Week 31 is a good moment to ask about screening for group B strep (GBS). It is one of the tests done toward the end of pregnancy and in Poland it is part of standard care. It helps to know what it involves and how to prepare for it.
What to do in week 31
- Ask at your appointment whether GBS testing is planned for you.
- Find out where and when the swab is taken.
- Learn how you will receive the result.
- Write down questions about what happens with a positive result.
- Add the result to your pregnancy records.
What the GBS test is
Group B strep is a bacterium that often lives in the body and usually causes no symptoms at all. The test checks whether you are a carrier, not whether you are ill. It is done by taking a swab in the final part of pregnancy. The result helps your care team plan support during labor. Carriage can change over time, so the result reflects the moment the swab was taken — discuss the details with your care team.
- The test checks for carriage, not for illness.
- It involves taking a swab.
- The result is discussed with the team caring for your pregnancy.
- A positive result does not mean your baby will become ill.
How to prepare for the test
The test itself usually needs no special preparation, but it is worth settling a few things in advance. Ask where the swab is taken and whether you need to book it separately. Find out how and when you will receive the result and who will discuss it with you. If you do not know whether the test is planned for you, ask directly at your next appointment. Also ask whether the result will go into the records you take to the hospital and whether staff there will have access to it.
- Ask where and when the swab is taken.
- Find out whether a separate appointment is needed.
- Learn how you will receive the result and who will discuss it.
- Add the result to the rest of your pregnancy records.
- Check whether the swab is taken by a midwife or another professional.
What to ask your care team
What happens after the test is often the biggest source of uncertainty. Ask how the team proceeds if the result is positive and what that changes in the birth plan. Write the answers down, because you will come back to them when you put the plan together. If you have questions you would rather not rush through, add them to your list before the appointment.
Tip
Write your GBS questions alongside your other questions for the midwife — it is easier to ask them all in one visit.
When the test happens and how to prepare
Testing for group B strep carriage is done toward the end of pregnancy, in the third trimester, at the time arranged by your care team. The swab is taken once, and the result reflects the situation at the moment of sampling, which is why it matters so much that it ends up in the records you take with you to the hospital. Ask who does the swab and whether you need to come on a specific day. If the appointment falls while you are away, arrange with the clinic how to move it. It is also worth asking whether a midwife will be present during the swab and whether you can ask your questions beforehand. That way the test stops being an anonymous item on the calendar and becomes part of a conversation about your care.
- Ask in which week the swab is planned.
- Find out who takes the swab and at what times.
- Check whether a separate referral is needed.
- Make sure the result goes into your pregnancy record.
- Ask how you will pass the result on to the hospital.
A positive result — what it changes in practice
A positive result means the bacterium is present in your body — not that you are ill or that your baby will become ill. Your care team then has a ready plan for labor and will talk it through with you. Ask what changes in practice, what information you give at the hospital, and where the result will be recorded. It is also worth checking whether you need to show the result on admission or whether staff can find it in your records. If anything in the conversation is unclear, ask right away.
- Ask how the team proceeds with a positive result.
- Find out to whom and when you pass on the result.
- Note whether the result is in your hospital records.
- Ask your questions right away instead of putting them off.
- Do not look for answers in unknown sources — ask your clinic.
When to contact a doctor
- • Fever, chills, or pain in the lower abdomen during pregnancy call for contacting your doctor.
- • Leaking amniotic fluid is a reason to go to your maternity unit — even without contractions.
- • In a life-threatening situation, call 112.
When to call a doctor or midwife
- • Fever or chills.
- • Leaking amniotic fluid.
- • Lower abdominal pain that is getting worse.
In a life-threatening situation call 112 or go to the nearest maternity hospital admission room — do not wait for a follow-up appointment.
Week 31 in detail
Week 31: how your baby is growing — Coconut
At thirty-one weeks your baby is about the size of a coconut (around 41 cm). The iris reacts to light — your baby can make out brightness filtering through the layers of your belly. The lungs are practicing breathing movements intensively.
Development at week 31
- The iris reacts to light.
- The lungs are practicing hard.
- Gaining weight quickly.
Tip
Midwife's tip: your baby already has their own rhythm — get to know it. Some babies are active in the morning, others in the evening.
Sources
- NHS — You and your baby at 31 weeks — www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/week-by-week/28-to-40-weeks/31-weeks-pregnant/
- Mayo Clinic — Pregnancy week by week — www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week
Week 31: what's happening in your body
At thirty-one weeks Braxton Hicks contractions are becoming more frequent — especially in the evening. It's the uterus's normal 'rehearsal'. Resting on your left side and calm breathing help settle them.
How to tell practice contractions
- Irregular, with varying intensity.
- No radiating pain accompanying them.
- They ease with rest and hydration.
When to rest
- Lie on your left side when contractions pick up.
- Drink a glass of water.
- Avoid long standing and exertion.
When to contact a doctor
- • Contractions that are regular and intensifying, every 10 minutes or more often — go to the hospital.
Tip
Midwife's tip: if contractions 'won't let go' even after rest and hydration — that's your cue to check whether it's actually labor.
Sources
- NHS — Signs of labour — www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/labour-and-birth/signs-of-labour/
Week 31: The iris reacts — what you can do today
Week thirty-one is a good time to set up your baby's sleeping space. You don't need to furnish a whole nursery — a safe corner with a crib and the basics is enough.
Your tasks for this week
- Prepare the crib or bassinet.
- Make sure the mattress is firm and bedding breathable.
- Set up the changing station with the essentials.
Safe sleep for babies
- Baby sleeps on their back, on a firm mattress.
- No pillows, loose blankets, or stuffed toys in the crib.
- Room temperature 61–68°F (16–20°C).
Tip
Midwife's tip: safe sleep means back sleeping and nothing extra in the crib. It's the key rule of SIDS prevention.
Sources
- NHS — Safe sleep for babies — www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/caring-for-a-newborn/reduce-the-risk-of-sudden-infant-death-syndrome/
Medical disclaimer
This article is educational in nature and does not replace advice from a doctor, midwife or other specialist. If in doubt, contact your attending physician.
This week is awaiting medical review: the page is not indexed and carries no ads until the content has been verified by a medically qualified person.
Sources
We base our content on these documents. Every medical claim in the guide is reflected in one of the publications below.
- NHS — "Group B strep" — www.nhs.uk/conditions/group-b-strep/
- CDC — "About Group B Strep Disease" — www.cdc.gov/group-b-strep/about/index.html
- Ministry of Health — "Organizational standards of perinatal care" (regulation) — dziennikmz.mz.gov.pl
- NICE — "Antenatal care" (NG201) — www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng201
- NHS — You and your baby at 31 weeks — www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/week-by-week/28-to-40-weeks/31-weeks-pregnant/
- Mayo Clinic — Pregnancy week by week — www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week
- NHS — Signs of labour — www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/labour-and-birth/signs-of-labour/
- NHS — Safe sleep for babies — www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/caring-for-a-newborn/reduce-the-risk-of-sudden-infant-death-syndrome/