Group B Strep Test

hclzmm14 · June 2015

Do we get this test every pregnancy or just the first time? I'm just wondering if it's something we could have at any time or what? My OB hasn't said anything about it yet.

CaliforniaDream87 · June 2015

According to my OB, you get one every pregnancy. It's still fairly early. I didn't get mine with DS until 38 weeks.

daniellepanda · June 2015

Yeah they test for it at every pregnancy. I have a friend who is on baby #4 (2 her own and 2 she is surrogate) and she has had different results each pregnancy. It's real fun they swab your vagina to your butt lol! Usually between 35/37 weeks.

Bailey1823A · June 2015

L&D nurse waging in. It is a bacteria that grows and is normal for many women. If you test positive in one pregnancy you may not in another as bacteria in the vagina changes. If you test postive in the beginning of a pregnancy (ie in the urine or what not) even if you are given antibiotics you will most likely be retested and most likely will still need IV antibiotics as it does not usually go away during a pregnancy. Most OBs will do the swab between 36-37 weeks since you only have a small window of accuracy. If you have a history of preterm delivery some will check it a little early. Antibiotics will protect baby and you will get them in labor. You need two doses of penicillin or ancef to be "covered". If not baby will have a ton of lab work and some hospitals will send baby to NiCU to have an IV in case they need antibiotics. Hope this helps explain.

Miz_Liz · June 2015

My understanding is if you are a carrier, you are for life (could be totally wrong), so no need to test again. If your first came back negative, I would assume they would retest each pregnancy....but again, this is me assuming.

DaddyMx · June 2015

What is that test?

Miz_Liz · June 2015

@DaddyMx they do a vaginal swab to see if you are a Strep carrier (very common). If the mother is, they give her IV antibiotics when she goes into labor so that it doesn't get passed onto the baby - it can cause serious breathing problems and such if it were passed on.

Miz_Liz · June 2015

Here is a link with more info on it: https://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancy-complications/group-b-strep-infection/

DaddyMx · June 2015

Thanks @Miz_Liz ! Sounds scary. Im going to tell my surrogate about it

Miz_Liz · June 2015

DaddyMx said:

Thanks @Miz_Liz ! Sounds scary. Im going to tell my surrogate about it

You're welcome. As long as they test for it and give her the antibiotics if she is a carrier, baby should be fine

try not to stress. I was a carrier when pregnant with DS (after reading this site I am still unsure if it goes away or if I still am). They just hooked me up to the IV once I went into labor to give me the antibiotics and he is perfectly healthy!

holli0801 · June 2015

My OB is doing it week 36.

cg0112358 · June 2015

Miz_Liz said:
My understanding is if you are a carrier, you are for life (could be totally wrong), so no need to test again. If your first came back negative, I would assume they would retest each pregnancy....but again, this is me assuming.

I'm actually not sure how it works but I was positive with my 1st and negative with my 2nd so I believe they do test each pregnancy.

Miz_Liz · June 2015

cg0112358 said:

My understanding is if you are a carrier, you are for life (could be totally wrong), so no need to test again. If your first came back negative, I would assume they would retest each pregnancy....but again, this is me assuming.
I'm actually not sure how it works but I was positive with my 1st and negative with my 2nd so I believe they do test each pregnancy.

Good to know! Thanks

. Maybe the IV antibiotics "cure" it? I will ask my OB next appt!

cg0112358 · June 2015

Miz_Liz said:

cg0112358 said:

Miz_Liz said:
My understanding is if you are a carrier, you are for life (could be totally wrong), so no need to test again. If your first came back negative, I would assume they would retest each pregnancy....but again, this is me assuming.
I'm actually not sure how it works but I was positive with my 1st and negative with my 2nd so I believe they do test each pregnancy.

Good to know! Thanks

. Maybe the IV antibiotics "cure" it? I will ask my OB next appt!

ETA: Why am I suddenly have quote box issues? My response starts below.

I have no clue but was very happy to not have to worry about antibiotics

lillyzmom · June 2015

I had group b the first time around. fortunately, my labor was 13 hours so I got 4 bags of antibiotics in my iv (seriously not a big deal) and stayed an extra day so they could make site baby was fine (she was and I loved it because she was my first and I was scared). I have to get tested again this time because they said I could be negative this time and that every pregnancy is different, including having strep b.

hgyp1006 · June 2015

Interestingly, I was found Group B strep positive at my first prenatal appointment and was given antibiotics in my first trimester. I haven't heard, from reading on this topic, of people getting tested for it early on. I think they found it in the swab they took and put me on the pills to get rid of it. I forgot to ask my OB today if I will be getting tested again in a few weeks (my guess is that most likely, yes I will be). I'm hoping it comes out negative, and I won't have to be on antibiotics again. It was a pain.

princesslockness · June 2015

Bailey1823A said:
L&D nurse waging in. It is a bacteria that grows and is normal for many women. If you test positive in one pregnancy you may not in another as bacteria in the vagina changes. If you test postive in the beginning of a pregnancy (ie in the urine or what not) even if you are given antibiotics you will most likely be retested and most likely will still need IV antibiotics as it does not usually go away during a pregnancy. Most OBs will do the swab between 36-37 weeks since you only have a small window of accuracy. If you have a history of preterm delivery some will check it a little early. Antibiotics will protect baby and you will get them in labor. You need two doses of penicillin or ancef to be "covered". If not baby will have a ton of lab work and some hospitals will send baby to NiCU to have an IV in case they need antibiotics. Hope this helps explain.

Is the ancef 'related' to penicillin or is it just something completely different that will also treat GBS?

breezymeema7 · June 2015

I have been given the treatment for GBS for every delivery despite only being tested for one pregnancy. The other 2 were preemies and so they gave the antibiotics just in case. Each time it has been a non issue. Seriously not something to stress about should you come back positive.

Bailey1823A · June 2015

Ancef is used if you have an allergy to penicillin or amoxicillin unless you have a severe reaction to either. Then thy would have to use a different antibiotic (clindamycin or vanco). I am not sure that these two drugs cover the same way as penicillin or ancef since those are the drugs of choice @Kate08Young

Seh114 · June 2015

Never mind. I just read the link above and found the answer.

This may be a dumb question but if i do test positive will I still have to have the antibiotics since I am having a repeat c section? DS was a c section but I tested negative so I'm just curious.

hgyp1006 · June 2015

@Bailey1823A That's very helpful to know! Thanks for the detailed info.

princesslockness · June 2015

Bailey1823A said:
Ancef is used if you have an allergy to penicillin or amoxicillin unless you have a severe reaction to either. Then thy would have to use a different antibiotic (clindamycin or vanco). I am not sure that these two drugs cover the same way as penicillin or ancef since those are the drugs of choice @Kate08Young

I have a sever allergic reaction to Amoxicillin. So I am very happy to know there are other options. Thank you for the information.

Bailey1823A · June 2015

@Seh114 as long as you aren't laboring you won't need any antibiotics because you will get one prior to surgery (most hospitals use ancef for a pre op antibiotic). If you are laboring and do not need an emergent c/s they may give a dose prior to going back.
@Kate08Young if your allergy is severe the dr will most likely test what strain of group beta strep (gbs) you have to figure out what other antibiotic to give you since some people with a penicillin/amoxicillin allergy have a cross reaction to ancef

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