When do you test for gbs

The swab is then cultured to see if GBS is present. Even if you have a planned Caesarean delivery, you will still need to be screened for GBS in case your water breaks or you go into labour before the scheduled delivery. These include:. If you test positive for GBS or have any of the above conditions, you will be treated with intravenous antibiotics when you go into labour, or if your water breaks early.

Although it is rare, your baby will still be monitored closely for symptoms of an infection. An infection may show up in the first 7 days, or after that. The early-onset type of infection can be very serious, and this is why GBS-positive women are treated during labour. If your baby shows signs of GBS infection, he or she will be treated with antibiotics. That could potentially spell trouble come delivery time, because a baby who picks up GBS during childbirth is at risk of developing a serious infection though only 1 in every babies born with GBS-positive mothers is affected.

The good news is that if you're given antibiotics through an IV during labor, the risk of your baby getting early-onset GBS, which is typically contracted within 12 to 48 hours after birth or up to the first seven days, is much lower.

This test is now usually performed around 36 weeks of pregnancy testing earlier doesn't always predict who will be carrying GBS if women deliver after 40 weeks. Some hospitals and birthing centers offer a rapid GBS test that can screen women during labor and provide results within the hour, taking the place of testing a few weeks earlier.

Ask your practitioner if that's an option at the facility where you'll be delivering. If for some reason your practitioner doesn't offer the GBS test during late pregnancy, be sure to ask for it. During a pelvic exam at a prenatal appointment, your practitioner will test for group B strep by taking a swab of your vagina and your rectum. The swabs will be sent to a lab for analysis.

GBS can also show up in a urine culture obtained during a prenatal checkup. If it does, it may be treated right away with oral antibiotics and again in labor with IV-administered antibiotics. Babies can, in rare cases, get late-onset GBS — which is contracted between a week and a few months after birth — either from contact with a mother carrying GBS or from someone else carrying the bacteria.

Late-onset group B strep isn't protected with IV antibiotics given during labor and can also have very serious health consequences for the child. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy. Group B strep is normally harmless and most people will not realise they have it.

It's usually only a problem if it affects: pregnant woman — it could spread to the baby young babies — it can make them very ill elderly people or those who are already very ill — it can cause repeated or serious infections This page focuses on group B strep in pregnancy and babies.

Group B strep in pregnancy Group B strep is common in pregnant women and rarely causes any problems. Risks in pregnancy If you have group B strep while you're pregnant: your baby will usually be healthy there's a small risk it could spread to your baby during labour and make them ill — this happens in about 1 in 1, pregnancies there's an extremely small risk you could miscarry or lose your baby What to do if you're worried If you're worried about group B strep, speak to your midwife or GP for advice.

Talk to them about the risks to your baby and ask their advice about whether to get tested. Find out more about getting tested for group B strep on the Group B Strep Support website What happens if you have group B strep If tests find group B strep, or you've had a baby that's been affected by it before, you may need extra care and treatment.

You may be advised to: speak to your midwife about your birth plan — they may recommend giving birth in hospital contact your midwife as soon as you go into labour or your waters break have antibiotics into a vein during labour — this can significantly reduce the risk of your baby getting ill stay in hospital for at least 12 hours after giving birth so your baby can be monitored — this is not always necessary Group B strep in babies If you had group B strep during pregnancy, there's a small risk it could spread to your baby and make them very ill.

They'll be given antibiotics into a vein if they develop symptoms.