- Conference
- 2014 National Women's Conference
- Date
- 18 October 2013
- Decision
- Carried as Amended
I would like this conference to tell the government that every woman should be routinely given accurate information about group B Streptococcus (group B Strep or GBS) during her antenatal care
And then be offered a sensitive test for GBS, ideally at 35-37 weeks of pregnancy
Group B streptococcus (GBS), also known as group B strep, is one of many different bacteria which live inside your body. About a third of us have GBS in our gut without even knowing it.
About a quarter of women also have GBS in their vagina. If you do, you won’t know it’s there, as GBS doesn’t have any obvious symptoms.
GBS bacteria can be passed from you to your baby during labour. But this doesn’t usually cause problems, and most women who carry GBS bacteria have healthy babies. It is thankfully only in rare cases that GBS can cause serious illness and, even more rarely. But even 1 baby is too high a risk
One simple test will eradicate this and no new born baby will ever have to die because of it.
Countries which have done this have seen their incidence fall by 71-86%
We call upon the National Women’s committee to:
• Campaign to have this test available to all women.
Highlight the importance of Group Strep B screening
• Provide guidance on the symptoms and effects of Group Strep B.