Group B Strep in Pregnancy: Facts provided by reliable sources
Updated: Jan 23
DISCLAIMER: This is general information only. Ask your doctor or midwife about what care is right for you. The information presented should not be relied on as a substitute for medical advice. For specific advice about your baby or your healthcare needs, you should seek advice from your health professional. Chaycen does not accept any responsibility for loss or damage arising from your reliance on the below listed resources. If you or your baby require urgent medical attention, please contact your nearest emergency department.
I went LIVE on Instagram with Jessica, Dominic's mama, last week to raise awareness for GBS, which tragically took her sons life in the third trimester of her pregnancy, earlier this year. You can catch the replay here
Group B Streptococcus (GBS), also known as group B strep, is a common bacteria that can live in our bodies and is usually harmless - most people have no idea that it is present.
It is known as a transient bacteria, which means it can come and go.
About 1 in 4 pregnant individuals "carry" or are "colonized" with group B strep (GBS), which can be confirmed through routine antenatal testing (swab or urine specimen)
Being a carrier is not harmful to you but it can cause infection in your unborn or newborn baby.. GBS may be passed to the baby during labour and birth and can cause life-threatening infections, therefore it is important to identify women who do have GBS, so they can be treated accordingly to help reduce the chance of GBS infection being passed to the baby.
Following on from our LIVE, I thought it would be helpful to provide a round up of links to fact sheets for further information from reliable sources.
Topic | Fact Sheet Source |
What is Group B Strep?
| |
Group B Strep Testing | Group B Strep International |
Group B Streptococcus in pregnancy | |
5 Knowledge-based strategies to help prevent Prenatal GBS disease. | |
Group B Strep Test | |
Group B Streptococcus Information for women | Women’s and Children’s Hospital SA https://cdn.wchn.sa.gov.au/downloads/WCH/women/pregnancy/gynaecology/group-B-strep-fact-sheet.pdf |
GROUP B STREPTOCOCCUS (GBS) SCREENING TEST | The Royal Women’s Hospital https://thewomens.r.worldssl.net/images/uploads/fact-sheets/GBS-screening-test-May2020.pdf |
Streptococcal infection - group B | |
GBS (Group B Streptococcus) Parent information | |
Information for women and families - Group B streptococcus (GBS) screening | |
Group B Strep and pregnancy | |
Pregnancy screening for Group B Streptococcus (GBS) | |
Group B Streptococcus |
If you have any links to information published by a reliable source, that you would like to add to this list, please let me know by either commenting below or contacting me via email - hello@chaycen.com
If you have any questions about GBS, please ask your doctor, midwife or medical professional.
Tayla is a Virtual Pregnancy Loss Coach, supporting heartbroken loss mamas, by tackling their grief & helping them to ease the overwhelm of life after loss. Her lived experience, dry sense of humour, and realistic approach to living a meaningful life after loss has earned her a world-wide following & a passion unlike any other. Learn more here