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Group B Strep in Pregnant Women
Group B Strep, or Beta Strep, is a common human bacterial infection that occurs in about 25% of all women. Normally there are little or no symptoms and carriers are totally unaware of its presence. It can cause serious problems, however, in babies at the moment of birth.
Babies born to untreated mothers can become infected during the process of childbirth as they are exposed to the bacteria. These babies usually develop what is known as early infection, which occurs sometime within the first six days of life. This form of infection can be quite serious, causing life threatening complications and in some cases resulting in death.
An infection which occurs after the first week of life is called a late infection and this is usually the result of exposure to outside sources rather than the mother. Late infection often results in meningitis, which can cause long term effects to the nervous system. Though still quite serious, late infection doesn't often result in death.
It is recommended that all women be tested for Group B Strep during the final weeks of pregnancy. If you test positive for Group B Strep or have had another baby with Group B, you should be given IV antibiotics during labor to prevent transmission. You should also be treated if you exhibit a high fever or are experiencing premature labor.
If you have tested negative within five weeks of giving birth, you should not need and treatment. You will also probably not need to receive antibiotics if you have a Cesarean unless your water has broken, although there can be risk of infection if the amniotic sac ruptures during delivery. Though the bacteria can be transmitted from mother to baby during delivery, there is no risk of transmission through breastfeeding, so there is no reason for an infected mother to avoid nursing.
Like all medical conditions, Group B Strep should be taken very seriously. Good prenatal care is the primary preventive measure for all pregnancy complications. Be sure to see your doctor regularly and keep him informed of any and all symptoms you might experience. A healthy mother means a healthy baby, so take care of yourself and you’ll be taking care of your baby too.
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