Nisha Agarwal Nisha Agarwal Asked 7 months ago

What causes strep b in pregnancy?

I'm in my second trimester of pregnancy and my doctor mentioned something about being tested for 'strep B'. I don't really understand what it is. What causes strep B in pregnancy?

5

5 answers

Shalini Mukerjee Shalini Mukerjee Joined Jan 2026 7 months ago
Most liked

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a common bacterium naturally found in the gastrointestinal and vaginal tracts of many healthy women. It is not a sexually transmitted disease, and its presence is not caused by anything specific you did. Your gynecologist will screen for it around week 36 and manage it safely with antibiotics during labor if needed.

Sunita Kulkarni Sunita Kulkarni Joined Apr 2026 7 months ago

Having high blood sugar can sometimes make the body more prone to bacterial overgrowths. However, Group B Strep is just a common bacterium that naturally lives in the body. Make sure to discuss your screening results with your doctor, as they will guide you on the safest path for your delivery.

Powered by

Consult a obstetrics and gynaecologist

Preeti Sharma Preeti Sharma Joined Jan 2026 7 months ago

Strep B is naturally occurring, but since it can pose risks to the newborn baby during a vaginal delivery, you should not take any chances. Please make sure you get the routine swab test done during your third trimester. Always follow your obstetrician's protocol strictly.

Aditi Rao Aditi Rao Joined May 2026 5 months ago

I was reading about this recently out of curiosity, and apparently, Strep B is just a natural bacteria that lives in our gut and urinary tract. It's totally harmless for the mother but can be passed to the baby during birth. That's why doctors routinely test for it near the end of pregnancy.

Related reads

All articles
Arjun Mehta Arjun Mehta Joined Jan 2026 7 months ago

It's basically a natural bacteria that resides in the gut flora, so physical fitness or diet won't prevent it from being there. Since it's a micro-organism thing, the best approach is just to let the doctors handle the screening and treatment during delivery. Keep up your healthy habits otherwise!

Evidence-based health, reviewed by clinicians. Free, weekly.