Daughter told to do her own cultures...

Published

Specializes in OB, Telephone Triage, Chart Review/Code.

Is this something new? My daughter's midwife told her to do her own beta strep cultures and she called me asking how she was supposed to do this. Of course I told her under no circumstances was she going to go poking things inside of her. She said she couldn't anyway because she wouldn't be able to stretch around her belly to see what she was doing. They wanted one from her rectum as well. She was like: "eeeeeewwwww" :roll

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

umm this is news to me. None of our practioners have started this. I am not sure too many people would WANT to do this, considering how it's got to be done. It's not hard, as we know, but just ummmmm delicate.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Gerontological Nursing, Acute Rehab.

I've never heard of this either....and like SBE said, while it's not difficult per se, I know many women who would feel VERY uncomfortable doing that (or having their husbands do that) themselves. Also, I'd imagine that there would be greater risk of the culture swab getting "contanimated", esp. while trying to reach over a great big 36+ week belly.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My midwife had me do my own. She did tell me not to go "inside," just swab around the lady parts and rectum.

It came back positive, so I either did something right or something very wrong LOL.

I am not a nurse, just a soon to be student.

Is this something new? My daughter's midwife told her to do her own beta strep cultures and she called me asking how she was supposed to do this. Of course I told her under no circumstances was she going to go poking things inside of her. She said she couldn't anyway because she wouldn't be able to stretch around her belly to see what she was doing. They wanted one from her rectum as well. She was like: "eeeeeewwwww" :roll
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Not unusual, just depends on the practice. And since the swab is collected from the lady parts (not the cervix), and around the orifice, not rectally, it's really not that big of a deal, IMO.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Not unusual, just depends on the practice. And since the swab is collected from the lady parts (not the cervix), and around the orifice, not rectally, it's really not that big of a deal, IMO.

Agreed; not unusual in some areas. Studies have been done that demonstrated accurate results if pt does it vs. provider.

Just another method of giving a little power to the client...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB, lactation.

My doc did mine, but they as the others said, it was just swabbed around the outside, not internally.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Its easy enough----but in a way can be difficult, particularly like said, trying to collect such over a 36 week pg belly!

Not a complicated thing at all----but probably undesireable for most women to do it for themselves.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

At our birth center, we have all our clients do their own GBS swab, but we explain in detail how to do it. If they don't want to, they can have us do it, but I have never had a mama ask me to do it. If they can still wipe their own bum, they can collect the swab....

All the mamas who have commented on it have preferred to do it themselves. Our stats on GBS outcomes re:cutures are the same as the hospital's average, so they must be doing them correctly!

Lori

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB, Telephone Triage, Chart Review/Code.

Thanks for the feedback! I do think my daughter's midwife should have given her the option. I know my daughter...she wants to pump to give her baby breastmilk, but she thinks a baby on the breast is "yukky".

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Thanks for the feedback! I do think my daughter's midwife should have given her the option. I know my daughter...she wants to pump to give her baby breastmilk, but she thinks a baby on the breast is "yukky".

Awww, I hope she works through that feeling. :sniff: Pumping is alot of work. Nursing is so much easier. Many moms who choose to pump and give ebm, soon give up.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB, lactation.
Awww, I hope she works through that feeling. :sniff: Pumping is alot of work. Nursing is so much easier. Many moms who choose to pump and give ebm, soon give up.

But many are happy with their choice and do very well with that as well! :)

Here is some more info that would probably be very helpful for your daughter, webbiedebbie:

This is a very active YahooGroup for pumping moms with 2300+ members:

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/PumpMoms/

Exclusive Pumping forum at ivillage/ ParentsPlace.com, also very active:

http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-ppexcluspump

and their website:

http://members.tripod.com/epers-ivil/

La Leche League's Pumping Issues forums:

http://www.lalecheleague.org/cgi-bin/Ultimate.cgi?action=intro

What are the benefits of feeding expressed milk?

http://parenting.ivillage.com/newborn/nbreastfeed/0,,98xx,00.html

Exclusive pumping links at KellyMom.com (great website):

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/bf-links-excpumping.html

Long-term pumping when breastfeeding doesn't work out:

http://www.bflrc.com/ljs/breastfeeding/bfnotwk.htm

Laura's pumping page:

http://www.deleons.com/Pumpinginfo/

Best wishes to your daughter!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion