Protect your baby in the last stage of your pregnancy
Protect your baby in the last stage of your pregnancy
Protect your baby in the last stage of your pregnancy
Group B Streptococcus, also known as Group B Strep or GBS, is a common bacterium living normally in the bowel in 20-40% of both women and men. It’s estimated that around one in four pregnant women in the UK carry GBS in their digestive system or vagina. GBS can be passed through sexual contact although it is not a sexually transmitted disease.
Although GBS is rarely harmful to the mother it can pass to the baby, particularly during labour, most of the time your baby will be born safely. However, it can be passed onto your baby during birth and can occasionally cause serious infection and complications such as:
Group B Streptococcus, also known as Group B Strep or GBS, is a common bacterium living normally in the bowel in 20-40% of both women and men.
It’s estimated that around one in four pregnant women in the UK carry GBS in their digestive system or vagina. GBS can be passed through sexual contact although it is not a sexually transmitted disease.
Although GBS is rarely harmful to the mother it can pass to the baby, particularly during labour, most of the time your baby will be born safely. However, it can be passed onto your baby during birth and can occasionally cause serious infection and complications such as:
- Sepsis - an infection of the blood
- Meningitis - an infection of the fluid and lining around the brain, or
- Pneumonia - an infection of the lungs
The good news is that if detected using the Strepelle test during pregnancy, GBS infection in your newborn baby can usually be prevented with antibiotics in labour.
All it takes is a simple test to see if you and your baby are at risk.
The good news is that if detected using the Strepelle test during pregnancy, GBS infection in your newborn baby can usually be prevented with antibiotics in labour.
All it takes is a simple test to see if you and your baby are at risk.
