question about GBS test

[LoveMyLil'B]

I am supposed to have the GBS test done on Thursday, but with these contractions I've been having, I'm not sure I'll make it till then. So I don't know if I have GBS or not. I didn't have it last time I was pregnant. I don't want to get antibiotics just as a precaution (I had thrush with my son, so I don't want to increase my chances of that from the get-go this time), so I'm wondering what could happen. I don't want to put the baby in any danger, if there is any real danger by having GBS and not knowing it. If I did have it, could they treat the baby afterwards with no ill effects?

[ehsclt]

I am certainly no expert, but this is what I understand. There are certain risk factors that one should pay attention to with regard to GBS. For example, if your water breaks well before labor begins, if you have a fever, if a previous child has been infected, etc (I know you could get the actual list of risk factors by doing some quick research online.) My approach was going to be to treat IF I was positive and IF I had one or more of these risk factors (my test was negative, so it's become a moot issue for me.) Without the risk factors, I personally would not take the antibiotics. Given that, if you miss the test, you could just ignore the whole issue unless you have one of the risk factors and then decide at that point whether or not to take antibiotics.

Sorry this is a bit of a ramble without a whole lot of info in it.

[LoveMyLil'B]

Thanks. I called my MW and she said the same thing. I'm low risk, didn't have it with my son, my waters are still intact, etc.
She also said they could do a quick blood draw on the baby after birth to see if there's been exposure. I feel like that's the lesser of the 2 evils. I'd rather have blood drawn than be treated for something I may or may not have.
My contractions are picking up today. I did not have early labor with my son, not that I felt anyway. This is so different.

[Persephone]

I didn't think I'd get tested, but I decided to do it, because I would know then. Whether I'm GBS+ or not makes no difference to me with regards to abx in labor. I'm just not doing that. But it will help me know if I need to be proactive if I have any of the risk factors like ehsclt was talking about, or if I notice signs of infection in my newborn. I think the odds of infection, and a bad result of infection are so low that I feel ok with doing it this way.

[MamaTaraX]

First, if you d have it, do it yourself. Second, I didn't do it this time around, we'll just watch baby for signs after birth. Best things are to not have AROM, leave water intact as long as possible. GBS is at most risk after 18 hours post-rupture, so the longer its intact, the less your chances of passing it if you have it. Limit or forgo vag exams, espcally after water has broken.

Namaste, Tara

[AAK]

I decided to skip the test. I didn't have the test with either of my previous pg because at that pt the rec was to test if there were risk factors. I still don't have any risk factors and after reading about abx etc I knew that I didn't want that regardless of the results. I have also (so far) never had my water break spontaneously.

I got a list of "natural" things to do about GBS and decided to do the easy ones just as an extra caution.

Amy

[danav]

I did not get tested my first two pregnancies because I had no risk factors and it was not a routine test my birth center did. This time I was not planning to do it but have decided to go ahead with the test for only one reason - the local hospital that I could end up going to (if we can't make it to the birth center in time if my labor is going super fast) told me that if I don't have a negative GBS result recorded they will treat me as if I am positive, which means automatic antibiotics and a 48+ hr manditory hospital stay for my baby (and I can't take him home AMA because they have informed me that if I do that they will call protective services on me). Needless to say I will do EVERYTHING possible to stay OUT of the hospital, but just in case, I am getting the test done next week (and assuming the result will most likely be negative).