Number one thing we can do is educate! Both of my Dr's each time I tested positive for GBS never let me know of risks and what it really meant. All I was told is that I would have to have antibiotics during delivery. I know there is a level of self educating but you can't expect your patients to go home and do the research I know I didn't which I so regret not doing. My doctors made it seem like it wasn't a big deal so I wasn't worried at all and maybe they didn't even know what the risks really were and what they could do to protect us like not stripping my membranes or performing cervical exams. Unfortunately I feel like sometimes the unthinkable has to happen before some providers will even consider it being a risk or something to really educate their patients about. I would love some ideas of how I can help educate the care providers in my area! I've thought they are all busy and it would be impossible for me to meet with each one but I could mail them information. There have also been numerous women I've spoken to who tested positive before in their pregnancies and had no idea that stillbirth or anything bad could happen to their babies from it. So I'm trying to do what I can in my small sphere to help educate mothers.

Thank you, Nadine! Excellent thought about how to help protect babies during pregnancy. Currently, to my understanding, the implications of trace amounts (bacteriuria, but not UTI levels) of GBS in urine wouldn’t generally be considered again until the mom was given IV antibiotics during labor and delivery and not at all if she was having a planned c-section —possibly a lot of missed opportunity to keep a baby healthy until then.

I don’t believe there have been any studies done on the benefits of urine culturing again later during pregnancy if the mom’s urine has tested negative, but that may be beneficial, too.