Pregnancy and the birth of a newborn comes with an overload of emotions including joy, anxiety and excitement. As July is Group B Strep Awareness Month, this serves as an opportunity to shine a light on something to be mindful of with your new addition to the world.
Group B Strep (GBS) is a type of bacteria that is naturally found in the digestive tract and birth canal in up to 1 out of 4 pregnant women. The danger with this bacteria, is that it can affect a fetus prior to birth up to 6 months due to underdeveloped immune systems.
It’s important to know if pregnant mothers can pass the disease on to their child. A sign is what could be mistaken as a yeast infection, due to the similar symptoms. If you experience these symptoms, you should be seen for an exam and possible GBS testing.
If you feel like you may be at risk for passing GBS onto your child, you should get tested. Even if you don’t feel like you are, it is highly recommended to get tested at 35 weeks. If the results come back indicating that you do have GBS, IV antibiotics should be administered when labor begins. Be sure to proactively plan ahead, if a short labor is a possibility, and ask your doctor if a late third-trimester penicillin shot as a backup is right for you. Be sure to communicate that you have GBS and your doctor will be able to help you determine the best way to protect your child.
Without being tested, there is no way to take proper precautionary measures in protecting your child. If you are expecting, get tested in honor of Group B Strep Awareness Month and bring awareness to friends and family.
