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Group B Strep Screening + Presentation Scan

Ideally between 35-37 weeks

From 35 weeks – term

Group B strep (GBS) screening

Why have Group B Strep screening?

Group B Streptococcus is the most common cause of life threatening infections in newborn babies in the UK. GBS is a common bacteria that can be found on our bodies which often doesn’t cause any harm. Approximately one in five pregnant women in the UK carries GBS in their vagina or digestive tract, during labour and birth many babies can come into contact with GBS and become colonised by the bacteria.

Most babies are unaffected however a small number can become infected during labour and birth. Rarely, GBS infections can cause serious complications that can become life threatening.

Most GBS infections can be prevented by giving antibiotics intravenously (through a vein) at the start of labour to all women where GBS has been detected during their current pregnancy.

Without prophylactic antibiotics around 1 in 1000 babies in the UK would develop a GBS infection (approx 700 babies a year).

What we do…

The test is performed from 35 weeks gestation (ideally between 35-37 weeks) by taking two swabs, a low vaginal and rectal swab. The swabs are then sent to our designated lab for testing, who are also the designated lab for the Group B Strep support group.

Ideally between 35-37 weeks

After the screening...

We receive the results electronically and contact you by phone with them usually 3-5 working days after the swabs have been taken. You will also receive a hard copy of the report in the post.

The results will come back as positive or negative, if negative no further follow up required and the report can go in your maternity notes. If your result is positive the lab report should be shown and discussed with your midwife or obstetrician and placed within your maternity notes.

NICE guidelines recommend that when GBS is isolated in pregnancy intravenous antibiotics should be offered in labour which is highly effective in stopping GBS infections from developing in newborn babies.

Presentation Scan

Why have a presentation scan?

At times trying to clearly identify which way round your baby is can be difficult! You think it is one way, your midwife thinks it’s another but no one is quite convinced – we can help and see for certain whether your baby is head down (cephalic) or bottom down (breech). This scan does not need a referral from a healthcare professional so can be performed whenever you feel the need for additional reassurance of how well your baby is growing and which way around it is.

What we do…

We have a good look at your little one and discuss everything as we move around your baby. For the growth assessment we measure the head, tummy and thigh to get an estimated weight and compare this in relation to the due date which will demonstrate where your baby is within the growth range. The fluid is assessed either visually or measured to ensure it is within the normal range. We will of course check the position of your baby for that final reassurance.

We also see what your baby is up to in there and check its general behaviour – pictures are taken where possible (dependant on position and gestation) and if we can we will also have a look in 4D.

As with all our scans you are given the opportunity to ask questions throughout the scan.

After the scan...

We will discuss everything that we have seen throughout the scan and create a report with our findings for you to take away. If your baby is not in the cephalic position we will advise you to contact your midwife for follow up.

If any problems are found, these will be discussed with you and where possible/known the implications will also be discussed. A referral will be made for you to your local midwife, GP or local hospital/antenatal clinic and appropriate follow up will be arranged.

Lyndsey done quite a few scans when I was pregnant with my little girl.. She was amazing we also found out she had bilateral talipes and when Lyndsey noticed her feet she was amazing and explained things a lot better than the hospital did. I now wouldn't go anywhere else if I ever have any more children ! Xx

Hayley

Kayleigh

My name is Kayleigh and I have worked with The Scanning Room for over 8 years, and over 20 years of experience within the NHS.

I started my career as a Healthcare Assistant (HCA) in 2004, then training as an assistant practitioner and radiographer. I Identified a passion for ultrasound in 2014 and successfully transitioned to the specialty through a secondment and training at King's College London where I achieved a PGd in Medical Ultrasound. I have extensive experience working across various NHS hospitals, honing sonography skills and building a strong foundation in this field.

I have a keen interest in women's health, actively participating in ongoing gynaecological and obstetric training to maintain comprehensive evidence- based knowledge.

I enjoy all elements of women's health sonography, from diagnosing gynecologically concerns and infertility assessments to witnessing the joy of expectant mothers during their pregnancy scans.

I love being able to contribute to our supportive team environment, and working with my friends/ Sonographers at the Scanning Room.

Daisy

I'm Daisy, I trained initially as a diagnostic radiographer in 2013 at Kingston & St George's University of London but knowing I always wanted to be a sonographer went into further study and specialized in ultrasound in 2018 at City University of London where I obtained a master's degree in medical ultrasound imaging. Currently I work both at the scanning room and in the NHS and I absolutely love my job.

I feel very passionately about giving our women and their families a very high standard of care and making sure they leave feeling reassured, empowered, and listened to. I believe that the more informed and relaxed women can be whilst undergoing gynaecological assessment, fertility treatment, when pregnant or just generally regarding their pelvic health, is only a good thing and I am proud to work at the scanning room where I know our close-knit and friendly team really do achieve this.

As a new mum myself, you'll find me spending lots of quality time with my family when I'm not scanning, as well as trying to renovate our home and trying to squeeze as much travel and fun in where we can.

Lucy

I am part of the reception team and I have been lucky enough to be a member of The Scanning Room family for 5 years now. I have two amazing grown up children, two incredibly naughty dogs, one very old and very demanding horse and I look after my friend’s small flock of 6 sheep!

After I’ve sorted all the animals out coming into the clinic is soo lovely and just what I need, the kettle is barely ever cold, the biscuit tin is, nearly!!!, always full and I get to spend a happy few hours chatting to our lovely families and laughing with, while learning from, our incredibly kind team of sonographers.

Being people centric has always been at the route of my working life. I started out as a Nanny for two gorgeous families, then after having my two, I worked as a fundraiser for a charity that provides activity centres with wheelchair accessible boats.

During an evening out with Lindsay, who is a very, very, very old friend of mine, we hatched a plan for me to join her growing Scanning Room family, and here I am 5 years in. I have learnt so very much about ‘how babies are made’ in terms of fertility, how our bodies work, how babies develop and grow within the womb and how our bodies change and evolve as we approach menopause.

Everyday is a learning day with The Scanning Room Team and everyday is full of fun, love and support.

I absolutely love my Job and I feel incredibly honoured to be a very small part of the life adventures our lovely families and individuals are experiencing.

Take care and I’m looking forward to seeing you all soon,

Ivy

Hello, my name is Ivy and I currently work for The Scanning Room and NHS as a Sonographer. After graduating with a degree in Diagnostic Radiography at the University of Exeter in 2013, I went on to complete a Post Graduate Diploma in Medical Ultrasound at City University 2018. I undertake obstetrics, gynaecology, general abdominal and MSK ultrasound scans.

I love my role as a Sonographer, especially providing reassurance to soon-to-be parents in one of the most special but sometimes worrying times of their lives. I have recently qualified in MSK ultrasound at the UWE and can now provide diagnostic scans for predominantly lumps and bumps and suspected muscle/tendon/ligament tears. In my spare time I enjoy playing tennis and running along the seafront with my husband, usually followed by coffee and cake!

After the scan...

We will create a detailed report for you with everything that we have seen and also give you pictures of your little bean.

Throughout the scan we will be talking about what your baby is doing, how it is developing and what it can do – such a lovely insight into your baby’s world.

If we sadly find that the things are not progressing as they should we discuss everything that we can see, giving you plenty of time to ask questions. We create a report and contact your local early pregnancy unit (EPU) for a follow up appointment.

What we do…

Usually performed over the tummy as transabdominal scan, for this reason having a moderately full bladder will help to see the pregnancy more clearly in the early weeks.

We will measure your little one crown to rump to get an estimated due date and assess that everything is developing normally for that number of weeks. We will also confirm that the pregnancy is in the right place within the uterus and check that the uterus and ovaries appear normal.

We also have the option of performing an internal scan if we don’t get great views over the tummy. This is entirely safe in early pregnancy and will be discussed with you as an option where needed.

So why would you have an early scan?

For most women they just want, or need to see their baby and confirm that the pregnancy is real! For others they may have sadly experienced a miscarriage and just need the peace of mind and reassurance that an early scan can bring. Time really seems to drag in the first trimester, seeing is certainly believing!

An early pregnancy scan will confirm the presence of a heartbeat, diagnose a single or multiple pregnancy and establish an estimated due date. It can be performed from 7 weeks of pregnancy, before this time it is not always possible to see the fetal heart beating but can confirm the pregnancy is in the right place and developing as it should for the number of weeks you are.

We also see women who have had bleeding and can’t be seen quickly in their local early pregnancy unit, or those that have had a loss of symptoms and are concerned – we can provide you with a service that fully assess how you are progressing and will give you all the information you need.

This early scan is not routinely available on the NHS and does not require a GP or Midwife referral.