Group Beta Strep test or whatever...

[JessicaDixon]

Ok so I had this test and doc said it was positive..with my son it was negative...any way this could be a false positive?

What does this mean for the baby, should I worry?

Thanks for any help you can give me.

Jessica

[aylaanne]

Your GBS status can change from week to week, let alone from pregnancy to pregnancy. Women who test positive have a 0.5% chance of having an infant who contracts GBS disease, which can be fatal. Standard treatment is to administer IV penicillin to all mothers who are GBS+ while they're in labor, and this has been shown to reduce infant transmission, but not infant deaths. Mothering has a great article here:
http://www.mothering.com/articles/pr...n/group-b.html

and I have a word document that I'd be glad to email you that has more numbers in it. PM me if you want it.

Treating with antibiotics in labor carries its own set of risks, so I would do your research and talk seriously with your doctor about those risks before making a decision about whether or not you choose to go that route.

You can also try to un-colonise yourself through a regimen of probiotics and the like, there are several threads here that can help you, and then request a re-test. Good luck.

[JessicaDixon]

Thank you for the reply, I will search around on here and see what I can find and talk to Doc about retesting...He did say that it is only a 1 in 1000 chance or so that is would be passed onto the baby...I will also have to seriously talk to my DH and come to a conclusion on what should be done.

Thank you again
Jessica

[Vicitoria]

I was positive with ds #1 and tested negative this time. I had two rounds of anti-biotics with my first labor. It was a little scary to me because I was delivering in a birth center and going home within 6 hours. I did see a pediatrician within 24 hours as it was mandatory to be able to deliver at the birth center and the ped was great taking every precaution. It is kind of like a crap shoot though.

When my nephew was born 18 years ago or even my niece 12 years ago for that matter, they didn't even have the test. So, it's newer. There are things you will want to look out for in your newborn but that's with every newborn. I do know that where I was going to deliver in SW Oklahoma in the boonies where many moms traveled an hour or more to deliver they instated a mandatory 48 hour stay for the baby and by doing that they dramatically reduced the infant mortality rate in the state. Babies were dying from infection and by the time the parents realized they couldn't get the care they needed in time.

All that being said, I don't think it's something to uberworry about. The midwife was very sensitive to my concerns with my last delivery but she really assured me all would be well and it was.

Sorry, I don't have the numbers to back it all up but I certainly trust the OB I was using in OK.

[JessicaDixon]

Thank you Vicitoria. Yes I have had all my parents and in laws asking what that test even is because they never heard of it.

My doc is supposed to be one of the best in the area, and he definately seems to know what he is doing...just a little forgetful as far as bedside manner goes IMO....LOL...

My SIL had 4 babies with him and her sister had 3 babies with him, and they all had all happy & healthy kids etc...so I am not too worried, just a little, since it is my baby, you know.