Five Minutes or Less for Health Weekly Tip: Pregnant? Check for Group B Strep
Group
B streptococcal bacteria (also called GBS, group B strep, or baby strep)
is very common and can be passed on to your baby during childbirth. Your
baby can get very sick and even die if you are not tested and treated.
Take a few minutes to prevent your baby from getting GBS.
- Ask your doctor for a GBS test when you are 35 to 37 weeks pregnant (in your 9th month). The test is an easy swab of the vagina and rectum that should not hurt.
- Each time you are pregnant, you need to be tested for GBS. It doesn't matter if you did or did not have this type of bacteria before; each pregnancy is different.
Learn More
Protect Your Baby from Group B Step
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Content Source: CDC Office
of Women’s Health
Page last modified: July 3, 2012
Page last reviewed: July 3, 2012
Page last modified: July 3, 2012
Page last reviewed: July 3, 2012