[Diprincess]

I just found out from my midwife that with my first pregnancy I tested positive for GBS, and that they gave me antibiotics for it during my labor and delivery. I was so surprised to find that out. Well, that made me even more nervous to test for GBS this time, but figured I had to since according to everything I've read about it, once you test positive, you will always test positive. I took my GBS test 2 weeks ago, and found out last week that my test came up negative!! I was so happy and relieved. I didn't know it was possible to test negative after you've already tested positive.

I was just wondering if anybody else had heard of this, or if I'm just lucky?

 

[maciascl]

It is just a bacteria that is in the body. I believe it is the overgrowth of the bacteria that can be harmful. (correct me if I am wrong)

I am still deabting on this test as I could test positve today, but not have it at birth, & also I could test neg today & then have it at birth. So the test seems kind of pointless to me. I've been wanting to ask what others here feel about it & have decided to do.

Oh yeah, I think I would be VERY upset to find out now that during my last birth I tested positive for GBS & was given anitbiotics w/o being told. Maybe that's just me though...

 

[HomeBirthMommy]

I'm not testing for it. My mw gives us a handout with things to look for in the newborn that might indicate GBS. I know someone whose baby had it and it was pretty bad, but IMO the testing just doesn't give much peace of mind either way, since it can change.

 

[time4another]

Yeah, that happened to me with DDs 1 & 2 too...

This time we are *not* testing for it.

Heather

 

[bohemama]

We are not testing for it this time either. We'll just watch baby for signs after the birth.

 

[mojumi]

Not testing this time, and declining all vag exams until labor is well established. We did it with #1&2 but I was increasingly ambivalent about it and finally discussed declining the test honestly with my mw at the last appt. She was totally cool about it.

If you are breastfeeding your newborn and having that constant contact with him/her (unlike say a formula-fed baby staying in a hospital nursery with a dozen other babies and being checked intermittently by different nurses) you'll have a sense pretty quickly that something is off, strep infection or otherwise, and will know to get help.