Group B Strep and Pregnancy

Group B Strep and Pregnancy in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Group B Streptococcus, or GBS, is a common type of bacteria that many healthy adults carry without ever knowing it. About 1 in 4 pregnant women carry GBS, and during labor and delivery it can pass to the baby. The good news is that a simple swab test late in pregnancy and antibiotics during labor can dramatically lower the risk to your newborn. If you are expecting in Grand Rapids or Kent County, your OB/GYN or midwife at Corewell Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, or University of Michigan Health-West can guide you through screening and a delivery plan.

What Is Group B Strep?

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a type of bacteria that commonly lives in the gastrointestinal and genital tracts. Most adults who carry it have no symptoms at all and are simply considered “colonized” — meaning the bacteria are present, but they are not causing illness.

A few important things to know:

• About 1 in 4 pregnant women carry GBS in their body.
• Carrying GBS does not mean you are sick or that you did anything wrong.
• Most people who carry GBS feel completely normal.

GBS disease, on the other hand, refers to any infection actually caused by the bacteria. Depending on which part of the body is affected, it can cause:

• A bloodstream infection (bacteremia or sepsis)
• Pneumonia (a lung infection)
• Meningitis (infection around the brain and spinal cord)

Newborns are the group most affected by GBS disease, which is why screening during pregnancy matters so much.

How GBS Affects Newborns

A pregnant person who carries GBS can pass the bacteria to the baby during labor and delivery. There is no evidence in the United States that GBS spreads through food or water — it is not something you catch from what you eat or drink.

Doctors group newborn GBS infections by timing:

• Early-onset disease occurs in the first week of life (days 0 through 6).
• Late-onset disease occurs from about 1 week to about 3 months of age (days 7 through 89).

This timing matters because the steps that prevent early-onset disease are different from late-onset disease, which we’ll cover below.

Warning Signs of GBS Infection in a Newborn

Any newborn or young infant showing possible signs of infection should be evaluated by a healthcare provider right away. Signs of GBS infection in a baby can include:

• Fever
• Trouble feeding
• Breathing difficulty
• Bluish skin color (cyanosis)
• Unusual sleepiness or limpness
• Irritability or fussiness
• Seizures

If your baby is having trouble breathing, turning bluish, having a seizure, or is very limp or hard to wake, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department — such as Corewell Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, or University of Michigan Health-West. For less severe but still worrying symptoms, call your pediatrician or pediatric provider right away. When it comes to a sick newborn, it is always better to be checked sooner rather than later.

Screening for GBS During Pregnancy

The CDC recommends that all pregnant women be screened for GBS late in pregnancy. This is a routine part of prenatal care at OB/GYN and midwifery practices across Grand Rapids and Kent County.

Here’s what the screening involves:

• Your provider takes a swab of the vagina and rectum.
• The swab is sent to a lab to be cultured (grown) for the bacteria.
• The result tells your care team whether you are carrying GBS.

The test is quick and is usually done during a regular prenatal visit. Be sure to ask your provider about your result so you know your GBS status before labor begins.

Preventing Early-Onset GBS Disease

The best way to prevent early-onset GBS disease in a newborn is to give the mother antibiotics through the vein (IV) during labor. The most commonly used antibiotics are beta-lactams, such as penicillin or ampicillin. For people with a severe penicillin allergy, alternative antibiotics are available — so be sure to tell your care team about any allergies.

How much do antibiotics help? The difference is significant:

• When an at-risk mother is treated with IV antibiotics during labor, the risk of early-onset GBS disease is about 1 in 4,000.
• When she is not treated, the risk is about 1 in 200.

It’s also important to know what does not work:

• Antibiotics taken by mouth before labor do not prevent GBS disease, because the bacteria can grow back quickly.
• Washing the birth canal with disinfectant is not effective.

This is why the timing matters: the antibiotics need to be given through an IV during labor itself to do their job.

What About Late-Onset Disease?

Currently, there is no proven way to prevent late-onset GBS disease in infants. The antibiotics given during labor protect against early-onset disease, but they do not prevent infections that appear later, between about 1 week and 3 months of age.

Because there is no way to prevent it ahead of time, the most important thing parents can do is act quickly on symptoms. If your baby shows any possible signs of infection — fever, poor feeding, breathing trouble, unusual sleepiness or limpness, fussiness, bluish skin, or seizures — have them evaluated by a healthcare provider right away.

What You Can Do in Grand Rapids

Taking a few simple steps can make a real difference:

• Get your prenatal care. Routine visits with an OB/GYN or midwife — through Corewell Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, University of Michigan Health-West, Cherry Health, or another local practice — include GBS screening at the right time.
• Ask about your result. Talk with your healthcare provider about your GBS screening result so you know your status.
• Tell your labor and delivery team. Let the labor and delivery staff know your GBS status so you can receive antibiotics during labor if recommended.
• Mention allergies. If you have a severe penicillin allergy, tell your care team so they can plan an alternative antibiotic.
• Watch your newborn. Know the warning signs and seek care right away if your baby seems unwell.

If you need help connecting with prenatal care, the Kent County Health Department and community health centers such as Cherry Health can point you toward services in the Grand Rapids area.

Key Points About GBS and Pregnancy

• GBS is a common bacteria; about 1 in 4 pregnant women carry it, and carrying it is not a sign of illness or wrongdoing.
• GBS can pass from mother to baby during labor and delivery — not through food or water.
• Newborns are most affected, with early-onset disease in the first week of life and late-onset disease up to about 3 months.
• All pregnant women should be screened late in pregnancy with a vaginal and rectal swab.
• IV antibiotics during labor (usually penicillin or ampicillin) greatly lower the risk of early-onset disease.
• There is currently no proven way to prevent late-onset disease, so watch for warning signs and seek care promptly.

Talk with your prenatal provider in Grand Rapids about your GBS screening and your plan for labor, and don’t hesitate to seek care for a newborn who seems unwell.