Group B Strep

[ChetMC]

How does your health care provider deal with group B strep?

I wasn't tested with my first pregnancy, and I tested negative with my second pregnancy. I did the swab test yesterday for this pregnancy, and haven't got the results yet. However, I asked what the policy was if you test positive, and it's two bags of IV antibiotics during labour.

I'm concerned about the antibiotics opening me up for a yeast infection. I got yeast with DD #2, breastfeeding was uncomfortable until I got it sorted out, and I landed up on anti-fungal meds. I'm worried that antibiotics will make this more likely to happen again.

[Incubator]

With my first they did the test and then required ABX during labor.
I didn't find out until later that GBS disease is very rare, you can decline the test, AND you can decline the ABX.

[eastkygal]

My mw doesn't test for it at all. I had tested positive with DD, and got ABX. I now don't even feel a reason to test and would refuse abx. If you are concerned about it, there is hibiclens that you can use as a wash for the vagina every 6 hours during labor. It is as effective as abx. Also, know that you can test + at 36 weeks, but then be negative when you give birth, or the opposite. There is a great article in the Mothering archives on the topic.

[battymama]

she treats it and tests for it based on wht i want to do.

[Ironica]

The standard protocol is:

* Test for colonization around 36 weeks
* If positive, mom gets two doses of IV penicillin 4 hours apart during labor

My health care provider normally follows that, but I made it clear up front I would decline antibiotics in the absence of a more acute risk factor (preterm birth, maternal fever). So we did the culture, which came out negative anyway. If it had been positive, I would have stayed at the hospital for at least 48 hours after the birth.

If mom is allergic to penicillin, alternate antibiotics are used. However, penicillin is the only antibiotic that all known strains of GBS are vulnerable to, so alternatives are not as useful.

[amaayeh]

My midwife does test for it, but what you do from there is your choice. I have discussed it thoroughly with them (as I'm positive this time) and there are a *few* circumstances in which I would get the abx. Otherwise, we have been home treating with extra Vit C, probiotics, garlic (inserted at night vaginally), and will do a Hibiclens douche upon labor starting and every 6 hours thereafter. They are all perfectly ok with this. However, hospitals have different protocols so it will depend on where you are delivering.

[mkmama]

In the UK it is not policy/routine to test at all.
I have never been tested with either preg here.