Group B Strep testing.

My midwife is testing me at 36/37 week appointment maybe just speak to your midwife and check as long as it’s done before you give birth so there aware you should be okay xx

With my first, I was tested positive at 26 weeks out of nowhere when they test me for another vagina infection they found this. I was never treated because I was told it's pointless, they can come back again so I was offered antibiotics during my labour to protect the baby. With this one, I was told since I had a positive in the past, I can choose to have another test at 37 weeks to see if it's still there or just opt for antibiotics during labour. The consultant said I can be tested negative at 37 weeks and may be positive again during labour so they usually just assume for those who have tested positive to have Strep B positive on labour day just in case but it's my choice whether or not I want the antibiotics this time round

Following I haven’t been offered this and I’m the same as you.

They don’t typically do it through the NHS. With my first I bought a kit to test privately, you just swab at home and mail it in. This time I didn’t bother because I’m having a c-section anyway and I think the risk is only if you’re positive and baby comes through the birth canal.

I didn’t think it was a standard nhs test in the uk. There has to be some reason for you to be offered it. Xxx

I was going to order a private test but completely forgot and now I'm 37 weeks and think I'm probably too late by the time it arrives and iv sent it back and got the result I'll probably already of had the baby🤦‍♀️ was meant to ask my midwife but I had that many questions It slipped my mind and I'm not seeing her again until 40 weeks now. I do wish the NHS did these tests routinely though ☹️

I was strangely tested for it during a urine sample (from not raising any issues) at my first 6x week booking appointment where I apparently was positive. It played on my mind for many months as ideally I’d like to stay at home as long as possible when labour starts so I pushed for another urine test last week at 38x weeks with my doctor who said that it could have actually been a water or urine infection at that time, low and behold it is negative so makes me feel a lot better. If it’s something you really want an answer to, trust your gut and push for it as the lack of care these days is appalling!

@Jenny ohhh right so they don’t actually test you for it then?

I don’t think this is something that is routinely checked for in the UK but a lot of other countries do test. You can request it, one of my friends demanded they test her as a precaution & they did it. X

@Jenny thanks. so basically they don’t test unless you ask

they dont routinely do it in the uk, with my first baby i had to demand it coz my friend unfortunately and unknowingly passed it to her baby during birth and her little one ended up passing away 😢i know it’s extremely rare for this to happen but it really scared me. i ended up having to demand the test. it came back positive, and has this pregnancy too. like everyone says you could have it one day and not the next, its so strange. but i opted to have an iv drip of antibiotics when my waters broke with my first baby (supposed to be 2 rounds but only managed half a round coz my labour was so fast). this time around im planning on asking for an induction if i havent gone into spontaneous labour at 40 weeks so i can have the antibiotics before giving birth. of course it’s extremely rare to pass it on - but its not a risk i was willing to take at all x