Strep B and Pregnancy
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Strep B and Pregnancy
Group B Strep during Pregnancy
Most women who test positive for Group B Strep or GBS will deliver a normal and healthy baby. Without adequate diagnosis and treatment however, babies exposed to Group B Strep during the birthing process may face potentially life threatening side effects.
The Science Behind Group B Strep.
Most women if tested consistently would probably come up positive as a carrier of Group B Strep or GBS at one point or another during their life. The only time Group B Strep is typically problematic is during pregnancy. In rare cases Group B Strep or GBS may cause bladder or womb infections in a pregnant mother. It can infect the fetus before or during the birth process, though infection is rare. Babies infected with Group B Strep or GBS may go on to develop pneumonia or even meningitis. Others may have long term problems such as hearing or vision loss during their lifetime. In some infants Group B Strep or GBS doesn't develop until a week or more after delivery. This is an even more rare occurrence however than infection and detection immediately following delivery. Routine Testing Most women who test positive for Group B Strep or GBS will be treated during labor with an antibiotic such as penicillin. A positive culture does not mean a baby will become ill. It simply indicates that the mother is a carrier for Group B Strep. Treatment with antibiotics is usually administered in the following situations:
Treating women for Group B Strep or GBS does not necessarily remove the bacteria from the
woman's system but may help prevent infection of the newborn infant.
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