Pregnancy And Baby Care Articles During Pregnancy

...problems, pneumonia, sepsis and, most commonly, meningitis.

Strep B during pregnancy can be quite a cause of concern, as a mother can pass it on to her baby at the time of delivery. It affects about 1 in 2,000 babies in America. This is why a GBS test is now a routine part of prenatal tests and care. If a woman does test positive for GBS, she can be treated with antibiotics at the time of labor, so that the bacteria are not passed on to her baby. Fortunately, not every baby, born to a woman who tested positive for strep B during pregnancy, falls ill. Studies show that most women who screened positive for the test have delivered normal and healthy babies, because of adopting the right treatment at the right time. However, if they had not done so, their babies could have been exposed to life threatening side effects.

Testing for Strep B during pregnancy

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention has recommended that the GBS test be performed anywhere between the 35th and the 37th weeks of pregnancy, as this is the most significant time for these bacteria to be detected. A swab of the vagina as well as the rectum will be taken. After that, the sample will be tested in a lab, to check for the presence of GBS. The test results should be evident within 48 hours. If a woman does test positive her physician will need to administer some antibiotics (like penicillin) through the IV, at the time of delivery, so that the baby does not get ill. It is not advisable to use antibiotics to get rid of them before labor starts. This is because they can come back even after taking the antibiotics.

Read more articles from the During Pregnancy Category.