I tested Step B + with DS (36 weeks I think) and they forgot to give me the antibiotics as my labour progressed faster than expected. After he was born they did a heal prick test to test for it and he was fine. This time I won't be getting tested.

Ttc bubby - over here your LO would've been given antibiotics as a precaution, or at least the medics would want to do that. It's great you didn't have that pushed on you! I didn't know you could test with the heel prick, perhaps that includes a white blood cell count does it?

Originally Posted by PeanutBean

Ttc bubby - over here your LO would've been given antibiotics as a precaution, or at least the medics would want to do that. It's great you didn't have that pushed on you! I didn't know you could test with the heel prick, perhaps that includes a white blood cell count does it?

I'm really not sure exactly! I was getting stitched up and DH and a midwife took him to the nursery for the test. I want to get my hospital notes so it might say something on there, otherwise I may need his notes to get the info.

It seems quite strange they would do a heel prick test to check for gbs as I was always under the impression that venepuncture was necessary for cultures to avoid potential contamination.

Well I am back from my meeting. The consultant MW was really good. She was cross about the swab being taken without my consent and is going to look into that. On the GBS front she asked what I knew about the risks and implications and was evidently entirely satisfied with my answer. I said I don't see a positive swab taken at 24 weeks a couple of hours after sex as being any indication that I more likely a carrier than any other woman routinely not tested by the NHS. She agreed. I summarised my understanding of the risk the end point being a 1/10000 mortality rate, 80% of which is premature babies and given I am now 36 weeks it doesn't seem that the liklihood of anything serious coming about is much of anything at all and far less than a great many other potential complications. She was happy to write in my birth plan that I don't want antibiotics unless there are visible signs of infection or other risk factors present (I added the caveat that I want to assess at the time if I have waters gone 18 hours or more as transferring then will put me in the same position as Byron's labour). She is going to circulate to the MW team and to paediatrics in case for any reason the baby ends up needing to go in. I said I don't want the baby to have antibiotics as a precaution when no signs of infection are evident.

She didn't try to change my mind or anything and said it was obvious I've carefully considered everything and she was happy with that. So it's all systems go! Have confidence ladies, it's your decision.

I'm super happy things went so well for you! guess it's time to hang up the boxing gloves...

Its time i joined this thread i think. For some reason i had a gut feeling about GBS and needed to get the test done. I asked my MW about it and 3 times she told me its not done on the NHS.

I did it myself with a home test kit in the end(i found the link to the company on the GBS support website). they sent a quick early message via text to say i was positive and are aparently sending the paperwork to my MW. Im a bit gutted but on the other hand pleased ive got it done as i would have never forgiven myself if baby had it and was ill or worse from it just because i didnt fork out the £32 for the test. It was easily done too and better than having anyone at the surgery digging around in there!.

Ive spoken to my MW who changed her tune when i said i had it done privately, she told me they would have tested for it!. Shes told me what will happen with my labour which im fine about, theres just one thing i need to be sure about and that is that an allergy to penicillin in the family hasnt been inherited by me.
She wants me to see her and a consultant on monday, but didnt say why exactly. she also said shes not sure about these companies who do the home test and whether theyre just after our money, but ive heard these private tests are more accurate than the nhs ones!. A bit like peanut- i dont want them fishing around in there doing another test, i feel confident with the results ive got from the one.

Hi madcat! The private ones ARE more effective, they use a different culture method which doesn't give the 50% false negative the NHS one does. Interestingly I've not been offered the 35-37 week test anyway. I wouldn't have it but they didn't know that. Strange they are so ready to push for antibiotics on a shaky result months ago, antibiotics they're too afraid to let me have at home!

Good luck with your meeting madcat. I've not heard of anyone going to see a consultant about it so do update us.

i cant remember where i read it now, that the private tests were more accurate, but like you say, ive read it somewhere and will tell them that, i reckon they will want to test me again,but i think i'll have to say that im more confident with the private test thanks!. I think maybe thats what the consultant will want to do and probably what my appointment is about, guess i'll have to stand my ground a bit.

The gbss site details the different types of test. I think it should be linked in this thread somewhere...