Did your doctor mention a "GBS test" during the last few weeks of your pregnancy? You may have had that test and found out the result was "positive." It's normal to feel a little scared and nervous when you hear those words. "Will this hurt me? Will something happen to my baby?" You may be wondering. But don't worry. Let's talk about what Group B Strep, or GBS, is, what it can do, and what we can do to protect our baby.
Simply put, what is Group B Strep (GBS)?
Group B Strep (GBS) is a type of bacteria that normally lives in the body of healthy adults. Specifically, it can live harmlessly in places like your vagina, intestines, and rectum. For a healthy adult, GBS doesn't cause any problems.
However, when you are pregnant, the situation is a little different. During childbirth, that is, when the baby is delivered through the vagina, this bacteria can be transmitted from you to the baby, that is, it can be infected. Since the newborn baby does not have enough immunity to fight against this bacteria, it can be harmful to the baby.
That's why doctors do this GBS test between 36 and 37 weeks of your pregnancy. About one in four pregnant women test positive for GBS. That means it's a very common condition.
What symptoms can a baby experience due to GBS?
If a newborn baby gets GBS, the symptoms can become serious very quickly, so it's important to be aware of these symptoms.
| Symptom | Description |
|---|---|
| Fever | The baby's body feels hot. |
| Difficulty drinking milk | If the baby is not breastfeeding as usual or is refusing to eat. |
| Frequent crying/irritability | If the baby is crying continuously and cannot be comforted. |
| Difficulty breathing | If you make a wheezing sound when breathing or if your breathing is rapid. |
| Lethargy/sleepiness | If the baby is difficult to wake up or seems lifeless. |
Most of the time, these symptoms appear within the first few hours or days after the baby is born. We call this "Early-onset GBS." This is the most common and can be quite serious. But some babies can develop symptoms between a week and three months. This is called "Late-onset GBS." It is much rarer and usually not as serious.
How is GBS transmitted? Is this my fault?
This is the biggest question many mothers have. Some wonder, "Is this because I was dirty?"
No. Absolutely not. GBS is not caused by your uncleanliness, sharing food or drinks, or a sexually transmitted infection (STI).
This bacteria lives naturally in our bodies. It's not your fault that you have it in your body. And you won't spread it to other people in your household, or to your other children. So don't worry about it.
Factors that increase the risk of GBS infection in the baby
Even if you are GBS positive, the only risk of infection to your baby is if you don't get treatment. There are several factors that increase that risk:
- Baby born before 37 weeks: The risk is higher if the baby is born at a later stage.
- A previous birth of yours had GBS infection: If there is such a thing in your past medical history.
- You get a fever during labor: If your body temperature rises during labor.
- More than 18 hours after the water breaks: If the water breaks and it takes a long time to deliver the baby.
But remember, treatment during childbirth can greatly reduce this risk.
What happens if GBS infection becomes serious?
If not treated properly, GBS infection can be life-threatening for the baby. It can lead to serious conditions such as:
- Sepsis: This is called "blood poisoning." The spread of infection throughout the body.
- Pneumonia: An infection that affects the lungs, we call this "pneumonia".
- Meningitis: An infection of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. We also call this "brain fever."
It's normal to feel scared when you hear these things. However, these situations are very rare , especially if you receive proper care during childbirth. So don't worry. Getting treatment at the right time is the most important thing.
Learn about GBS testing and treatment
How is the GBS test done?
Your doctor will perform this test between weeks 36 and 37 of your pregnancy. It is a very simple and painless test.
- A sample will be taken from your vagina and rectum using a swab.
- This takes less than a minute.
- This sample is then sent to a lab to check for the presence of GBS bacteria.
- Results are available within about 48 hours.
A "positive" result only means that you have the GBS bacteria in your body. It does not mean that you or your baby will definitely get sick. It just means that you need to be treated during labor.
How is it treated?
If you are GBS positive, when you go to the hospital for delivery, the medical staff will give you IV (intravenous) antibiotics . This means that the medicine is given into a vein in your arm, like saline.
The most important thing is to take this antibiotic at least four hours before the baby is born. That's when the medicine will work properly and prevent the infection from being passed on to the baby.
The most commonly used antibiotics are Penicillin or Ampicillin. With this treatment, only one in 4,000 babies will be infected. But if left untreated, the risk is higher, with one in 200 babies getting infected. See how important treatment is.
Do I need GBS treatment if I have a C-section?
This is a question that many people ask. If you are having a planned C-Section , and you have not started labor at that time, or your water has not broken, you will not need GBS treatment.
However, you are tested for GBS because labor may begin before the day of your C-Section. If your waters break or labor begins, you will be given IV antibiotics because there is a risk of infection to the baby if you are GBS positive.
Take-Home Message
- Group B Strep (GBS) is a bacteria that is naturally present in most women's bodies. It's not your fault or something you're not clean.
- This can be detected with a simple test done late in pregnancy.
- If you test positive for GBS, IV antibiotics given during labor can protect your baby from infection. This treatment is very effective.
- When you are admitted to the hospital for labor, remind the medical staff that you are GBS positive. This is very important.
- If you have any questions, concerns, or doubts about this, discuss them openly with your doctor. They will provide you with all the information and support you need.
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