Any information on strep B?

[louisear]

My little miracle arrived on 22nd June this year after a difficult labour and it transpired I had the strep B infection. As it could be passed to my son we were both given anti biotics. Luckily Charlie never had it but this article raises a few questions as to why it's not screened for. My partner also read online it can be a cause of miscarriage. I've had 3 miscarriages, could have had the infection several years and it was never detected. Anyone had similar experience?

[Kari55]

I was told that Strep B is harmless and isn’t dangerous during pregnancy (or that any risk during pregnancy is extremely small) but only during vaginal labour or an emergency c-section can put a baby at risk as their immune system is not developed. If a woman has a scheduled c-section, the risk to baby is extremely small so antibiotics are not required. Strep B just lives in the vagina and comes and goes. There is no routine screening because of that and I guess the best time for the test is 36-38 weeks when the results are the most relevant. I suppose they should be screening women then routinely or perhaps make each pregnant woman aware of this. Here is a good website about it gbss.org.uk I’m not sure what symptoms the daughter from the article had as this doesn’t cause any but maybe it was some very rare case.

[Tugsgirl in reply to Kari55]

Agreed with this xx

[Tugsgirl]

I don’t think strep B is something that is always present, as in, I don’t think the nhs routinely test as the results can change from one test to the next.. hope that makes sense? We ordered an online private test for just under £40. The test needs to be done between weeks 35-37 for best results, as results can become negative after a five week retest, hence doing it so close to your due date. Like I said, I hope that makes sense xx

[Kempton in reply to Tugsgirl]

Very helpful. Thanks.

[MissSaoPaulo]

I'm in Brazil and they've made a big deal of it, asking for my test result every time I've been to the hospital for a check up toward the end of the pregnancy. I think screening is compulsory at around 35 weeks here. At a pregnancy course I went on the obstetrician who gave a presentation said it was a pretty common infection with no symptoms. Same thing here, if you test positive you get antibiotics during delivery.

So sorry to hear about your MCs, but lovely your little one is finally here xxx