lol

danienross

mrsmklynch:

Huh. This is my third pregnancy and I've never had my butt swabbed.

Some offices just do vaginal swabs. Some do both.

Don't Hassle the Hoff

RoxanneA:

Mine have always been vaginal swabs, lol

I think they're mostly vaginal, and then get close to right around your butthole. If I didn't know what they were doing today, I would have probably assumed he only did my vagina area, but I was waiting for the butt part of it.

povo

Don't Hassle the Hoff:

RoxanneA:

Mine have always been vaginal swabs, lol

I think they're mostly vaginal, and then get close to right around your butthole. If I didn't know what they were doing today, I would have probably assumed he only did my vagina area, but I was waiting for the butt part of it.

When I had DD it was a vag swab and I remember having to wipe with alcoholic wipes (3 different) times and then pee in a cup. I think the test has changed and the OB does them.  My OB said at 36 wks when she does the GBS test she will do an internal too.  We will see next week!

Starfish17

I got mine done last week and I figure they will give me the results at this week's appointment.  I wasn't really worried about it so I didn't think to ask either, but from what I remember the last time, it's pretty quick.

mo1012

I got mine at my next appointment a week later.

Cynthia1207

I'm getting my butt swabbed tomorrow (plus my first internal! yikes!)  When the doc told me about this (I had never heard of it) he explained that basically it's an infection that can be carried to the infant and cause complications.  If you're positive they stick an IV during labor and give penicillin (given you're not allergic to it).  It's really no big deal.