The test itself isn't painful, just something I will be opting out of with my home birth this go around. There are things you can do which can help prevent it because it's a very small chance but it can effect your baby. I didn't get the antibiotics when I tested positive with my daughter and she is seriously the healthiest 1 yr old I know!

I'm a lab tech and if you have strep B and aren't put on antibiotics it can cause neonatal meningitis and blindness of the newborn. better safe than sorry, it's really not that uncomfortable

im debating it. i am so swollen down there sorry tmi and everything hurts. i sit on a pillow when i can bc of how painful it is. thank you :) @quea

no, it test for group b strep. I won't be taking the test this pregnancy.

ouch, i dont want them near my butt. lol, is that supposed to test for e coli? or something? it just sounds weird that they would need to do that. @quea

strep and group b are the same test. You usually won't hear about it until they do it, they swab your vagina and anus really quick and send it in to be tested. If it's positive they will put you on an antibiotic drip during labor.