Pregnant people are offered a ton of prenatal tests as they make their way through pregnancy- it’s kind of par for the course. One of the most common prenatal tests out there is the Group B Strep (or GBS) swab. Here’s the details!
What is GBS, anyway?
Group B Strep Streptococcus is a bacteria that is commonly found in the intestines of healthy people at any given time, and sometimes migrates down to the urinary tract, rectum, and vagina. 10-30% of pregnant people carry GBS, but most people don’t know if they do (also known as being “colonized” with GBS), because it doesn’t have much effect on your body unless it becomes a GBS infection. When this happens, you may experience skin or tissue infections, blood infections, or a UTI. When a newborn has a GBS infection, it may lead to meningitis, pneumonia, and sepsis.
It’s important to note that being colonized with GBS doesn’t mean that you’ll develop a GBS infection. It just means that the bacteria is present.
Why do we test for GBS?
Being colonized with GBS (also known as being “GBS positive”) is common, but infections aren’t. However, if the GBS bacteria is present as your baby is born, they have the potential to pick up the bacteria and develop their own infection. It has been estimated that the death rate for newborns due to a GBS infection is 2-3% for full term infants. For babies born before 33 weeks, the rate jumps to 20-30%. Some studies have found that babies with a GBS infection may have long-term developmental problems.
How is the test done?
Around 35 weeks of pregnancy, your provider will offer the GBS test to you. The test is completed by inserting a swab into both your vagina and rectum, and then waiting for about 48 hours to see if GBS is present. The test shouldn’t hurt. A negative result means that there is no GBS present; a positive result means GBS was found. In most cases, you can request to perform the swab yourself.
What happens if I’m GBS+?
If you’re found to have a colonization of Group B Strep, your care provider will discuss a universal approach to managing the colonization and preventing an infection for your baby, which is a standard treatment for GBS+ people. You’ll be offered an IV dose of antibiotics every four hours during your labour (ideally, you’ll have at least two doses of antibiotics before your baby is born). Typically, the dose only takes 30 minutes to run through your IV, and you can request that your IV be saline-locked to allow you freedom from the IV pole.
If you’re planning a homebirth, or a waterbirth, don’t despair! Your GBS+ result does not need to change your plans. Your midwife can administer IV antibiotics at home, and it’s safe to get in the tub or shower with an IV placed. Aside from being hooked up to the antibiotics every four hours, you may not even notice that anything’s up!
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