Most babies exposed to strep B will be unaffected, but in around one in every 2,000 cases, they can become infected. A strep B infection during pregnancy can also cause miscarriage or stillbirth, but this is rare according to the NHS Trust.
We first found out that my partner was a carrier accidentally a couple of years ago, she was feeling under the weather and was asked to take a couple of tests. Everything was fine, she had an infection and the test results she got back mentioned that she had Strep B. Concerned, we discussed the infection and discovered that during labour my partner would have to in-fact be in the hospital and have an antibiotic drip and not at home like she had planned.
This was a shock and whilst we weren't overly concerned or upset by the change of plan, we were definitely relieved that we had found-out about the bacteria before the birth. I am one of those people and parents who would rather be proactive than reactive to a situation. Even if it was a small percent chance that we could run in to difficulties, i would rather cover my back just to make sure and know everything is ok than leave it to chance.
The second time around pregnancy was straight forward for my partner. During all our visits we were never asked if we would like to have a test on the NHS. This shocked us, we knew she had it before so why didn't they ask us again? We were all amazed to learn that if you had the infection once you weren't guaranteed to have it again and they never offer the test to those who have had it previous without good reason. My partner requested a free test but she was turned down!
Knowing this only 2 weeks before our due date we decided to book a private appointment - http://www.groupbstreptest.co.uk/. Luckily for us we received the result back on the after noon before Charlie was born. We were shocked to learn that she was a carrier again! We were also a little bit annoyed by the fact that if we never had booked the private test we would have never-known, and whilst the delivery of the baby was good what would have happened if it was different?
How many parents are unaware of the Step B and i can't imagine how angry i would have been if something awful would have happened to my son, all because they don't want to provide the test to mothers as they say that it can be present at the start but not at the end and vice versa, but if they tested at 37 weeks it would put many pregnant woman's minds at rest knowing that they made the effort to test.
On reflection i wish the NHS provided more guidance on the Strep B and that if you didn't have Strep B we had the option of a home-birth or birthing pool.
Whilst we were lucky i know a few parents won't be! Did you get tested?
Images source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/lsuchick142/2884633640/i
Many European countries and US and Canada routinely test for GBS. I had it too and had to get it tested privately in uk. It is a tricky one - do you go with guidelines or make up your own mind regarding the risk... For me the risk wasn't worth it.
ReplyDeleteMy friend lives in Germany where they do GBS as routine told me about it when I was pregnant and I asked midwife about it. She did the test for me but I wasn't happy with it so called private clinic and asked them. I was told that the test my midwife performed is not a proper one. It can show bacteria but not necessarily. So I ordered a kit and did the test at the time it was supposed to be done. Luckily I wasn't a carrier.
ReplyDeleteMy concern with NHS is why even when I asked about it I was given wrong information. I would pay for the test anyway if I had had to but why doing just some test and at wrong time and say everything's fine???
Also if a woman was tested positive with first pregnancy she is in risk group automatically with next pregnancies, no?
I wish NHS educate their stuff a bit more about it even if they're not willing to pay for test. But don't give wrong information at least.
I didn't know about Strep B until after my son was born. I think it's awful they don't test for it along with your other blood tests. Something that could saves lives, no matter how few, should be mandatory imo x
ReplyDeleteThere are many reasons for not routinely testing, not least because anything routine tends to reduce choices. There is a significant cost issue, of course, but screening antenatally at any point of pregnancy wouldn't give a definitive answer for labour and delivery. Strep b can live in many women for years pretty harmlessly without causing any problems or symptoms, and being a carrier means exactly that - it will always be carried, and repeated testing is not required, private or nhs. I myself am a carrier, diagnosed between pregnancies, and although forwarned/forearmed was good, it didn'r change much else. I think there is a lot of information online that scares people, and of course a private clinic will slate the nhs tests, but the research paints a very different picture. That said, you should have had clearer communication from your care team by the sounds of it
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