GBS Swab Question

[chely7425]

Ok, so this has been bugging me and I will probably try and remember to ask at my next appointment. I had my GBS swab test thing at my last appointment, and she had me swab myself and I have NO idea if I did it right!!!! It wasn't uncomfortable like I hear people saying... and now I am worried if I am truly negative or not!! What should it have felt like? What exactly was I supposed to do with that swab?

[cubasianchica]

Originally Posted by chely7425

Ok, so this has been bugging me and I will probably try and remember to ask at my next appointment. I had my GBS swab test thing at my last appointment, and she had me swab myself and I have NO idea if I did it right!!!! It wasn't uncomfortable like I hear people saying... and now I am worried if I am truly negative or not!! What should it have felt like? What exactly was I supposed to do with that swab?

wow that is odd, I thought it was weird when you asked if YOU did it right... I didnt know they would ask a patient to do it themselves... My dr did it for me as I thought they were supposed to... after all, they r the dr right?

[chely7425]

You would think... I just don't to have done it wrong and get a false negative or something... I will try and remember to ask on Tuesday!

[nursemom2]

many people do the swab themselves. mine never felt uncomfortable - even when the midwife did it. i barely felt a thing. congrats on being neg!!

[chely7425]

Thanks! This might be a total TMI... but I took the swab and like just gently wiped it from the front to the back... is that what I was supposed to do?

[~ATenthMuse~]

Originally Posted by chely7425

Thanks! This might be a total TMI... but I took the swab and like just gently wiped it from the front to the back... is that what I was supposed to do?

That's exactly what I did, but I was also instructed to insert it vaginally... Mine was negative, btw.

I wouldn't worry.

[cubasianchica]

Originally Posted by ~ATenthMuse~

That's exactly what I did, but I was also instructed to insert it vaginally... Mine was negative, btw.

I wouldn't worry.

I find this very interesting... my dr inserted it vaginally and to me it felt like it went all the way to china. it was very painful. I even let out a yelp...and I thought for sure there was gonna be some blood or something (there wasnt) I dunno if that was how it was supposed to be but even after when I peed it hurt. very unpleasant. then she did it rectally which I didnt even feel.

[chely7425]

Ok, I will try and stop worrying about this!!! It just seems very weird that they trust me to do this...

[~ATenthMuse~]

Originally Posted by cubasianchica

I find this very interesting... my dr inserted it vaginally and to me it felt like it went all the way to china. it was very painful. I even let out a yelp...and I thought for sure there was gonna be some blood or something (there wasnt) I dunno if that was how it was supposed to be but even after when I peed it hurt. very unpleasant. then she did it rectally which I didnt even feel.

Well... From several posts on this that I've read lately, it seems like a lot of midwives let their patients do the swab themselves. Mine told me how far to insert it, to run it across my bottom after that and that was it. I'm completely confident that she wouldn't give me inadequate instructions. IMO, I'm sure it would have been a bit more invasive if I'd have seen an OB like I did with dd.

I'm sorry you had such an unpleasant experience.

Rachel... Good! Relax, we're almost there!!!

[onlyAngil]

Originally Posted by ~ATenthMuse~

Well... From several posts on this that I've read lately, it seems like a lot of midwives let their patients do the swab themselves. Mine told me how far to insert it, to run it across my bottom after that and that was it. I'm completely confident that she wouldn't give me inadequate instructions. IMO, I'm sure it would have been a bit more invasive if I'd have seen an OB like I did with dd.

I'm sorry you had such an unpleasant experience.

Rachel... Good! Relax, we're almost there!!!

:

[splath]

Originally Posted by cubasianchica

I find this very interesting... my dr inserted it vaginally and to me it felt like it went all the way to china. it was very painful. I even let out a yelp...and I thought for sure there was gonna be some blood or something (there wasnt) I dunno if that was how it was supposed to be but even after when I peed it hurt. very unpleasant. then she did it rectally which I didnt even feel.

Are you sure that wasn't for an STD check? Mine did an STD check at the same visit and definitely went a bit "farther" for that... My GBS test wasn't invasive at all.

[ChristyH]

I had my swab this past Wednesday and was shocked that it wasn't as bad as I feared. I thought for sure my OB would be more invasive but he *barely* swabbed me and didn't even go towards the rectum, in fact I didn't even realize he did anything until he said he was done. Very quick and easy and took him literally about 2 seconds. Crossing my fingers for a negative!

[healthykidsinNY]

I had mine done yesterday, and barely felt a thing. Baby #4 and I've never had one that was painful.

[cubasianchica]

Originally Posted by splath

Are you sure that wasn't for an STD check? Mine did an STD check at the same visit and definitely went a bit "farther" for that... My GBS test wasn't invasive at all.

positive... it was just GBS...

[amaniesa]

my mw also allowed me to give myself the swab. she said that research shows that patients do as good a job as mw/obs. i just ran the swab from front to back. i still came back gbs pos, though

[GISDiva]

My back-up care doctor did mine because my midwife's lab decided to drop her from their route, otherwise I would have done it myself. But even still, when my doctor did it, it only went in, oh, about half an inch maybe and she barely brushed the area down towards the rectum. Not uncomfortable at all. And negative (yay!).