GBS Update - Test results

[Charlie:-)]

Well I received my private test results back this lunchtime and both swabs have shown up positive

I was really hoping they would be negative especially after having a test done on the NHS last week that came back negative, so it just goes to prove that the NHS tests aren't accurate and they can give false positive readings.

I will now have to birth in the normal delivery suite ward rather than the birth centre that I was hoping for. Ah well nevermind not getting the birth I hoped for is a small price to pay for having a healthy baby.

At least I have tested and I can now do something with the information and protect my baby. I would have hated to not have had this picked up so early on and gone throughout pregnancy being none the wiser about GBS let alone having GBS then my baby being ill or worse case contracting meningitis from me. So thank God that I have had the test and my baby will be safe.

 

[abcd1234]

Aww its a shame you cant have the birth you wanted but like you said at least you now know and can have a healthy baby

How did you get GBS test? Its something i've been thinking about all along as i've read how bad it can be if not sorted, yet it's so simple to prevent the harm to baby.

 

[Charlie:-)]

If you take a look at the GBS website, theres a link to 2 labs that you can order online. The tests are free to send out, you only pay the lab when you send your swabs back.

It was really easy, the tests came in the post, my midwife took the swabs for me & I posted them off with payment of £32.00.

Heres the GBS website http://www.gbss.org.uk

 

[abcd1234]

thankyou, doesnt feel right having to pay, but if it ensures her safety its worth it

 

[soulem]

Here's what the government have to say about why they won't test every woman for it:

http://www.pm.gov.uk/output/Page14900.asp

 

[abcd1234]

Hmmm, i cant help feel its more to do with the costs, anyway the NHS tests would probably be as accurate as their downs ones

It's irritating, surely the high percentage of people who would require it if they tested shows that its something affecting a high number of prengnacies. GRR give me 2 months and i'll move on to another thing they should do but arnt.

 

[soulem]

I agree that it's more to do with costs!! I have GBS and in my first pregnancy (7 years ago!) the routine for birth and the aftercare of the newborn everything was so much more different. My daughter was put on antibiotics immediately and swabs taken. After 3 days the results came back, luckily she didn't have the infection and was taken off of the medication. When I had my son the routine had changed, no longer are newborns put straight onto antibiotics but 'observed' for the first 48 hrs after birth. My son was born at 9am and not 1 person came to 'observe' him until at midnight I noticed he was bretahing rapidly which is one of the first signs of GBS, and the midwife and paediatrician rushed him over to SCBU and put him on an IV for the next 7 days!

I honestly believe that the government spend too much money on things this country doesn't need and not enough on the things we do. If there wasn't a midwife shortage then perhaps the 'observations' would be done!!

Sorry for hijacking your thread Charlie with my rant!! At least now you have your results you are prepared!!

 

[Charlie:-)]

No problem Soulem, hijack away

I think the procedure for the after care of babies born to mothers with GBS is different in each trust.

For example at my hospital they would only give antibiotics to baby if mother doesn't receive 4 hours worth prior to delivery or if baby shows signs of GBS infection. However, in a neighbouring hospital in a different trust baby is given antibiotics regardless of whether mother received 4 hours worth, meaning they have to stay in for 5 days.

 

[soulem]

With my daughter I had to stay in 3 days for the results of her swabs to come back, didn't know some places have you stay upto 5 days. I din't mind at the time because my main concern was my daughter.

In my experience having no antibiotics for my son nor any swabs taken from him left me highly anxious worrying about the risk of infection. I kept thinking 'when is someone going to look at my baby?' ' why don;t they look at my baby?' If he had have had the swabs and antibiotics then I think the fact that noone came to observe him would have been so much easier to deal with.

Are you having to have the IV in labour and monitoring too now charlie??

 

[Charlie:-)]

With my daughter I had to stay in 3 days for the results of her swabs to come back, didn't know some places have you stay upto 5 days. I din't mind at the time because my main concern was my daughter.

In my experience having no antibiotics for my son nor any swabs taken from him left me highly anxious worrying about the risk of infection. I kept thinking 'when is someone going to look at my baby?' ' why don;t they look at my baby?' If he had have had the swabs and antibiotics then I think the fact that noone came to observe him would have been so much easier to deal with.

Are you having to have the IV in labour and monitoring too now charlie??

Yes I will be having IV for 4 hours prior to delivery and then another 1.5g at 4 hourly intervals up till delivery. If I dont receive IV for 4 hours then baby will be given IV and have bloods taken to detect GBS, if negative baby can come off IV if POS+ then baby will have to stay on for 5 days. Bloods will take approx 3 days to come back so could be looking at 3 days in hospital if I dont get 4 hours worth. Like you say though the important thing for me is the well being and safety of my baby, so don't mind staying in, whatever it takes TBH.

I have also put in my birth plan that I want a paediatrician to examine baby as soon as possible and I will be harping on about this until the paediatrician makes an appearance, regardless of whether I have 4 hours worth or not (well even more important if I don't).

Did you find you were able to move around during labour whilst the IV was being administered or were you restricted?

 

[Geordie&Bairn]

sorry to hear your results came back positive hunny
at least you know for certian and can be prepared correctly
i can belive the Nhs didnt do it properly mined yes i can its such a mess at the mo

oh noticed your 38 weeks today wow not long to so till your little one is here

 

[muppetmummy]

sorry it wasn't negative, at least now you know ur baby can be kept safe

 

[soulem]

With my daughter I had to stay in 3 days for the results of her swabs to come back, didn't know some places have you stay upto 5 days. I din't mind at the time because my main concern was my daughter.

In my experience having no antibiotics for my son nor any swabs taken from him left me highly anxious worrying about the risk of infection. I kept thinking 'when is someone going to look at my baby?' ' why don;t they look at my baby?' If he had have had the swabs and antibiotics then I think the fact that noone came to observe him would have been so much easier to deal with.

Are you having to have the IV in labour and monitoring too now charlie??

Yes I will be having IV for 4 hours prior to delivery and then another 1.5g at 4 hourly intervals up till delivery. If I dont receive IV for 4 hours then baby will be given IV and have bloods taken to detect GBS, if negative baby can come off IV if POS+ then baby will have to stay on for 5 days. Bloods will take approx 3 days to come back so could be looking at 3 days in hospital if I dont get 4 hours worth. Like you say though the important thing for me is the well being and safety of my baby, so don't mind staying in, whatever it takes TBH.

I have also put in my birth plan that I want a paediatrician to examine baby as soon as possible and I will be harping on about this until the paediatrician makes an appearance, regardless of whether I have 4 hours worth or not (well even more important if I don't).

Did you find you were able to move around during labour whilst the IV was being administered or were you restricted?

Think it's good that you have i your birth plan for baby to be checked asap, make sure you shout about that!!! I wasn't able to move about in my labours once I was in hospital as I also have to have the monitor around my tummy as well as the IV!! Can't say it made much difference though, I just wriggled through each contraction on the bed!!! If it were only the IV then I'm sure you should be able to move around, just need OH to push the stand around behind you!!

 

[keli]

Sorry to hear your test came back positive i mentioned i was going to pay for a test to my MW she told me not to bother they'd do one there for me although i did have to go to loo and do it myself get the results back this wk. Doesn't give me much faith in the NHS one after reading this thread As everyone has said now you know for def you can protect your baby xx

 

[fuffins1981]

Hi

I had GBS detected through a swab before I was pregnant. So, when I first saw my mw, I told her.

She told me to do a urine specimen to send off. I did, ad they lost it.

So, now I think I will also pay to have the test done.

Lucky you paid Charlie. Sorry the result was positive, but at least your baby wont be harmed due to the imcompetence of 2008 NHS! Well done

 

[sarah2807]

sorry to hear your test came back positive.

Like you said tho at least you know now and you can receive the treatment and care you and LO need.

Can't believe the NHS didn't spot it!!

 

[Charlie:-)]

The test offered on the NHS is a HVS (high vaginal swab) and whilst is very good at detecting positive results in 50% of negatives it gives a false negative reading.

The test offered if you pay is 2 swabs and are highly sensitive and specifically for detecting GBS accurately.

Take a look at the GBS website for more info on testing and how to obtain private tests
http://www.gbss.org.uk

I first tested positive at 10 weeks and my experience of the knowledge the NHS have of this infection is very limited compared to the info I have researched myself by contacting the GBSS charity and reading medical papers (all of which are available on their website).