Condition
Group B Strep in Pregnancy: Screening and Antibiotics
Group B streptococcus, or GBS, is a common bacteria that many healthy people carry. In pregnancy it is checked with a simple swab late in the third trimester, and if it is positive, antibiotics during labor keep your baby safe. This page is educational, not medical advice.
Tell your team right away if you
- Think your water broke, especially if you are GBS positive (you may need antibiotics sooner)
- Go into labor before your scheduled GBS swab
- Have a fever in labor, or your baby seems unwell after birth
If your water breaks or labor starts and you are GBS positive, head in so antibiotics can start in time. Trust your instincts and call your team.
What is GBS?
GBS is a normal bacteria found in the vagina or rectum of about 1 in 4 pregnant people. It usually causes no symptoms in you. The concern is passing it to the baby during birth, which antibiotics in labor prevent very well.
Testing and the plan for labor
A quick swab around 36 to 38 weeks tells you if you carry GBS. If it is positive, you get IV antibiotics (usually penicillin) during labor. If your status is unknown when labor starts, your team treats based on risk factors. A positive test is not something you did anything to cause.
How Materna helps
Materna keeps your GBS status and birth preferences in one place your whole team can see, and a bilingual nurse is one tap away when your water breaks or labor starts. Spanish-first and Medicaid-friendly.
Frequently asked questions
- Does a positive GBS test mean my baby will get sick?
- No. With antibiotics during labor, the chance of your baby getting a GBS infection is very low. The test simply lets your team plan ahead.
- Do I need a C-section if I am GBS positive?
- No. GBS is managed with antibiotics during a vaginal labor. It is not a reason for a cesarean by itself.
- Can I prevent GBS?
- GBS comes and goes naturally and is not caused by anything you did. There is no proven way to clear it before labor, which is why antibiotics during labor are the plan.
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