Welcome to Group B Strep Support

The information on this site is for information only and cannot be a substitute for a personal consultation with a qualified medical professional. If in doubt, please consult your doctor.

Please sign our ePetition:  We are calling for on the Department of Health to ensure that every woman is routinely given accurate information about group B Streptococcus (group B Strep or GBS) during her antenatal care; every low-risk woman is offered a sensitive test for GBS, ideally at 35-37 weeks of pregnancy; and every higher-risk woman is offered antibiotics in labour. 

For more information about the petition, click here

Ready to sign the petition? Please click here (opens in a new window).

The Issue

Group B Strep (GBS) is a bacteria commonly found inhabiting the human digestive system (and often the vagina of adult women). It is normally harmless, however, it can be passed to newborn babies around childbirth, and in babies which then develop GBS infection, it can be very serious.

Group B Strep infections in newborn babies are usually preventable - so many of these horrible infections could be prevented.  To do this, at GBSS, we want to see:

• Every pregnant woman in the UK given accurate information about group B Streptococcus (GBS) as a routine part of her antenatal care.
  
• A national screening program to be introduced on the NHS, to test all pregnant women for carriage of GBS at 35-37 weeks.
  
• Those women found to be carrying GBS, as well as those with risk factors that put their babies at higher risk of developing GBS infection, to be offered intravenous antibiotics in labour.

We are proud to announce that Group B Strep Support's Chief Exec, Jane Plumb, is awarded an MBE for Services to Child Healthcare in the 2012 New Year Honours List. We're thrilled for her & for the recognition it shows for the unswerving commitment of all the charity's supporters and medical advisors. Click here for more info.

Click here to listen to a radio interview with Prof Philip Steer (Chair of the charity's medical advisory panel) and Jane Plumb (Chief Executive of GBSS), talking about group B Strep prevention.

Click here to view an informative video made by mybirth.tv about GBS.

 ITV West Country recently (05/11) released a feature on a couple who's newborn baby developed a GBS infection, but was one of the lucky ones who successfully fought off the disease. Click here to view.

Group B Strep Support (GBSS) is a UK charity, founded in 1996. Our three main aims are to:

• Offer information and support to families affected by group B Streptococcus;
• Inform health professionals and individuals how most group B Strep infections in newborn babies can be prevented; and
• Generate continued support for research into preventing group B Strep infections in newborn babies.