Group B Strep

GROUP B STREP: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Malama Clinical Team · Week 36 · Prenatal · Post 5 of 265

You are 36 weeks pregnant. And that means your doctor or midwife is talking to you about Group B Strep — a test, a result, maybe a conversation about antibiotics during labor.

The important thing to remember is that testing for Group B is normal and important – and nothing to fear!

FIRST: WHAT IS GROUP B STREP?

Group B Streptococcus — GBS — is a type of bacteria that lives naturally in the digestive and reproductive tracts of about 1 in 4 adults. Most of the time, it causes no symptoms and no problems whatsoever.

During pregnancy, it matters because there is a small chance of passing it to your baby during vaginal birth. In most babies, this causes no harm. But in a small number of newborns, GBS can cause a serious infection. That small risk is why we screen for it.

Between weeks 36 and 37, your provider will do a simple swab — usually of the vagina and rectum — to check whether GBS is present. The test takes just a few seconds and results come back within a day or two.

If your result is negative:

You don't carry GBS and no action is needed during labor.

If your result is positive:

You will be offered IV antibiotics when you arrive at the hospital in labor. The antibiotics protect your baby very effectively. A positive GBS result does not change your birth plan in any major way — it just means an IV line goes in when you arrive, which is something to know and plan for.

Either way, positive or negative, knowledge is power! Getting the test done sets you up for a more successful labor and delivery. Don’t be afraid to ask your provider to clarify anything you feel uncertain about.

You’ve got this, and we’ve got you!

-You Malama Team