Group B Strep
Had my scan this afternoon and then saw the midwife. She asked if i had Group B Strep previously and i said no what is it. She explained and i said if you have it but dont know what can happen eg to the baby? She was really off with me and wouldnt tell me properly. She kept telling me if you know you have it you are given antibiotics and monitored but wouldnt tell me what happens if you dont know you have it. Can anyone help? All i could get out of her is worse case baby could die. She also said only 25% of people have it (so not many then!!!!!)
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Group B streptococcus (GBS) is one of many bacteria that normally live in our bodies and usually cause no harm. This is called GBS carriage, colonisation with GBS or carrying GBS.
About a quarter of pregnant women in the UK are estimated to carry GBS in their vagina and rectum. As a result, many babies come into contact, and are colonised with, GBS around the time of labour and birth. The vast majority of babies are unaffected, but a small number become seriously ill with GBS infection.
Early-onset GBS infectionIt is estimated that approximately 1 out of every 1,600 babies born in the UK and Ireland develops early-onset GBS infection. This means that every year in the UK (with 700,000 births per year) around 440 babies will develop early-onset GBS infection.
[Modified by: lauragcam on April 01, 2008 05:12 PM]
Apparently there is no routine test available on the NHS, but you can pay for a private test for about ??30-??40 to see if you carry it. The test has to be performed at around 35-37 weeks. We're definitely going to pay for the test!
http://www.itv.com/Lifestyle/ThisMorning/Health/DrChrissavedmylife2/default.html
http://www.gbss.org.uk/ this site is REALLY good and tells you all about the private test. Dr Chris from This Morning is also on it.
Got to be worth considering!
xx