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3rd Trimester
Mrs.Keith2B
member
I had to do my own GBS swab
Mrs.Keith2B
member
I've known all along I'd have to do my own GBS swab...what I didn't realize is how hard it would be to reach. My vadge was fairly easy, but the backdoor...not so much. I'm surprised the nurse didn't say anything about my grunting and groaning in the bathroom as I tried to twist and turn to be able to reach it.
I'd much rather have someone else swab my ass for me.
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Re: I had to do my own GBS swab
I had one in the hospital at 30 weeks with DD and the nurse did is super fast. I didn't even know what she was doing. Later in that pregnancy my OB suprised me with it again.
I can't imagine having to do my own.
A big wad of toilet paper is much easier to navigate than a tiny Q-tip that has a specific destination lol
True, never thought about it that way.
Yeah, I guess I'm "lucky". I had a UTI earlier and just as routine they went ahead and tested for it. Im positive so no need for another test
GBS = Group B Strep. A fairly common infection that 1 in 4 pregnant woman has. There are no symptoms and really no adverse side-effects to the host. However, if can be fatal if your child is exposed to it during birth. Luckily, it's very treatable -- you're given a dose of IV antibodics during labor and your baby is protected.
It's usually done around 36 weeks and is a swab of your vagina and butt. Quick and easy.
GBS= Group B Strep test. Personally I think it stands for Gross Butt Swab. If you test positive they give you antibiotics before LO is born.
This!! weird....I figure the dr does my cervix checks, the nurse dips the stick in my pee, what in the world would I know about doing a GBS test?? lol!
I have no idea -- there are instructions on the wall in the bathroom where I PICA every appointment, so it didn't come as a surprise to me. My doctor only does internal exams starting at 38 weeks and I haven't been examined since my 2nd appt. My guess is they just figure it's easier this way.
That is really strange, and unreliable. I would not trust all women to swab properly, and that's something that can be serious if it's not detected!
That being said...the swab is absolutely violating, and it totally hurt me with dd, thanks to some cute little 'roids. Not looking forward to my violation in 2 weeks.
Some of the MWs at my practice have you do your own, lucky at my appt I had a MW who prefers to do them. I was fine with that, I was not confident in my ability to hit the right spots.
BTW - nothing goes in your anus. The qtip is inserted into your vagina, but not way up like a pap and then the perineum is swabbed.
It doesn't go in through the out door, just around and near it.
I know I couldn't do mine... but mine was really uncomfortable... it hurt
How the hell am I going to get this baby out of me, if I can't handle internals & a swab??
Oh you'd be surprised what you can handle when it comes to birthing your baby. When I was having my second I just wanted him out. Yeah it hurt, but more then anything it just felt like I was really constipated and couldn't get it out and had to push really hard. I know, not the prettiest image, but it is what it is.
From the CDC...https://www.cdc.gov/groupbstrep/docs/GBS_SWAB_SHEET21.pdf
If your practitioner is not putting the swab INTO the anus, he/she is doing it wrong. Sorry, I wish it weren't true.
My doctor informed me a few weeks ago. Yikes! My BFF tells me everything about pregnancy that no one told her before (i.e., pooping on the table, leaking, the sexy panties you get after, possibility of being cut), but she missed this because she was put in early for preeclampsia (sp?).
This is what I thought, but I asked at my last apt and they said the needed to do it just in case my water breaks before hand.